With not much more than ‘Bonjour’ in his locker, released Bristol Bears prop Ashley Challenger is heading off on the adventure of a lifetime next season after taking up a contract in the third tier of French professional rugby.
Bristolian Challenger was one of those players caught out by the Bears’ administration snafu in the Spring which saw the club miss an important deadline to turn down otherwise automatic contract renewals. The impact of the error was it reduced director of rugby Pat Lam’s abilities to pick and choose which players stayed and which left the club as he had to make changes to his plans for the squad to stay within the Premiership’s salary cap rules next season.
Challenger, explains: “It backlashed on me a little bit because I couldn’t have the plus one of my one year, plus one deal. But it could be a blessing in disguise because I can go out and get that regular rugby.
