Sam Lewis has signed for Bristol Bears after his departure from Worcester Warriors.
The highly rated Welsh flanker had been linked with potential moves to Japan and America.
But he’ll be playing in England for the 2022-23 season after impressing Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam in a trial.
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It is understood he put pen to paper with the Bears earlier this week.
Arriving at Ashton Gate, Lewis will become part of a star-studded roster that includes the likes of Ellis Genge, Steven Luatua, Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Kyle Sinckler. Wales internationals Callum Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd are also part of Lam's outfit.
Lewis became a free agent at the end of last season when his contract expired at Sixways, where he was a fan favourite and hugely respected within the squad. You can read more about the Welsh-speaker here.
The fearless openside had cut his rugby teeth at Swansea before spending four years at the Ospreys and moving to Worcester in 2015. Some of his Warriors team-mates described him as the best player they’d played alongside with Lewis’s quality matched only by his consistency.
In 2018-19, Will Greenwood named him in his Gallagher Premiership team of the season, saying: “ I have loved watching Lewis play — so much fight in a frame that does not seem big enough to keep wanting more.
"Nose across his face . Battered every week. He never allows opponents to settle.
"Rugby is about having character and courage.
"Lewis exemplifies what we love about the game."
His old Warriors coach Mefin Davies once described him as "unbelievable" and "a candidate for man of the match virtually every week".
Wales haven’t come calling for the 31-year-old, but many would count him unlucky in that respect.
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