Bristol Bears have made their fifth significant signing for the 2022/23 Premiership campaign, adding Hartpury fly-half James Williams to their squad.
Williams, who can also operate at centre, has been ever-present for Hartpury, kicking 150 points from the tee during the Championship campaign and the 25-year-old was recently named their player of the year.
It’s the third time the Bears have looked to the second tier for talent recently, with full-back Rich Lane and Hartpury scrum half Oscar Lennon joining on short-term deals. And director of rugby Pat Lam has indicated the league is something of an untapped resource as the Bears show a very clear shift in their recruitment for 2022/23 amid rising salary cap pressure.
Confirmation of Williams’ signing arrived just an hour after the club revealed that Gabriel Ibitoye would also be joining for next season, following his time away in France and Israel.
Bears have added AJ MacGinty, Ellis Genge and Scotland international Magnus Bradbury to their ranks but clearly they’re not willing nor likely able to be driven solely by star power due to the reduction in the salary cap.
Williams isn’t a total stranger to the top flight having previously played for Sale and Worcester.
“James has been a standout player in the Championship this season, finishing as the leading points scorer in the competition,” Lam said. “We’re excited to bring him to Bristol and to give him another opportunity in the Premiership.
“We’ve shown that a key part of our recruitment is unearthing young, hungry players in the Championship who can grow into established Premiership performers, and we believe James has all the tools needed to do this.”
The Bears also have one eye on the future by snapping up British Universities front row trio Fred Davies, Martin Mulhall and Rhy Charalambous. Hooker Davies is the leading try scorer in the BUCS Super League for the University of Durham, while loosehead prop Mulhall has represented Ireland Students.
Davies also follows in the footsteps of soon-to-be Bears teammate Fitz Harding who’s enjoyed a fine breakout season in the back row after being signed from Durham University in 2020.
“The progress and development of Fitz Harding, as well as other players in the Gallagher Premiership, has shown us the talent that can be found and developed in the BUCS competition,” added Lam.
“A key part of the Bears recruitment strategy is to find the players that have been missed through the conventional academy pathways - we believe there are good opportunities to recruit mature young players who can make the step up.
“Fred, Martin and Rhys have enjoyed fantastic seasons in BUCS Super Rugby and have earned the opportunity to integrate with the first-team squad next season.”
