Bristol Bears opened their 2022/23 pre-season programme with a defeat away in France to Top 14 side Brive.
A side lacking many of the Premiership club’s big guns, some of whom are likely to get their first run out next week away at the Dragons in the second of three planned pre-season games, were beaten 22-17 at Municipal Stadium in Saint-Affrique on Friday night.
Amongst the starting side for Bristol, which was full of proven Premiership performers, were two stars of the club’s academy championship-winning U18s side of last season who were given an opportunity to shine in the senior side in key positions, in fly-half Sam Worsley and number eight Ed Harvey.
