PAUL REES ON HOW BRISTOL HEAD COACH PAT LAM PLANS TO GUIDE THE WEST COUNTRY OUTFIT BACK TO THE TOP

Class act: Steven Luatua in action for the Bristol Bears
PICTURES: Getty Images and Alamy

WHEN Bristol lost at Saracens last November, they were on a run of eight victories in 25 Premiership matches. For a club that had never hidden its ambition to occupy a prime place on European rugby’s top table, it marked a watershed.
Owner Steve Lansdown, below, whose funding had enabled the Bears to attract sought-after players like Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Steven Luatua, made...