While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
The 2022-23 Gallagher Premiership season kicks off on Friday with a west country derby between Bristol and Bath at Ashton Gate.
The Premiership season is drawing to a close which means numerous players are getting ready to join new clubs over the summer break. Plenty of transfers have already been confirmed across the league.
It's been one of the major stories of this year's Gallagher Premiership season - what has gone wrong for Nathan Hughes at Pat Lam's Bristol? The former England No8 lost his place in the early part of the campaign.
Pat Lam has reflected on last week’s Gallager Premiership man of the match debut by Nathan Hughes, the out-of-favour No8 that Bristol loaned out to Bath after he initially play a Championship match last month for Hartpury College. Having been a mainstay of the Bears team during his first two years under Lam, the 30-year-old has dramatically fallen down the pecking order
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Bristol native Ellis Genge came through the ranks at his local club and he now hopes they are successful in Friday's Challenge Cup final.
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Pat Lam has been shopping again and he is bringing home former academy player Mitch Eadie on a two-year deal from Northampton.