Local Joe thrilled by Bears’ ride to the top

LONG-SERVING Bristol lock Joe Joyce finds it hard to believe how far the Premiership leaders have come since he joined the academy as a teenager in 2012.

Senior players were taking pay-cuts, crowds at the ramshackle Memorial Stadium barely topped 4,000 in the Championship and their academy struggled to field a team. Now the Bears can fill 27,000-seat Ashton Gate and, due to the vision of owner Steve Lansdown, are competing for the title.

Bristol-born Joyce, 25, who is three games away from his 100th first XV appearance, said: “Being at the top of the Premiership is impressive and after seeing all the good and bad times over eight years, I’ll never get bored of this.

“When I came into the academy we had very few players, no kit, hardly any games and when we did get a game, had to cobble a side together. Now the academy is unrecognisable, they’ve got three teams in each group.

“I’ve seen lots of coaches come and go and huge changes in the playing squad. We’ve had a big rebrand, changed stadiums and next year we’re changing training grounds. It’s like a whole new club.

“In my first season there was no money and we finished eighth in the Championship, so to be top of the Premiership and aiming to do well in Europe, is pretty special. But it’s only the beginning.”

Being part of a successful Bristol side is something Joyce has dreamed of since he was a boy. He explained: “When I was nine or 10 I used to spend my Saturdays at Ashton Gate watching Bristol City and my Sundays at the Mem watching rugby. Felipe Contepomi and Agustin Pichot were the big stars, but we’ve had lots of ups and downs since then. It’s pretty amazing to think that I’ve ended up playing for the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.”

With Dave Attwood rejoining, competition for the second row places is fierce, but Joyce is revelling in the challenge. He added: “It’s great too look around and see someone like Dave on your shoulder, it gives you confidence. You need that competition and, with a supporter’s hat on, you want the best players at Bristol.

“We want to be top six and we’ve already beaten two teams, Exeter and Sale, that we couldn’t beat last season. I’m enjoying getting some good game time and the ultimate aim now is to be playing Champions Cup rugby next year.”