Pat Lam optimistic about Bristol Bears' future

Pat Lam, the director of rugby for Bristol Bears, expressed hope that his team's efforts during the current season would pay off in the next campaign. The Bears ended the season in sixth place following a loss to Sale Sharks on the final day, finishing nine points short of a playoff spot. Lam noted that injuries significantly impacted their performance this season, but he remains positive about the future.

The Bears secured 11 wins in the Premiership, matching the tally of Exeter Chiefs, who finished third. Lam emphasized the importance of the experience gained this season, stating, "In terms of cohesion, we have had to fight and scrap and adjust. But the bonus of that is some of these guys getting an opportunity will be stronger next year."

Last year, Bristol finished fourth in the league, winning 10 games. This season, they collected fewer bonus points, with just 10 compared to 18 the previous year. Lam attributed the team's struggles to a lack of depth on the bench, largely due to injuries.

However, he highlighted that there would be less turnover in the squad over the summer compared to other clubs, with key players like center Benhard Janse van Rensburg and lock Pedro Rubiolo staying on. "I would be surprised if we have a season like this [for injuries]," Lam stated. He expressed excitement about the resilience shown by the team, acknowledging that others in the league also faced injuries but believed his squad coped well.

The Bears look forward to building on their experiences, with Lam optimistic that the lessons learned will contribute to a successful upcoming season.