Kloska and Halliwell Extend Contracts with Bristol Bears

George Kloska and Jimmy Halliwell have both agreed to new long-term contracts to stay with Bristol Bears, as confirmed on August 5, 2026. England international Kloska finalized his deal with the Premiership club weeks after earning his first two international caps during the Nations Championship. Both Kloska and Halliwell hail from Bristol and progressed through the Bears’ academy system.

Kloska, aged 26, has played a total of 86 matches for Bristol since making his debut in 2019, having been part of the club's youth system since he was 13 years old. He made appearances off the bench in England’s victories against Fiji and Argentina last month, and he has also previously represented England A. Director of Rugby Pat Lam praised Kloska, stating, "He’s a brilliant example for the next generation of young players coming through our system that if you commit to improving every day, opportunities will come. George is still developing and we believe his best years are ahead of him."

Halliwell, 22, is also a tight-head prop. Lam described him as “someone who has all the attributes to become an outstanding tighthead prop.” Halliwell has made 25 appearances for the Bears and was part of the England Under-20 team that won the World Cup in 2024. "Seeing Ellis and George come through the same pathway, establish themselves for Bristol and then go on to play for England shows what’s possible if you keep working hard," Halliwell remarked. "That’s really inspiring for someone like me, and I want to keep developing, earn opportunities in a Bears shirt and hopefully follow a similar path in the future."

Additionally, scrum-half Oscar Lennon has rejoined Bristol for the 2026-27 season. Lennon has previously played 15 games for Bristol, including three last season during a period of significant injuries for the club. He has also played for Hartpury RFC in the Championship and most recently competed in the USA with Major League Rugby team New England Free Jacks. Lam noted Lennon’s familiarity with the club, saying, "[Oscar] already knows our environment, our game and what is expected at Bristol Bears, which is a real advantage. He’s a player with a very good attitude who is always eager to learn and improve, and we believe he will add strong competition and quality to our scrum-half group next season."