Bristol Bears have added a second former Wasps player in the form of scrum-half Sam Wolstenholme who follows ex-teammate Gabriel Oghre to Ashton Gate for the 2023/24 season.
Wolstenholme began the current campaign with Wasps but was made redundant in October after the club slipped into administration and were expelled from the Premiership with the 23-year-old then joining Leicester Tigers on a short-term deal.
The former Yorkshire Carnegie playmaker is yet to make an appearance for Tigers this season, although has been named on the bench for their European Champions Cup knockout tie with Edinburgh on Saturday.
Wolstenholme will find a permanent home in Bristol in the summer, however, with his signing announced just 30 minutes after Oghre, who has followed a similar path this season.
He joins the squad with long-standing scrum-half Andy Uren departing at the end of the campaign to join Italian URC side Benetton Treviso, and will provide support and competition in the position to England international Harry Randall, plus fellow new arrival Kieran Marmion and Oscar Lennon.
“I’m really pleased to be able to bring someone of Sam’s quality and experience to the Bears. As another young English player with huge ambition and desire to succeed, he will fit into our group perfectly,” director of rugby Pat Lam said.
“Competition is vital within the squad for us to grow and I believe we have genuine competition at scrum half for next season, with Sam, Harry Randall, Kieran Marmion and Oscar Lennon all competing for selection.”
Wolstenholme, who studied at Loughborough University, joined Leicester in January, along with former Bear Tom Whiteley, for cover over the Six Nations.
Wolstenholme said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Bristol Bears. They’re a club with exciting players, great facilities and play a good brand of rugby. I’m excited to see what next season brings.”
