Lam hails ‘team player’ Radradra

Semi could be key to Bears’ European Challenge Cup final chances against Toulon

SEMI Radradra returns to the south of France this evening with a point to prove against former side Toulon.

Pundits have described Bristol Bears’ Premiership semi-final defeat to Wasps last weekend as ‘naive and disappointing’, which is no way for their 2019/20 campaign to end, having thrilled and entertained in equal measure with their exciting brand of attacking rugby.

Fortunately, tonight the Bears tackle Toulon in the European

Challenge Cup final, with the chance to make history, and erase the memory of last weekend’s defeat at the Ricoh Arena.

Toulon were the side which first tempted Radradra to switch from a highly-successful career in rugby league – as one of the best in the NRL, scoring 82 tries in 94 matches – to play rugby union back in 2017.

He spent just one season at the French Top 14 side, but made quite the impression, with team-mates Dave Attwood, also now at Bristol, and Chris Ashton both citing him as the best player they have ever played with. The dual-code star scored his first try for Toulon just 62 seconds into his Champions Cup debut.

The Fijian centre has made no less a stunning impact at Bristol since his arrival this summer from BordeauxBegles, who Radradra helped the Bears see off in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup last month – and another superhuman effort could be required this evening.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam insists Radradra is not focussed on individual accolades, however.

The Bears boss said: “Semi is more keen to make an impression for the