Bristol Bears’ addition of highly experienced coach Dave Alred could just be a masterstroke that will have an impact far beyond his specialist kicking remit.
Director of rugby Pat Lam likes to promote from within when it comes to coaching, and has followed suit this summer by promoting former number eight and Bristol captain Jordan Crane from academy transition coach to defence coach in the wake of Omar Mouneimne's departure and bringing former club stalwart Mark Irish back to the Bears after a brief spell at Worcester Warriors, but that leaves the club at risk of not getting new opinions and expertise from people outside the club’s pre-existing echo chamber.
So the short-term appointment of Bristolian Alred, who famously helped Jonny Wilkinson and the English rugby team to glory in 2003 and has also worked with the England cricket team, British and Irish Lions, Manchester City Football Club, and golf clients including former world number one Luke Donald, could just be a stroke of genius.
Wise counsel from an outside voice will certainly do the Bears no harm having wildly underperformed in 2021/22, going from top of the table the previous campaign to 10th last year.
Speaking to BristolLive last month about Alred’s appointment and immediate impact, Lam - who has now been at Bears for five years now since arriving from Connacht and has signed a contract until at least 2028, said: “Change can be good. It is the same for the players that have come in, they have added a real buzz to the group.
“You can have change for change sake, but it is about making change for the right reason and with the right people and that is what we have got with Dave and Mark Irish coming back.
Lam continued: “Dave is a legend. The players are loving it. Just having his experience, he has been around for decades and worked with a lot of teams but he is now finally back working with Bristol - his hometown.
“We are really enjoying having him here, he is the most senior person here and his wisdom and knowledge is really enjoyable for the player, coaches and staff.
“It is also good because, having done a lot of work in golf as well, he rolls into the mental side of things as well with Tom Bates [Bristol's mental skills coach], just talking about the game and talking life.
Alred is certainly much more than just a rugby skills coach having quite literally written the book on performing when it counts with his award-winning 'The Pressure Principle' publication.
Lam added: “He has had a phenomenal career, not just in rugby but in other areas, and it is great we can tap into it.
“He is challenging methods and challenging things, it is good to have another voice and I have really enjoyed it
“I have had a good friendship with Dave and it is so good he has come in and helped us out.”
Lasering in on the specifics of particularly open-field tactical kicking, Lam said: “Our kicking game was generally pretty average last season.
“What he is already teaching the players is something they are going to be able to do every day.
“Dave has some unbelievable coaching methods which the players are loving and it is great for Sean Marsden [first team skills coach] and the other coaches as well.”
Bristol get their pre-season underway games underway on Friday night in France against French Top 14 side Brive.
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