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Thursday
14:00
Gallagher PremiershipBristolBristolPat LamSemi Radradra

'The salary cap is really easy' - Bristol coach Lam says the Bears are 'way below' after signing Radradra

Semi Radradra could feature for Bristol Bears in European competition. (Photos/Gettys Images)

Bristol Bears have made another statement signing by announcing the recruitment of Fijian superstar Semi Radradra from Bordeaux Begles for next season.

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The dynamic centre-wing is reportedly joining the club on a £500,000 per year deal according to Sportsmail, and will fit comfortably under the cap as a marquee player exemption.

After adding the former world’s highest-paid player last year in Charles Piutau, big-spending Bristol also seduced England Number 8 Nathan Hughes from Wasps. Adding Radradra to the ranks continues to solidify Bristol’s standing in the Premiership after earning promotion ahead of last season.

‘The salary cap is really easy,” explained head coach Pat Lam.

“We’re way below the salary cap. We have a guy we answer to.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5YewvNA3cG/

“The first thing I did here was sit down with salary-cap manager Andrew Rodgers and my CEO Mark Tainton and went through everything.

“I haven’t spent any more money than my predecessors.”

Even with Charles Piutau coming off contract next season, Lam was confident that the club would be able to keep the former All Black around. The club has a limit of £7m to spend on this season, with two exempt players available under ‘marquee player’ rules.

Lam claims the club is ‘way below’ the cap ceiling, which will allow Bristol to stay active in the recruitment market and potentially more high-profile signings to follow.

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“I go nowhere near that line. We’re way below it, that’s the exciting thing about it.”

The news of Radradra’s signing garnered immediate praise online and generated quite some excitement among Premiership fans and prominent figures.

https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1199660902091382784

https://twitter.com/RyanKisiel/status/1199740067113324547

https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/1199636162312331264

Former Springbok lock admits doping issue unfortunate:

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 16 minutes ago
Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

You can’t knock the defence.


The entire England defence was on the wrong side of the break down.

England conceded three tries. There defence was poor. And they only scored one (intercept) try. So their much lauded attack was also poor.


England are worse than they were last year.

10 Go to comments
f
fl 20 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

That's what you get with Smith! He's still a player who is more likely to provide a moment of brilliance than a well structured attack.


Meanwhile Ford is someone who will give you brilliant phase play throughout a test match, but he's not fast enough to properly take advantage of a tired defence in the last 20 minutes.


Picking Smith to start and Ford off the bench, rather than the other way around, or giving either one of them the full 80, is a baffling decision.

18 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 33 minutes ago
Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss

I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the next England team meeting.


Reckon Felix Jones will keep his camera off ”to save bandwidth”.

65 Go to comments
D
DA 34 minutes ago
Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

so what???? They also beat 4 of the worlds top 5 sides to win the world cup which your team could not do.

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 35 minutes ago
Scotland vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

This is going to be a tough old match at Scottish gas stadium.


The boks will need to be sharp and well prepared. Can’t be complacent.


But then they can relax for their easy game against England.


Boks by 10.

1 Go to comments
f
fl 35 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

I think everyone is aware that Ford is poor defensively. He's actually improved significantly recently, and looked really strong in the tackle in the six nations, but still I think if we're judging fly-halves purely on their defence, Ford is a long way off the standard set by Farrell, Smith, and Smith.


But that isn't why he keeps getting picked. Its because of what an incredible attacking fly-half he's been for over a decade.

18 Go to comments
D
DA 39 minutes ago
Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

"If the Boks are not switched on 100% against the top 8/9 teams, they could lose." This applies to every other team as well, not just the Boks

20 Go to comments
D
DA 41 minutes ago
Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

you lot with the Irish are the biggest boasters and so you do care about your"aura"

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 44 minutes ago
Ireland vs New Zealand | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

New Zealand by 1.


Please God.


And if an Irishman so much as farts during the haka - I’m going to write a strongly worded complaint in the comments section. Possibly convulse from outrage.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 47 minutes ago
Australia vs England | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Wallabies by 3.


And a final nail in the coffin for SB?

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 53 minutes ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

At no point with 12 minutes to go, if you paused the game and said to everyone that it’s going to come down to a moment at the end, a five-metre scrum and a drop goal to win it, everyone would have gone ‘Nah, England will see this out.’


Half the problem I think. Complacency.

1 Go to comments
M
Mark 58 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

The reason that Borthwick is currently escaping more intense scrutiny Is simply because of the recent exodus from his coaching team, with Aled Walters and Felix jones choosing to jump ship, the RFU can't now appear to be doubting the wisdom of Borthwicks appointment.

If England do end up with a 50% win ratio from this series, then surely questions must be asked.

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B
Bull Shark 58 minutes ago
Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse

Keys to the city

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B
Bull Shark 59 minutes ago
Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse

What a gentleman.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

Eddie cooked his own goose being outspoken and, well, Eddie.


Bothwick and senior players have been cooing in their public’s ears promises of great things to come. But that’s started to wear thin as I expected it would when they start to drop games at home.

18 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

I wouldn’t call any of the English flyhalves world class at this point.

18 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

I think the public and media are hanging on to hope that things turn. But a few more losses and the media will tear Birthwick and this team to shreds. They’ve been strangley subdued up to now. But I thinks it’s because theyre terrified of the consequence of England changing coaches again!


And besides. Who would want the job? Only someone who has no desire to coach internationally ever again. Or a complete renegade with nothing to lose, a madman (or an idiot). Clive Woodward? 🤷🏿‍♂️

18 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

56% win ratio in 2023.

44% in 2024.


I’m pretty certain Australia will beat England.


💩🪭


Borthwick is a mistake.

18 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Maro Itoje sends message to England fans after heartbreaking loss

If I had 10 quid for every time I saw an England player looking at themselves on the Jumbotron. I’d have a lot of quids.


Now that many of them have been paid upfront - they can relax.

6 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Maro Itoje sends message to England fans after heartbreaking loss

Experiences ecstasy 😂🤣

6 Go to comments
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