Bristol Bears' fan favourite Joe Joyce will leave Bristol Bears at the end of the 2022/23 season to join Irish United Rugby Championship province Connacht, the club have confirmed.
The Bristolian, who is widely and warmly often referred to as 'The King of Southmeade' - the area he is from in the city, will move on from the club after more than eleven years having made 151 appearances since graduating through the Academy.
Joyce, 28, has strong family ties in Ireland and previously played U20s international rugby for the country and has signed a three-year deal with Connacht. Bristol Live understand move has been announced a year early at the request of Joyce to avoid any speculation or rumours around his future building during the upcoming season.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears fan favourite Joe Joyce explains why he will leave his hometown club
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam, who has made Joyce his captain several times this season, said: “Joe is a true legend of Bristol Bears and he carries the utmost respect from everybody in the club. The way he has handled this situation, and the honesty and maturity he has showed, is just an example of the man he is.
“We are sad to lose Joycey but he is still a young man who wants to go out and challenge himself and create new experiences. We understand that and, first and foremost, our commitment is to Joe and Lauren and supporting them wholeheartedly in the life decisions they choose.
“What makes me most proud of with Joycey is the way he has grown – as a leader and a player – in the last five years. He has worked tirelessly to be the best he can be and he is a perfect example to young Bristolians of what can he achieved through diligence and hard work.
“Joe has one more year with this group and he will be more determined than ever to leave his boyhood club on a high. He will be a key leader in our Bears Team Culture in 2022/23 and I know he will continue to drive the standards and reflect the Spirit of the Bears in everything he does.”
The news comes off the back of Joyce's best season for Bristol as he was named Forward of the Season, Team Man of the Season and Supporters Player of the Season at the club’s end of season awards.
He helped the Bears to two promotions from the Championship, a maiden European trophy with Challenge Cup glory in 2019/20 and a top-of-the-table finish in the Gallagher Premiership during his time at Ashton Gate.
During the last two years Joyce has taken his game to the next level and has been one of the form locks in the Gallagher Premiership, with plenty of pundits touting him for England honours only to be overlooked.
Joyce will be the second headline lock star to leave the Bears in as many years when he leaves the club in the summer of 2023, with former England international Dave Attwood joining Bath Rugby this summer.
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