2019–20 Bristol Bears season

The 2019–20 season is Bristol Bears's 2nd consecutive season in the Premiership Rugby. Along with competing in the Premiership, the club will also participate in the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Shield.

Bristol Bears

Full name	Bristol Rugby Club
Union	Gloucestershire RFU
Nickname(s)	Bears
Founded	1888
Location	Bristol, England
Ground(s)	Ashton Gate Stadium (Capacity: 27,000)
Chairman	Chris Booy
CEO	Mark Tainton
Director of Rugby	Pat Lam
Captain(s)	Steven Luatua
League(s)	English Premiership
2018-19	9th
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.bristolbearsrugby.com
Current season

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Will Capon Hooker England Harry Thacker Hooker England Bryan Byrne Hooker Ireland John Afoa Prop New Zealand Jake Armstrong Prop England Max Lahiff Prop England Kyle Sinckler Prop England Yann Thomas Prop England Jake Woolmore Prop England Dave Attwood Lock England John Hawkins Lock England Ed Holmes Lock England Joe Joyce Lock Ireland Chris Vui Lock Samoa James Dun Back row England Mitch Eadie Back row Scotland Ben Earl (loan) Back row England Jake Heenan Back row New Zealand Nathan Hughes Back row England Steve Luatua (c) Back row New Zealand Dan Thomas Back row Wales

Player Position Union Chris Cook Scrum-half England Harry Randall Scrum-half England Andy Uren Scrum-half England Tiff Eden Fly-half England Callum Sheedy Fly-half Wales Sam Bedlow Centre England Piers O'Conor Centre England Siale Piutau Centre Tonga Charlie Powell Centre England Semi Radradra Centre Fiji Toby Fricker Wing Wales Alapati Leiua Wing Samoa Luke Morahan Wing Australia Ratu Naulago Wing Fiji Henry Purdy Wing England Charles Piutau Fullback New Zealand Max Malins (loan) Fullback England

Transfers

Players In

• Nathan Hughes from Wasps[1]
• Dave Attwood from Bath
• Sam Bedlow promoted from Academy[2]
• John Hawkins promoted from Academy[2]
• Toby Fricker from Ebbw Vale[3]
• Jordan Lay returned from Ospreys[4]
• Nicky Thomas from Scarlets[5]
• Tyrese Johnson-Fisher from Coastal Carolina Chanticleers[6]
• Max Lahiff from Bath[7]
• Henry Purdy from Coventry[8]
• Adrian Choat from Auckland (short-term loan)[9]
• Bryan Byrne from Leinster (short-term loan)[10]

Players out

• Nick Haining to Edinburgh[11]
• Jack Tovey to Ealing Trailfinders[12]
• Reiss Cullen to Doncaster Knights[13]
• George Smith retired[14]
• Nick Fenton-Wells retired[15]
• Joe Latta to Suntory Sungoliath/ Otago[16][17]
• Tusi Pisi to Toyota Industries Shuttles[18]
• Ehize Ehizode to Chinnor[19]
• Sione Faletau to Yorkshire Carnegie[20]
• Tom Pincus to Melbourne Rebels[21]
• Jack Lam released[22]
• Tyrese Johnson-Fisher released[23]
• Sam Jeffries Sabbatical[24]

The Following transfers were made ahead of the 2020–21 season, however due to COVID-19, there was a break in the season and the following transfers came into effect before the season restarted.

Players In

• Semi Radradra from Bordeaux[25]
• Kyle Sinckler from Harlequins[26]
• Mitch Eadie from Northampton Saints[27]
• Ben Earl from Saracens (season-long loan)[28]
• Max Malins from Saracens (season-long loan)[28]
• Chris Cook from Bath
• Ratu Naulago from Hull FC[29]
• Will Capon promoted from Academy[30]
• James Dun promoted from Academy[30]
• Charlie Powell promoted from Academy[30]
• Bryan Byrne from Leinster[31]

Players Out

• Jordan Crane retired[32]
• Aly Muldowney retired[33]
• Mat Protheroe to Ospreys[34]
• Nicky Thomas to Ospreys[35]
• Ian Madigan to Ulster[36]
• Nic Stirzaker to Montauban[37]
• Joe Batley to Worcester Warriors[38]
• Tom Lindsay retired[39]
• Adrian Choat released[40]
• Ryan Edwards released[40]
• James Lay released[40]
• Jordan Lay released[40]
• Luke Daniels to Ealing Trailfinders[41]
• Ollie Dawe to Jersey Reds[42]
• Lewis Thiede to Ealing Trailfinders[43]
• Sam Graham to Doncaster Knights[44]
• Shaun Malton to Ealing Trailfinders[45]
• Luke Hamilton to Oyonnax[46]

References

1. "Bristol announce Nathan Hughes signing". Planet Rugby. 15 January 2019.
2. "Three new Bristol Bears youngsters commit futures to club". Bristol Post. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
3. "Bristol Bears: Winger Toby Fricker joins on two-year deal from Ebbw Vale". BBC Sport. 12 March 2019.
4. "'Recruitment never sleeps' but Bristol Bears aim for stability as playing squad announced". Bristol Post. 20 May 2019.
5. "Nicky Thomas joins on one-year deal". Bristol Bears Rugby. 3 July 2019.
6. "Tyrese Johnson-Fisher joins on one-year senior deal". Bristol Bears Rugby. 9 August 2019.
7. "Max Lahiff: Bristol sign ex-Bath prop on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 6 September 2019.
8. "Bristol Bears move quick to sign Henry Purdy to new deal". The Rugby Paper. 19 February 2020.
9. "Adrian Choat: Bristol Bears sign back row for rest of season as injury cover". BBC Sport. 21 November 2019.
10. "Bryan Byrne: Bristol Bears sign Leinster hooker on loan; Harry Thacker injured". BBC Sport. 19 February 2020.
11. "Edinburgh recruit Eroni Sau, Kalione Nasoko, Mike Willemse & Nick Haining". BBC Sport. 25 March 2019.
12. "JACK TOVEY TO JOIN EALING TRAILFINDERS FROM BRISTOL BEARS". Ealing Trailfinders. 2 April 2019.
13. "NEW SIGNING Reiss Cullen joins the Knights from Bristol". DRFC. 17 May 2019.
14. "George Smith: Ex-Australia captain retires after ending career at Bristol". BBC Sport. 20 May 2019.
15. "Nick Fenton-Wells: Bristol forward retires to take up backroom role". BBC Sport. 23 May 2019.
16. "Joe Latta Player Profile". Suntory.co.jp (in Japanese). 4 June 2019.
17. "Still three to four to be added to Otago squad". Otago Daily Times. 4 June 2019.
18. "Rugby rumours and transfer news: Bristol Bears back heads to Japan". Bristol Post. 5 June 2019.
19. "Full List of Signings and Releases 2019/20". Chinnor RFC. 20 July 2019.
20. "Faletau back at Carnegie as Ford starts to build squad". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 August 2019.
21. "Tom Pincus to depart Bears with immediate effect". Bristol Bears. 21 February 2020.
22. "Thank you to our departing players". Bristol Bears Rugby. 30 April 2019.
23. "Raw talent departs Bristol Bears with immediate effect". Bristol Live. 12 February 2020.
24. "Sam Jeffries: Bristol Bears lock to take break from rugby after injury". BBC Sport. 23 October 2019.
25. "World class Radradra pens Bears deal". Bristol Bears Rugby. 27 November 2019.
26. "England prop Kyle Sinckler joins Bristol Bears on two-year deal". The Guardian. 27 January 2020.
27. "Mitch Eadie: Bristol forward to return from Northampton on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 29 January 2020.
28. "Ben Earl & Max Malins set for season-long loans". Bristol Bears Rugby. 6 March 2020.
29. "Bristol Bears add another Fijian star to their ranks as Ratu Naulago signs from Hull FC". Bristol Post. 10 May 2020.
30. "HOMEGROWN TRIO TO JOIN SENIOR SQUAD". Bristol Bears Rugby. 3 June 2020.
31. "Bristol Bears: Bryan Byrne signs one-year deal after impressing on loan". BBC Sport. 26 June 2020.
32. "Jordan Crane: Bristol Bears number eight to retire at end of season". BBC Sport. 12 September 2019.
33. "Aly Muldowney: Bristol Bears lock to retire at the end of the season". BBC Sport. 13 December 2019.
34. "Mat Protheroe: Ospreys sign versatile back from Bristol Bears". BBC Sport. 26 February 2020.
35. "Nicky Thomas: Ex-Wales U20s prop to rejoin Ospreys from Bristol". BBC Sport. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
36. "Ireland's Ian Madigan to join Ulster in the summer from Bristol Bears". Sky Sports. 14 March 2020.
37. "Stirzaker to depart for Montauban". Bristol Bears Rugby. 23 March 2020.
38. "Joe Batley: Worcester Warriors sign Bristol Bears forward for 2020-21 season". BBC Sport. 13 May 2020.
39. "Tom Lindsay: Bristol Bears hooker to retire at end of contract". BBC Sport. 1 June 2020.
40. "Bristol Bears announces retained list". 3 June 2020.
41. "LUKE DANIELS MAKES MOVE BACK FROM BRISTOL TO EALING TRAILFINDERS". Ealing Trailfinders. 3 June 2020.
42. "Jersey Reds signings ahead of new season". RFU. 6 June 2020.
43. "LEWIS THIEDE HEADING BACK TO EALING TRAILFINDERS FROM BRISTOL". Ealing Trailfinders. 8 June 2020.
44. "Sam Graham latest to pen for 2020/21". DRFC. 11 June 2020.
45. "SHAUN MALTON JOINING EALING TRAILFINDERS FROM BRISTOL BEARS". Ealing Trailfinders. 10 June 2020.
46. "Ex-Scotland back row Luke Hamilton secures deal back in France, links up with Taylor Paris". Rugby Pass. 8 July 2020.