LAM SETS BRISTOL BAR HIGH
REBRANDED Bristol will launch the new Gallagher Premiership season tonight with a sold- out derby at Ashton Gate — and the Bears’ necessity is to gatecrash europe’s top table at the first attempt under Pat Lam.
The hosts have new players, a new name, new logos and a bold new ambition ahead of their traditional West Country showdown with neighbours Bath. Fresh from masterminding the Barbarians’ record demolition of england back in May, Lam is aiming high again.
After coming up from the Championship two years ago, Bristol went straight back down. But, the coach who guided the unheralded Irish province Connacht to the Pro12 title will not settle for simply staying in the top flight.
Lam has his sights on the Champions Cup. As a player, he drove Northampton to conquer the continent and he wants to take his new club to that exalted level. ‘We’ve made it clear that we want to qualify for the Champions Cup,’ he said. ‘The only way into it is by finishing in the top six, unless you win the Challenge Cup.
‘This time next year, I want to know we’ll be playing Toulon and Leinster. I want the people here to have that excitement.’
Backed by billionaire Steve Lansdown, Bristol have become major players in the transfer market. They had one All Black with them for their promotion campaign last season — No 8 Steven Luatua — and another has been lured by a £1m-a-year contract, full-back sorcerer Charles Piutau. While Luatua is missing tonight due to injury, Bristol have added back-row pedigree in the form of ex-Wallaby flanker and Test centurion George Smith.
‘When I had clarity about the club’s vision I simplified it to inspiring our community with success,’ said Lam. ‘The next three objectives beneath that were to be a Champions Cup team, have players playing for england — because there are none currently — and we need Bristolians playing for Bristol as well.’
He is also relishing the challenge of kickstarting another club.
‘I have done it right through my career. . . Northampton: never won anything — boom (european Cup). Newcastle: never won anything — we won the Premiership,’ Lam said. ‘I love being part of something like that.’
Bristol Bears v Bath LIVE on BT Sport 1 from 7pm, KO 7.45pm.