Purdy: I’m Bearing up really well in the Prem
HENRY Purdy admitted it has been a whirlwind few weeks after swopping Coventry for a dream return to the Premiership.
But the 25-year-old aims to prove he deserves a long-term contract after joining Bristol Bears as an emergency signing.
The former Leicester Tigers academy product had been a key figure for Coventry in the Championship, having been squeezed out at Gloucester due to the salary cap, before getting the call from Bristol when they were hit by a series of injuries in the centre.
But in just two weeks Purdy has made quite the impression at the Bears.
He made his European debut less than seven days after first training with the club, ran out for his full debut against his former employers, the Cherry and Whites, last weekend and marked the occasion with a try in a comprehensive 34-16 victory at Ashton Gate.
Purdy, who spent the summer playing for Otago in New Zealand, hopes it will lead to a longterm future at Bristol.
“It’s been a surreal few months and a mad couple of weeks since linking up with the Bears,” he said.
“It’s awesome to be back in the Prem environment and I’m really grateful for the welcome the boys have given me, and grateful for the opportunity to play. Ashton Gate was absolutely bouncing.
“It was nice to have a good start. It was always a goal of mine to get back into the Premiership, post-New Zealand when I linked up with Coventry. It sort of came a little bit out of the blue. Bristol had a couple of injuries but I was stoked when the call came.
“It was crazy. I played for Coventry on the Saturday, spoke to Pat Lam that evening, then agreed terms on the Sunday, had a medical on the Monday and trained on Tuesday. There almost wasn’t time to even dwell on it. “Flying to Italy for the European Challenge Cup on the Thursday. It’s just been a bit of a whirlwind. I know it’s a bit of a cliche but it actually has. The over-riding feeling is excitement, and it’s great to play out there with those guys and
I’m grateful for the welcome I received.
“I wouldn’t say I knew I’d get back to this level. I hoped and I had faith in my ability. I hoped the call would come and thought if I stuck to what I do best and keep working hard, the opportunities would come.
“I enjoyed my time in New Zealand, I enjoyed my time at Cov. I’m just looking forward now with Bris.”
Purdy says he loves Bristol’s attack-from-everywhere brand of rugby.
He said: “It’s awesome. Like everyone in the Prem knows, Bristol like to play. It’s great when you’re given licence to work off your wing, like you saw against Tigers.
“Nathan [Hughes] worked to the width and the back-rowers do that really well. That gives you licence to float in, help the forwards out and take some of that workload.”
It was always a goal of mine to get back into the Premiership, post-New Zealand when I linked up with Coventry.
Henry Purdy