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Today
09:00
Today
09:00
Today
14:05
Bristol

EXCLUSIVE - 'The Bear Pit' documentary lifts lid on Bristol Bears revolution

RugbyPass presents an original documentary which examines the revolution and return to the Premiership of the Bristol Bears.

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Championed by billionaire investor Stephen Lansdown, led by championship winning coach Pat Lam, populated by a bevy of top stars and sporting an ambitious rebrand – Bristol Bears have reconstructed themselves as they once again face into the edifice of English rugby’s elite competition – the Gallagher Premiership.

In April Lansdown said the club had been “in a time-warp and we got caught out last season in the Premiership – we can’t let that happen again.”

This is the story of that venture.

RugbyPass talks to the main actors in this revolution in a bid to lift the lid of one of English rugby’s most intriguing stories of reconstruction and redemption.

Welcome to the ‘The Bear Pit’.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jobe 40 minutes ago
Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC

I just can't agree with 8.5 for Ross Byrne. A 6 at best I would think.

2 Go to comments
B
Barry 1 hour ago
Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

I wouldn't take it personally that you didn't hear from Gatland, chief.


It's likely he just doesn't have your phone number.


You can't polish a turd. No coach can change that team at the moment.

12 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

Uhh, he was playing inside centre?


Do you understand the role of a 12?

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

"aside from winning RWCs and playing some really good rugby?"


What a doos.

11 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well if you’re correct in that assertion then it blows up all of the numbers in the original post that came from, do you recognise the overall number or even the 300k residual for senior male player numbers in SA?


Tbf, even 300k senior players is an impressive resource, particularly if there is a residual of untapped school talent that could be developed if required and resources allow.

174 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Now that is a slam dunk response right there!!!

174 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I’d say SA continuation is pretty much a slam dunk. They have brought much to the table in the URC with revenue growth, fan engagement and player enjoyment - yes, this is a factor too! On top of that there is still much headroom for further growth, both in the URC and especially with EPCR. The only resistance to SA teams comes from the English at present, mainly because they can’t win the CC any longer and their clubs are in real financial shit, but their recent overtures were firmly rejected.


I can only see great things on the horizon for SA inclusion in the URC and EPCR, if the right format adjustments are made. But if they are, then further success will follow and there is a strong likelihood that 6N becomes 7N as well.

174 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Great post and spot on in your analysis about generations to develop African rugby. There’s a strong argument to say that pursuing the successful URC path they’re already on and getting the EPCR comps to do similar will provide a role model for African countries AND fund SA activities, such as the development tours to Arg you mention, to help grow African rugby in parallel.

174 Go to comments
D
DH 2 hours ago
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

That's twice he has tried to run at forwards and got his butt kicked. This isn't school boy rugby anymore. Give the ball to the forwards to take up and manage your runners outside of you. Ask Pollard for advice on how, if you don't understand

2 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Pure fantasy JW.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Yes that comment bewildered me too! The Rand in bad shape.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

“I think if you asked me that question maybe three years ago or when I first left Australia, I had so much, I suppose, animosity or professional anger inside of me just because I felt like maybe my talent really wasn’t looked after in Australia.


“But to be honest now I feel like I am where I’m supposed to be, like here in Scotland. And I feel like all those things that happened early in my career were meant to happen because now I’m sitting here talking to you guys in the position that I am.”

From the horse's mouth. It's a better rugby destination.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

That's a bit of a "NZ" only problem, because those players need to reach such a high standard to be chosen by the All Blacks, were as a country like Ireland wants them a lot earlier like that.

Nah. Ireland had to put in a lot of work on guys like JGP and Lowey to get them to the standard expected. There were areas of their game that were sub-par when they first came over from NZ.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

They don't go for money, but for lifestyle, and NZ uses PI's a resource like everyone else. They don't belong to you.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well I'm happy for it to go on until it naturally stops tbh.

Who on earth fo you think you represent JW?🤣

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

James Lowe is a great example. He may have some Irish ancestors, but he was born, raised, and developed in NZ, and for all intents and purposes is a Kiwi. However, when he was ignored by selectors, he moved to Ireland and only had to wait 5 years before he could play for a different nation. If thats not ridiculous, I don't know what is.

On very thin ice there. I can still recall Frank Bunce , Alama Ieremia, Tuigamala and the Bachops playing for both PI's and NZ in their Test careers! They were interchangeable.


Most guys at this level now are multi-qualified.


And much of Lowe's development as a player occurred at Leinster, so why wouldn't Ireland profit from it?

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

One of OJohn's Kiwi coaching 'moles'!

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Stop talking nonsense JW.

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

👍

174 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Thanks G, read your illuminatin post above!

174 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks' 'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'
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