‘It‘s not about killing and attacking everything’: Why Bristol have become the bears according to Pat Lam

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I wasn’t too pleased we had been relegated when I joined Bristol, but it’s been a real blessing in disguise in that we’ve been able to implement a lot of things to get us ready.” Lam’s team have won 20 of their 21 Championship matches since dropping out of the Premiership last summer and now they have made a whopping 18 new signings, headlined by marquee full-back Charles Piutau from Ulster and tighthead prop John Afoa from Gloucester, who will both start work at their new club on 1 July, while others begin pre-season training on 28 May. But Lam mistrusts terms such as “underdog” or “favourite”, preferring “hard work and preparation” as Bristol return to England’s elite under their much-discussed ursine insignia. Bristol’s signings for 2018-19: John Afoa - prop Jake Woolmore - prop Lewis Thiede - prop Jake Armstrong - prop Yann Thomas - prop Jordan Lay - prop Harry Thacker - hooker Tom Lindsay - hooker Shaun Malton - hooker Aly Muldowney - lock Jake Heenan - back row Harry Randall - scrum-half Nic Stirzaker - scrum-half Tiff Eden - fly-half Piers O'Conor - centre Tom Pincus - wing Luke Daniels - wing Charles Piutau - full-back “When we talk about John Muldoon, and Jake Heenan is coming over, and Aly Muldowney is coming from Grenoble, it’s no different from Charles Piutau or Steven Luatua, or John Afoa – these are guys I have worked with before and that gives me an insight into their character and how professional they are. “We’ll always be Bristol Rugby,” he says, “but with the brand we’re going through, as Bristol Bears, when Steve spoke to me about it, the first thing I wanted to know is ‘why?’ That’s exactly the way I work and the way I expect the players and staff to work, as well.