Veteran Attwood hoping to extend his Bears contract

BRISTOL Bears second row Dave Attwood is messaging director of rugby Pat Lam ‘every day’ to discuss a new contract for next season, he has revealed.

The former England lock believes, quite understandably, he is still in the physical condition to offer something unique to the Bristol Bears squad, despite celebrating his 35th birthday next month. His barnstorming, try-scoring performance in Sunday’s 38-29 defeat to Harlequins certainly backed up his talk, as he put in a dominant display from the engine room of the pack.

But with the salary cap in the Premiership now down to £5 million, directors of rugby are struggling to find the budgets to keep their starstudden squads together.

Speaking to The Rugby Paper, Attwood said: “The reduction in the salary cap means every club is looking to see how its squad will work. I am having chats with Pat (Lam) about extending my contract. As much as he would like to keep me, he has to find a space.

“I very much hope it works out. I have a repeat alarm on my phone and text Pat every day and want to get it sorted as soon as possible.

“I have kids at school, a mortgage to pay and, as things stands, I will be unemployed in three months.

Attwood, who captained the club earlier this season having rejoined his hometown club Bristol ahead of the 2019-20 season from Bath, is one of five senior locks to regularly run out for the Bears this season, along with Chris Vui - who has already put pen to paper on a longterm contract extension, regular captain Joe Joyce, Ed Holmes and the versatile Sam Jeffries, while John Hawkins has also made a few appearances.

Away from rugby, the academically-talented Attwood has completed a law conversion course and can often be found representing the Bears players at their RFU disciplinary hearings. While Attwood is better prepared than many for life after rugby, he is not ready to hang up his boots yet. He added: “I have always said I will stop playing when I am no longer delivering on the pitch. I think I’ve had a very good career so far I do not want to be known as someone who clung on because he didn’t want to give up on the dream.”