With the confirmation of three new recruits, including a hooker and a second row from the Championship, as well as a scrum-half from Gallagher Premiership rivals Leicester, Pat Lam has strengthened Bristol for the 2024–2025 campaign.
The Bears’ current run of success has propelled them into the postseason, but they also think they have done a good job of recruiting for the upcoming year. “Three exciting young players will be joining Bristol Bears ahead of the 2024–2025 season,” the release said. “As Pat Lam works to assemble a very talented team for the 2024–2025 season, Steele Barker, Tom Doughty, and Sam Edwards will join the team prior to the upcoming season.
“Dynamic second row Barker is coming from Cornish Pirates, a Championship team where he was one of the league’s best players this year. In 2023–2024, the former forward for Cornwall U20 has made 17 appearances for the Pirates.
“Hooker Tom Doughty, who spent four years at The Rec playing for Bath in the Premiership, has been a vital member of the Doncaster Knights this season in the Championship. In 15 games this season, the 27-year-old has scored twice for Doncaster.
“Scrum-half” Sam Edwards moves from Leicester Tigers, a Gallagher Premiership team where he has played four times in the top division. The gifted 21-year-old, who played for England at the U20 level, has been on loan at Championship team Cambridge for the most of the 2023–24 campaign.
Steele is a motivated second row player who is ready to improve, according to Lam. With a great potential ceiling, he has emerged as one of the Championship’s top forwards with Cornish Pirates.
Tom is a versatile hooker who played in the Premiership while at Bath. With strong talents on both ends of the game, he is a reliable set-piece operator who has shown promise while playing for the Doncaster Knights in the Championship this year.
“Despite still being young, Sam has already made appearances in the Premiership as a scrum half with a lot of potential.” His season in the Championship with Cambridge has been good, and he will be a valuable addition to our scrum half roster.
Leave a Reply