Bristol Bears have confirmed homegrown duo Jack Bates and George Kloska have both signed two-year contract extensions at the club.
Versatile back Bates, 21, who first signed professional terms in 2019 having graduated through the club's Academy system, has made 30 appearances for his boyhood club, while fellow Academy graduate Kloska, 23, a tighthead prop, has featured 19 times in Bears colours. Both young players have experimented with different positions during their transition into senior rugby with Bates switching between the wing and outside centre, while Kloska has gone from a hooker, to a loosehead prop to now switching to the tighthead.
While neither of the players are currently first team regulars, Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam believes they both have the potential to get there as he looks to fulfil his vision of making more Bristolians running out at Ashton Gate.
He said: “Both of these players are homegrown Bristolian products who have come through the Academy pathway system and broken into the senior ranks.
“We’re excited by their growth and progress and the key for them now is to continue to develop and learn from the experienced guys around them in the squad and push hard for regular opportunities in the first team.”
In reality, all Premiership clubs are likely to look to utilise their academy more than perhaps in the past, with the league’s £5m reduced salary cap restricting coaches’ ability to play ‘fantasy rugby’ and bring in top talent from around the world.
Having completely restructured the Bristol Bears academy in recent years, Lam believes the first team will bear the fruit of those efforts in two to three years.
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