Bristol Bears Rugby Team Overview

Bristol Bears or, as they are officially called, the Bristol Rugby Club, are an English-based rugby union club that plays in the country’s top division. The club has existed since 1888 and is one of sports fans’ favorites. Even though it has rebranded several times throughout history, the fan database has been consistently growing thanks to the success of the players and coaching staff

Now without any further ado, let us tell you more about the Bristol Bears rugby teams!

The Story of the Bristol Bears

Initially founded in 1888 as the Bristol Football Club, this union was formed with the merger of Carlton Club and its rival Redland Park. The idea was to create a united team in Bristol and, since Westbury Park folded after a lot of convincing, many of its players joined Bristol afterward.

Since the team’s establishment, the games were played at the Memorial Ground at first, followed by the Ashton Gate Stadium. Their first match was a defeat to Cardiff and, even though the team had a relatively successful first season for a new club, they only won three games in the second. However, in the next few years, the Bristol Bears rose to new heights thanks to the leadership of W. Tommy Thomson. In 1891-92, the Bristol team won 20 out of 24 games!

Before the world wars, Bristol saw notable achievements with J.W. Jarman becoming the first England cap. After World War I, Bristol reformed and found new success in the Radnor Road seasons.

The John Blake era for the team started in the 1950s and under this captain’s leadership, the club developed a new running style of rugby. It was at this point that the Bears set and broke wins records in a season.

Mike Rafter, a new captain in 1983, helped Bristol win the John Player Cup, defeating Leicester 28-22. Alan Morley, an exceptional player, established a world record of 479 tries in senior rugby at this point.

At one point, between 2001 and 2005, the team was known as Bristol Shoguns, a name given as part of the sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi.

Fast forward to 2018, and Bristo Rugby was rebranded as Bristol Bears upon their return for the Premiership. The following year, the club defeated Toulon in the Challenge Cup final and won their first major European title.

In the 2018-2019 season in the Premiership, the Bristol Bears finished 9th and made notable achievements in various competitions, once again proving to fans that they are worthy of their trust.

Who Owns Bristol Bears?

Today, the majority shareholder and owner of Bristol Bears is Stephen Philip Lansdown CBE, an English billionaire who co-founded Hargreaves Lansdown with his partner, Peter Hargreaves. He is also the majority shareholder of the Bristol City Football Club and the Bristol Flyers.

Lansdown was unveiled as the team’s new owner back in 2012. Before the public reveal, he was referred to as “White Knight” in official club documents. For three seasons before the announcements, he was bankrolling the Bristol Bears, and it was thanks to his investments that the club avoided administration in the 2008 campaign.

Key Players and Coaching Staff of the Bristol Bears

The current coach of the team is Pat Lam, who was put on the helm of the Bristol Bears back in 2017. He, joined by the team’s players, took the team to the 9th spot in the 2022-23 season, which entitled them to compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup of 2023-24.

Lam is accompanied by the following coaches:

•  Joran Crane – Defense Coach
• Dave Walder – Backs and Attack Skills Coach
• Sean Marsden – Assistant Backs and Attack Skills Coach
• Mark Irish – Senior Forwards Coach
• Chris Morgan – Assistant Forwards Coach
• Dave Alred – Kicking Coach
• Kevin Geary – Head of Athletic Performance

Bristol won the John Player Cup in 1983 and has won England’s second division four times, most recently in 2018. In 2020, the team won the European Challenge Cup for the very first time.

As for the team’s best-performing players, these include:

• Harry Thacker, hooker with 70 appearances for Leicester Tigers
• Harry Randall, the young brother of Jake Randall, who plays as a scrum-half
• Ellis Genge, a prop for Bristol Bears and the England National team
• Dolph Steven Luatua, a flanker for Bristol Bears
• Magnus Bradbury, a Scotland rugby union player who plays for the team in the Gallagher Premiership
• Joe Batley, a Second Row, Number 8, or Flanker at Bristol Bears

Betting on Bristol Bears

Since the Bristol rugby team plays in Premiership Rugby and has joined major events including the European Rugby Champions Cup of 2023-24, they are available for betting in addition to watching. Fans of the sport and the team can now place wagers on upcoming fixtures. Seeing how the UK has a rather strict policy as part of their responsible gambling system, those who want more versatile choices and more flexibility can simply do online betting without Gamstop with international bookmakers and online casinos.

Statistically speaking, Bristol Bears’ general odds vary depending on factors such as the team’s head-to-head records and the opponent’s strengths. Despite occasionally being considered underdogs, such as during the Bristol Bears vs. Exeter Chiefs match, the team has shown the ability to defy the odds. 

Bristol Bears Fixtures

The Bristol Bears are a formidable force in English rugby and as such, they have an array of fixtures. To see the schedule for future matches, it’s best to navigate to their official fixtures page. The club’s website is constantly updated with new information, bound to keep you informed on any novelties happening with your favorite club.

From intense clashes against long-standing rivals like Bath Rugby to the club’s encounters with the top Premiership teams, the fixtures are your opportunity to place winning bets – and for the Bears to once again demonstrate their amazing skills!