Charles Piutau will swap Bristol Bears for Japanese Rugby League One side the Shizuoka BlueRevs it has officially been confirmed overnight.
After five years in the West Country, having joined Bristol in 2018 from Ulster, Piutau, now a father of three children all born in Bristol, wasn’t ready to take his curtain call at Ashton Gate earlier this month, but the finances of English rugby dictated his future.
READ MORE: Bristol Bears retention list 2023/24: 17 players confirmed as departing
Speaking to the Daily Mail he said: ‘I’ve loved Bristol and would definitely have liked to have stayed on, but with where the competition is at and for us as a family we’re excited for something different.
‘It’s the cards we’ve been dealt. I’ll still be keeping an eye on the guys here and the competition and I hope it gets back with teams recovering – the likes of Wasps and Worcester.”
Something different is set to be a move to Japan in what will likely be another highly lucrative move for one of the Premiership’s true ‘rock stars’ who was reported to be earning close to a million pounds a season at the Bears.
Piutau, who followed his brother Siale to the Bears, has certainly taken Bristol to his heart as much as the city has taken him into theirs.
Reflecting on his time at Bristol as a cultural architect of the club’s rise from an organisation that yoyos between the Championship and top-flight into serious Premiership title contenders in 2020/21 and European Challenge Cup winners in 2019/20, he said: “Bringing my partner to Bristol and having three kids here is something that is special for me. When the kids are older I would love for them to come back and see Bristol knowing they were born here.
“I probably didn’t know my career would pan out this way when I left New Zealand, but I am definitely grateful with the clubs I’ve been able to be a part of and the contracts I’ve had.
“I’ll miss everyone at Bristol and the people where I live, but not the weather!’
Bristol Rugby have had some world greats during the club’s illustrious history, with the likes of Agustín Pichot, Felipe Contempomi and David Lemi shining in the blue and white stripes during the professional era, but former All Black full-back Piutau will go down as one of the best to ever pull on the jersey, along with Fijian superstar Semi Radradra who will also move on this season for French Top 14 side Lyon.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam paid tribute to both following their final run out for the club in a 36-21 win over Gloucester which saw Radradra touch down twice. At the club's end of season awards a couple of days later, Piutau - rather fittingly - was named back of the season.
Lam said: “Everyone knows they have been phenomenal for not just the club but the Premiership, they have shown their class so many times and set the standards for us.
“It is not just about what people see them do on the pitch, it is about how they help the guys around them and bring through the youngsters, they have been phenomenal in the community. They have been a pleasure to have here and if it wasn’t for the salary cap changes they would still be here, but that is the nature of it.
“They can be proud of how they contributed to the growth of the Bears and they will always be a Bear.”
Before jetting off for Japan both Piutau and Radradra will play for a World XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 28 and then also feature at the World Cup in France.
Thanks to a change in World Rugby’s change in eligibility rules which now allow for a player to switch nations after a three-year standdown period, Piutau is set to run out for the country of his parents Tonga having already made his international debut for his second nation. Radradra is expected to be a central part of Fiji’s plans.
