Latest news with #BristolBears
Times
27 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Bristol Bears book semi-final against Bath after hammering Harlequins
Just a regal afternoon from Bristol Bears, one in which a monster crowd at Ashton Gate positively revelled. After the game, we were led to believe via a song that cider would be downed in the biggest rugby city in Britain. Bristol will play away against Bath on Friday in the play-off semi-finals and the Recreation Ground is nowhere remotely big enough to accommodate those who would want to go. Such is the rivalry and the intensity for rugby in the West Country that a 50,000 capacity may not be enough either. We all know that Bristol have their daft moments, that occasionally their defence lets them down and here again on Saturday they did throw the odd speculative pass and made the odd error simply through their joyous tendencies to attack with every ball that comes back.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Welsh club coach linked with job and Sam Warburton says Welsh rugby 'can only dream'
Tonight's rugby news as Welsh club coach linked with job and Sam Warburton says Welsh rugby 'can only dream' The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond. Jared Payne (right) could be leaving west Wales. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Your rugby evening headlines on Saturday, May 31. Warburton: Welsh rugby can only dream Wales legend Sam Warburton says Welsh rugby "can only dream" after drawing comparisons with the English game. This weekend, the top four places of the English Premiership were decided in the final round of regular season fixtures, with Warburton's comments coming prior to these final games. Going into the final weekend, there was still some jeopardy involved, with Bristol Bears just two points ahead of Gloucester in fourth place, with Saracens level on points with the Cherry and Whites. Warburton said Welsh clubs can only imagine the sorts of crowds and jeopardy on show across the bridge at present. Speaking about this in his Times column, Warburton, who is a TNT Sports pundit and commentator, said: "I'll be at Bristol on Saturday for the Bears match against Harlequins and qualification for the top four is in their hands, so, while it may not be a rip-roaring conclusion, at least there is enough on this last round of regular matches to see the argument for the play-offs and a climax to a thrilling season. "I hear some English fans complaining a little and touting their plans for improvement and I just think: 'You should try living in Wales and see the problems we have there!'. In Wales, we can only dream at the moment of our regions having the games that the English clubs have, and especially the crowds they attract so regularly." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Welsh club coach favourite for top job Scarlets coach Jared Payne is favourite to land the head coach position at Connacht, reports RugbyPass. The former British & Irish Lions tourist is currently assistant coach under Dwayne Peel in west Wales, but could now be switching United Rugby Championships clubs. Payne has been with Scarlets since June 2023 and has helped the side reach the URC play-offs this season alongside his colleagues, with the Parc y Scarlets outfit facing Leinster on Saturday afternoon. Despite being born in New Zealand, Payne represented Ireland at international level and a move to Galway would see him coach in the country for the first time since 2022, where he left Ulster to join up with Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. Of course, Payne moved into coaching back in 2018 after sustaining a head injury on the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017. Recurring headaches had forced him into retirement, but a career in coaching awaited him. IRFU performance director David Humphreys is reportedly a big fan of Payne. Premiership play-offs decided The English Premiership top four was settled on Saturday in the final round of action. Bristol Bears' fate was in their hands in round 18, and they got that all-important victory over Harlequins at Ashton Gate - quite convincingly too - 52-26. The West Country outfit scored a stunning seven tries against Quins, with a total of 11 scores on the day. The results confirmed a place in the semi-finals for Bears, who'll be joining Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and Bath in the play-offs. Saracens picked up a tidy result at the StoneX Stadium, beating league leaders Bath 36-26, although it was very much a second string Bath team. However, it's a mid-table finish for Nick Tompkins' team. Wales international Gareth Anscombe played his final game for Gloucester, who defeated Northampton Saints 41-26. The 34-year-old fly-half was substituted on the 64th-minute mark, and will be heading to France next season to link up with Bayonne. Christian Wade, who is leaving rugby union again to pursue a career in league, scored in the final minute of the game, in a fitting send-off for one of the league's most prolific try-scorers. As was confirmed prior to the weekend's action, after disappointing seasons, Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons will be playing EPCR Challenge Cup rugby next term, having finished outside the top eight. Gloucester, Saracens, Quins and Saints all miss out on the play-offs but qualify for Champions Cup rugby next season. Franco Smith: I'm not surprised my players shone By Anthony Brown, PA Franco Smith claimed he was not surprised to see champions Glasgow turn on the style in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final victory over Stormers because he was always confident they would bounce back from their recent dip. Warriors romped to a five-try 36-18 triumph over their South African visitors on Friday night to set up a semi-final showdown with the winner of Saturday's clash between Leinster and Scarlets in next weekend's semi-final. Much of the pre-match talk had surrounded the fact Glasgow had lost four of their previous five matches, including a shock 33-7 defeat away to Benetton. Smith argued that some form of drop-off was inevitable amid such a gruelling schedule, and he is hopeful that his team are back on song at just the right time to defend their title. 'It's a long season, 18 rounds, nine Test matches (four autumn Tests and five Six Nations fixtures), and you have six or seven European Cup games,' said the head coach. 'It's high-priority games every week. 'Our squad is that big, we've rotated it, we've brought some new players in. 'But to be on the mental edge the whole time is sometimes inhuman, if I can put it that way. 'All the sides that finished in the top eight had a bad period somewhere. Ours might have been evident against Benetton. Not even against the Bulls, who were actually very good that evening. Article continues below 'If I keep perspective and don't form a perception, I have a good chance of staying true to the cause. I'm not surprised about our performance against Stormers."
BBC News
3 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Bristol thrash Quins to book semi-final derby spot
Gallagher PremiershipBristol (26) 52Tries: Kloska, Batley, Ravouvou, Mata, Ibitoye (2), Grondona, Janse van Rensburg Cons: MacGinty (6)Harlequins (12) 26Tries: Murley (2), Dombrandt, Hammond Cons: Benson (3) Bristol secured their Premiership semi-final place in style with a superb attacking display in a 12-try epic at Ashton Bears needed a win to be sure of a top-four spot and made the perfect start, registering a bonus point inside 24 minutes with close-range scores from George Kloska and Joe Batley and explosive Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata Murley's fine first-half double reduced the gap to a 14-point lead at the Gabriel Ibitoye extended the advantage to 31-12 soon after the restart and memories of the 2021 'Bristanbul' comeback by Quins at Ashton Gate loomed large as the visitors notched quickfire tries from Alex Dombrandt and George Hammond to go within five scores from Santiago Grondona and Ibitoye settled the nerves before Benhard Janse van Rensburg brought up the half-century as the Bears booked a trip to table-topping Bath in the first semi-final on Friday to follow. Bristol: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Thomas, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Owen, Luatua, Marmion, Byrne, David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Benson, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, J Green, Hammond, Kenningham, Evans, Jibulu, Els, Streeter, Launchbury, Lawday, Murray, Kerr, Luke Pearce
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Live Premiership final round – race for play-offs: Teams and latest updates in battle for top four
It is a case of five out of three in today's final round of the regular Premiership season. Leicester, Sale, Bristol, Gloucester and Saracens will all be looking over their shoulders this afternoon knowing that one slip up could see their hopes of joining table-toppers Bath in the play-offs kicked into touch. The five could all still finish anywhere from second to sixth with just five points separating them after 17 matches. For these play-off hopefuls it is very much a case of squeaky-bum time, something that is very much the opposite of what Bath have been going through. The West Country giants secured a home tie in the semi-finals with three rounds of matches still to go –underlining a season of dominance that sees them head into today's fixtures a mammoth 15 points of their nearest rivals, Leicester. The Tigers will likely be the most confident of the five hopefuls. They have a home clash against the Premiership's basement dwellers Newcastle to negotiate this afternoon. They know a win over the Falcons will secure both second place and a home semi-final. Third in the table are Sale. They head to Exeter to face a side with nothing to play for. Victory would guarantee them third place regardless of other results. Defeat with two bonus points would still be enough for a spot in the play-offs. Bristol Bears and face Harlequins. A win would guarantee a top-four finish but anything less and they'll be biting their nails with Gloucester and Saracens ready to pounce. For Gloucester nothing less than a win will do. They come up against reigning champions Northampton. Even if they do secure the victory they need Sale to lose without any bonus points or Bristol just to lose to sneak into the top four. Saracens host Bath in north London knowing they, too, need a helping hand and Lady Luck on their side in their bid to avoid missing out on the top four for the third time since 2009. They need to win by a lot and hope other results go their way. All the matches kick-off at 3.05 so please stay here for all the action, twists and turns on what should prove to be a nail-biting afternoon.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Premiership set for rugby's Super Saturday as Bristol, Leicester, Sale, Gloucester and Saracens all battle for play-off spots
For 17 rounds of Gallagher Premiership action – the entirety of the season so far – Bristol Bears have found themselves firmly ensconced in the league's top four. Now, as matchday 18 comes around and the play-off places will be decided on Saturday, Pat Lam's men are in danger of dropping out of the positions that matter most right at the last and at the worst possible time. Welcome to the Premiership's Super Saturday where the jeopardy is real and the action will be played simultaneously. If this season so far is anything to go by, there will surely be some sort of dramatic twist. The Premiership has thrilled this term with tries galore. Expect that trend to continue as the league reaches its crescendo. Bristol's fate is at least in their own hands, something that wasn't the case when they missed out last year. Any sort of win over fellow basketballers Harlequins will seal the Bears a play-off. 'I'm really proud of this group. We've got one of the smallest squads in this competition and we haven't left the top four all season,' said Bristol director of rugby Lam. 'We got in there in round one and haven't left. I don't want to put more pressure on the group, but we've got a chance to spend the whole season in the top four. 'That would be a massive achievement.' Expect Bristol and Harlequins to trade try upon try. It won't be good for the heartrate of Bears supporters, whose nerves won't have been helped by the news their British & Irish Lions prop Ellis Genge won't be at Ashton Gate due to injury. Genge should be fit for a possible semi-final. Bristol are also light at full-back, with Noah Heward stepping in at No 15. The Bears should still have enough given Harlequins can't make the end-of-season shake-up. 'Our goal has always been the top four,' Lam said. 'The only achievement we want this weekend is a win because nothing else means anything if we drop out at the very last. 'It's been a while since it's been in our control. This time last year we were in great form but were reliant on Saracens beating Sale. 'That's not a great place to be. 'This year, it's all in our hands. It's finals rugby. We want to be a part of that mix. 'We haven't been for four years now. There's a lot to play for. It's like a quarter-final. 'We all know the ramifications. The dangerous teams are the ones who have nothing to play for.' Runaway league leaders Bath have already secured a home semi-final which will take place at The Rec on Friday night. It is quite possible Bristol will be the opposition. That potential is fascinating given Bristol have beaten Bath twice this season and they've only suffered three defeats in the league in all. Unsurprisingly, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has rested his first-choice stars for the trip to Saracens with that in mind. Saracens need a bonus-point win and for other results to go their way to stay in title contention. But that is unlikely. Second-placed Leicester are in the box seat to seal the other home semi-final. They host bottom side Newcastle and really, five points is virtually guaranteed. 'We planned out our season in advance and this is how we sort of saw it coming,' said Tigers boss Michael Cheika, whose one and only campaign in charge could yet end with domestic glory. 'Now you push to the summit. It is finals footy all the way. You can't slip up at all. I feel like I know what I need to provide the players. 'Mentally, we are lot stronger as a team and have a lot more fight in us under pressure. 'We are starting to raise a bit of the heat. This is probably a position the players didn't think they would be in at the beginning of the season. 'Self-belief is something we have had to build. The players are excited and nervous too.' Sale haven't won at Exeter in five years. That poor record will have to change for the Sharks to continue circling and it surely will do, not only because of the Chiefs' struggles but also because Sale look to be timing their run to perfection. They are third. Their chances of overtaking Leicester are slim, but Alex Sanderson's men are ones to watch. They have a healthy squad of players in fine form and in the magical George Ford, an experienced No 10 at the top of his game. Sharks director of rugby Sanderson said of the Premiership's format: 'It's mega, brilliant. There is always criticism that as leaders, Bath should be title winners like in football. 'But I think this format keeps the league alive and it's a lifeline for clubs who might have had injuries or not great form at the start of the season. 'They can find themselves where we are now. 'It requires you to manage your squad and find form at the right time. 'This week has a sense of finality because it's the final day of the regular season. If you get it wrong, there is no next week. Gloucester are on the outside looking in of the top four hoping for rivals to falter 'But it's been like that for us for the last six weeks. 'There's a little bit of luck involved. All the lads who were injured for us at the start of the season, the likes of Jonny Hill, are now back fit. 'Raffi Quirke and George won't be as fatigued as the rest of the Premiership because of the time they weren't able to play at the start of the season. 'That's the little bit of luck I mention. 'Maybe we'd be a little bit nearer to Bath now if they had been fit earlier, but I'll take the position we're in right now. 'George makes my job a lot easier. He's a calming influence on me, not just the rest of the group. 'It's probably what I need! It's players like him who help you win cups. 'You have to have them.' With Ford pulling the strings and Bristol possessing home advantage, Sale and the Bears should complete the top four alongside Bath and Leicester. YOUR GUIDE TO 'SUPER SATURDAY' (All kick-offs 3.05pm) Bristol vs Harlequins - Ashton Gate - TV: TNT Sports 1 Bristol have things in their own hands and while it's no guarantee, they do deserve a top-four spot on the basis of their season's form. No Marcus Smith for Harlequins could well be a defining factor. Prediction: Home win Gloucester vs Northampton - Kingsholm TV: Discovery+ After their European heartbreak, Northampton have given their big guns the weekend off as they can't qualify. Gloucester should win, but five points might not be enough as they'll need either Bristol or Sale to lose. Prediction: Home win Saracens vs Bath - Stone X Stadium - TV: Discovery+ Bath are home and hosed as league leaders, so have rested their stars with their home play-off semi-final on Friday in mind. As such, expect a Saracens win. Prediction: Home win Leicester vs Newcastle - Mattioli Woods Welford Road - TV: Discovery+ It would be a dream for Michael Cheika if his only season with Leicester was a successful one. The Tigers will beat Newcastle comfortably and then the real action will begin. Prediction: Home win Exeter vs Sale - Sandy Park - TV: Discovery+ It is a quirk of fate that Sale have so often struggled at Exeter. But the Sharks side of today has not only plenty of bite but also something very real to play for. You can't say the same about the Chiefs. Prediction: Away win Predicted Gallagher Premiership play-offs: Bath vs Bristol and Leicester vs Sale Bristol are also helped by Harlequins leaving out Marcus Smith. Gloucester, however, are waiting in the wings for any slip-up. They should really seal five points against Northampton's reserves and will then have to pray for Bristol or Sale to fail to deliver. Expect thrills and spills as the regular league season reaches its finale. One thing is for sure – it is likely to be anything but dull.
