On the wall of Pat Lam’s office at Bristol Bears’ high performance centre there is just one rugby shirt on display. The former Samoa captain has worn many over the years but a Connacht jersey from their title-winning Pro12 season of 2016 has symbolic pride of place. “I’ve won a lot of stuff but it’s there as a reminder that it’s not about how much money you have,” the 56-year-old says. “It’s about everything being in place and everyone doing their bit.”
Along the corridor in the team meeting room are more direct motivational messages. Let’s call them the Bear necessities. “Through Them, Around Them, Over Them … it’s all about the Ball,” reads one. “Shape, Alignment, Lines, Timing, Execution,” emphasises another. Watching Bristol’s finely tuned thoroughbreds at full gallop in training on a lovely sunny Thursday morning is certainly among club rugby’s more impressive spectacles.
