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Bristol Bears sign England prop Ellis Genge
By Ian Cameron
Bristol Bears have verified the worst kept secret in rugby, confirming the signing of England prop Ellis Genge, whose dramatic exit from Leicester Tigers was announced yesterday.
The explosive prop will return to his hometown club, which he left in 2016.
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Ellis is a World Class player who has grown to be a leader on and off the field for club and country. He obviously will add real value to us as a team and the whole Bristol Bears community.
“The thing that impressed me most about Ellis was his genuine love for Bristol and our people. Even while at Tigers, he remained invested in the community here running rugby coaching camps for underprivileged young people from all backgrounds."
Club captain at Leicester Tigers, Genge has made 97 appearances for the side, while also earning 31 international caps for England along the way.
"I’m so proud of my roots in Bristol and what the city means to me and my family," said Genge. "I have close relationships at the Bears and I’ve got unfinished business here – so it’s important for me to be able to come back and represent Bristol and play my role in the community.
"I want to pay tribute to Leicester Tigers and everybody who made my time there so special. It’s an unbelievable club and I have grown as a player and a person, I cannot express how grateful I am to all my teammates, coaches and fans at Welford Road."
Yesterday the loosehead prop said he'll "be forever grateful for what" Leicester Tigers had given him. “I’ve created lifelong friendships and learned a great deal.
“The club has been amazing in understanding my reasons for this decision and I will continue to give everything I have got for the boys and the fans of Leicester Tigers for the rest of this season."
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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