Pat Lam has confirmed that 17 players will leave Bristol Bears this summer as the club have named a slimmed-down 41-man squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Wingers Henry Purdy and Toby Fricker, and Scotland international hooker Jake Kerr join a host of already confirmed big-name departees, with marquee men Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra moving on along with homegrown club stalwarts Joe Joyce and Andy Uren.
A further four, including fan favourite Luke Morahan, have of course already left the club during the 2022/23 season.
Coming in are international trio Max Malins, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Kieran Marmion alongside Gabriel Oghre and Sam Wolstenholme. James Dun is back from a loan spell with Jersey, while Charlie Powell is also retained but will return to the Championship club on loan for another season.
Director of Rugby Pat Lam said: “While the challenges of managing the salary cap reduction mean that next season’s 41-man squad is the smallest we have had during my time here, I’m excited by the new players coming in, the talent we have retained and the quality of the Academy players coming through.
“This time of the year is always difficult as we say farewell to some great people who have contributed significantly to the club, on and off the field, throughout their time with the Bears.
“We thank them for their hard work, and they can all be very proud of their efforts and achievements here. Once a Bear, always a Bear.
“As we do every season, we will be honouring these players in-house next week and there will be an opportunity for supporters to show their appreciation at Ashton Gate following the conclusion of the Gloucester game on Saturday, May 6th.
SENIOR LEAVERS:
Joe Joyce - Connacht (163 apps)
Andy Uren – Benetton Treviso (157 apps),
Ioan Lloyd - Scarlets (79 apps),
Charles Piutau (79 apps)
Sam Bedlow – Sale Sharks (62 apps)
Sam Jeffries (61 apps)
Semi Radradra - Lyon (52 apps)
Henry Purdy (48 apps)
John Hawkins (45 apps)
Bryan Byrne – Newcastle Falcons (44 apps)
Toby Fricker (32 apps)
Jake Kerr (29 apps),
Sam Lewis (9 apps)
Will Porter - Harlequins (7 apps)
Morgan Eames – CS Bourgoin (2 apps)
Rhys Charalambous
Martin Mulhall.
SENIOR LEAVERS DURING THE SEASON
Tom Whiteley - Leicester Tigers
INCOMING:
Max Malins (Saracens)
Kieran Marmion (Connacht)
Gabriel Oghre (Bordeaux-Begles)
Kalaveti Ravouvou (Fijian Drua)
Sam Wolstenholme (Leicester Tigers)
2023/24 BRISTOL BEARS SQUAD
Loosehead prop:
Jake Woolmore (130 apps)
Yann Thomas (110 apps)
Ellis Genge (35 apps)
Aristot Benz-Salomon (2 apps)
Tighthead prop:
Max Lahiff (66 apps)
Kyle Sinckler (43 apps)
George Kloska (27 apps)
Jonathan Benz-Salomon (11 apps)
Jay Tyack (9 apps)
Hooker:
Harry Thacker (99 apps)
Will Capon (69 apps)
Fred Davies (7 apps)
Gabriel Oghre
Second row:
Chris Vui (117 apps)
Ed Holmes (95 apps)
Joe Batley (38 apps)
James Dun (13 apps)
Joe Owen (3 apps)
Back row:
Dan Thomas (127 apps)
Steven Luatua (113 apps)
Jake Heenan (92 apps)
Fitz Harding (51 apps)
Magnus Bradbury (21 apps)
Scrum half:
Harry Randall (101 apps)
Oscar Lennon (7 apps)
Kieran Marmion
Sam Wolstenholme.
Fly half:
Callum Sheedy (151 apps)
AJ MacGinty (23 apps)
Centre:
Piers O’Conor (120 apps)
James Williams (15 apps)
Harry Ascherl (6 apps)
Kalaveti Ravouvou
Wing:
Siva Naulago (26 apps)
Jack Bates (35 apps)
Gabriel Ibitoye (17 apps)
Deago Bailey (9 apps)
Full back:
Max Malins (19 apps)
Rich Lane (16 apps)
Noah Heward (5 apps)
*denotes Academy player integrated into first team squad.
SENIOR ACADEMY SQUAD:
Loosehead prop:
Andrew Turner (3 apps)
Tom Sims (3 apps)
Louie Trevett
Tighthead prop:
Jimmy Halliwell (1 app)
Hooker:
Tomas Gwilliam
Second row:
Charlie Rice (4 apps)
George Taylor
Kenzie Jenkins
Back row:
Paddy Pearce (1 app)
Macenzzie Duncan (7 apps)
Aaron Tull (4 apps)
Ed Harvey** (2 apps)
Tom Gardner**
Ollie Thraves**
Fly half:
Sam Worsley (2 apps)
Centre:
Joe Jenkins (7 apps)
Toby Baker
Isaac Campbell-Wu
Dylan Power
Wing:
Harry Rowson (4 apps)
Matthew Jones (2 apps)
Tom Ormsby
Full back:
Sami Hamid (1 app)
ACADEMY LEAVERS: Jac Lloyd (3 apps), Tom Wilstead (2 apps), Pete Carter (2 apps), Aaron Thompson (1 app).
*denotes Academy player integrated into first team squad.
**denotes Bears BUCS Super Rugby pathway player
