Bears can still finish in the top four - Dun
JAMES Dun knew exactly what Bristol’s supporters were going through earlier this season when the Bears became stuck in a losing run.
The second row supported the club as a boy and was at the Memorial Stadium in 2010 when they lost the Championship play-off final to Exeter.
“I remember the Chiefs’ fans singing their chants and I was crying in the stand at the end,” said the 24-year old Dun, who joined Bristol when he was 13 and last month signed a contract extension. I can relate to what fans go through. I grew up watching Bristol and I have an incredibly proud feeling every time I pull on the jersey, something I dreamed of doing since the age of nine. I am privileged to be here.”
Dun spent last season on loan, helping the Reds snatch the Championship title from Ealing Trailfinders before being wound up weeks into the current campaign when he had returned to Bristol.
“The move to Jersey came at the right time for me,” said Dun. “I got game time in a tough environment and it was topped off by winning the league. I learned a lot, especially about robustness and dealing with injuries.
“I was greateful to play in so many games and it was a big season for me. They saw me as a back rower and it gave me another string to my bow – the more positions you cover the better.
“What happened to the club was horrible and heartbreaking. People found themselves in difficult positions having deserved a shot at the Premiership and fans had no team to support. A number messaged me to say they would be following the Bears and I hope something can be done.”
When the season started, Dun had made 13 appearances but he has now made more than double that with his start in Friday night’s victory against Northampton taking his tally for the campaign to 16 in all competitions.
“It has been my best season at the club and it has been pleasing to be involved most weeks,” said Dun whose father, Andy, below, a former Bristol captain who was capped as a back rower by England, died last summer. “Losing dad was tough and every time I go on to the field I try to follow in his footsteps and make him proud. A dream of mine was always to beat Bath at home and we achieved that in January.”
Bristol were one of the form teams going into the Premiership break after the Bath victory, but Dun welcomed the pause in the action after 21 weekends of matches.
“I loved the break,” he said. “Our bodies needed it after a long stretch of matches. I had a couple of weeks off completely, spending time with my family, and then it was back to a tough training block when we worked hard on a number of areas. We did well in our first two games of the season and then went into our shells. It was frustrating because it came down to our own errors rather than opponents affecting us and we were letting them in too easily.
“We went back to the Bears way and everyone has bought into it. We went into the break knowing we could finish in the top four. It meant treating every game like a final but weirder things have happened.”
Director of rugby Pat Lam was delighted at Dun signing a new contract, saying: “A key pillar of our club is homegrown players and Dunny epitomises what we are trying to achieve. He is young, hungry and has huge potential. He will be a key figure moving forwards.”