Semi’s Bears First Title in 37 Years
■ Radradra named in Premiership Rugby Dream Team ■ Bears could play Exeter Chiefs in Gallagher Premiership Rugby final on October 24 if Wasps players tested positive for coronavirus
Semi Radradra’s Bristol Bears came from behind to beat European royalty RC Toulon
32-19 in their own backyard to win the 2019/20 European Challenge Cup title.
The Pat Lam-coached side earned Bristol’s first significant piece of silverware for 37 years.
And after being knocked out of the Gallagher Premiership semi-final 47-24 by Wasps, they could earn another silverware this weekend. This was after Premiership Rugby ruled that Wasps would be replaced by Bristol in the final against Exeter Chiefs on October 24 if a coronavirus outbreak means they cannot play.
The Coventry-based club cancelled training after four players and three staff members tested positive.
They are conducting an extra round of testing on Saturday with
results expected by Monday afternoon.
‘FIRST OF MANY’
The Bears overcame the odds missing the services of veteran Charles Piutau, Steven Lutua (captain), Nathan Hughes, Andy Uren and Henry Purdy, but the team put on a show described by Lam as the ‘first of many.’
Radradra, who was replaced in the 62nd minute due to injury, played a key role in the win setting up Harry Randall’s first try in 15 seconds.
Powerful Toulon hit back to lead 16-10 at the break but a resolute second-half effort from Lam’s men won the game.
Lam said: “I’m extremely proud that we were true to ourselves,
that’s all I asked of the boys before the game.
“I said let’s celebrate who we are, the Bristol Bears, and what that means. It is not just a name, it’s our culture.
“I also said let’s have no fear in the final and be true to ourselves, and we were.
“When we got to 10-0 a few things started to go wrong and Toulon worked their way into the game and we were down 16-10.
“We spoke at halftime and said we needed to get better at the breakdown and that the opportunities were there if we tidied up our stuff and the boys did that, problem solved, and we came home strong.”
DREAM TEAM
To cap off a good season, three
Bristol Bears were in the Dream Team during the annual Premiership Rugby Awards.
The players are Radradra, Charles Piutau and Ben Earl.
The BT Sport Dream Team are: 15. Piutau (Bristol Bears),14. Zach Kibirige ( Wasps), 13. Semi Radradra (Bristol Bears), 12.Sam James (Sale Sharks), 11 Ollie Thorley ( Gloucester), 10. Jacob Umaga (Wasps), 9 Ben Spencer (Bath), 8 Sam Simmons (Exeter), 7 Ben Earl (Bristol Bears), 6 Jack Willis (Wasps), 5 Marc Itoje (Saracens), 4 Jonny Hill (Exeter), 3 Will Stuart (Bath), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, 1.Beno Obano (Bath).