Bristol Bears have boosted their attacking options for next season with confirmation of the arrival of former Harlequins and England Under-20 flyer Gabriel Ibitoye for the 2022/23 campaign.
Ibitoye returns to the Premiership having departed in 2020 to play for Agen and Montpellier in the Top 14 before a stint in Israel with Tel Aviv Heat. In the preceding season before he left England, the 24-year-old scored eight tries in 23 league appearances for Quins.
He becomes the fourth significant confirmed addition to the Bears squad following the announcements of fly-half AJ MacGinty, prop Ellis Genge and flanker Magnus Bradbury.
“Gabriel is a hugely talented player with the pace and versatility to threaten opposition defences,” Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said. “Coming back to the Premiership is an exciting challenge for him. We see huge potential in a young player who was in the conversation for an England call-up a couple of years ago.
“The way we attack as a team relies on pace and execution and Gabriel is one of the most potent finishers around. We look forward to welcoming him to the West Country.”
Nominated for World Junior Player of the Year in 2018, Ibitoye attended an England training camp the same year as part of Eddie Jones "apprentice" programme, with the then teenager tipped as a potential future star.
That call-up was also symbolically alongside former Quins teammate Marcus Smith. But while the No10 has developed to become a regular at international level, Ibitoye’s career has taken a different path.
He claimed the decision to leave Quins in 2020 was precipitated by a desire to try and improve to a level where he would be considered for international rugby, indicating he wasn't at the required standard at that time.
After a mixed spell in France and time in Israel, he appears confident he can realise that goal when he returns to the Premiership with Bears.
“Bristol is one of the most exciting clubs in the Premiership, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for me and one I’m looking forward to taking,” Ibitoye, capped 13 times at Under-20 level, said.
“The experience in both France and Israel has been great for my development, as a player and a person, but I still have ambitions on the international stage, and I feel I can achieve those objectives at Bears.
“I have heard really positive things about the culture and environment in Bristol so I’m excited to get started next season.”
