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Bristol issue Semi Radradra fitness update following last weekend's comeback appearance

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Semi Radradra has boosted Bristol ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux-Begles by declaring himself fit. The Fijian centre returned from a two-month lay-off last weekend as Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol produced a thrilling comeback to beat Harlequins 35-33 at Ashton Gate.

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Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Semi did well. We weren’t planning on him playing 80 but he did. The second half was very stop-start and that worked in his favour. So he is raring to go again. He felt he wasn’t at his best so he has trained well so far.”

While Radradra is ready to take his place against the side he joined Bristol from in July 2020, Bears captain Steven Luatua is set to miss out on Sunday’s round-of-16 clash in France. The New Zealand forward was forced off in the first half against Harlequins with a knee injury.

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Exeter’s Jack Nowell guests on RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Jamie Roberts

Lam said: “Steven has had a few tests. Thankfully, structurally things aren’t damaged. But there is a lot of swelling on it, so he is looking doubtful for this week. Of course, it would be great to have him available, like all the players, and it’s important the next guy steps up and gets the job done.”

Bristol are monitoring Fijian wing Siva Naulago’s knee injury, while No8 Nathan Hughes is fit to make the trip to France.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

I didn't say anything regarding whether I feel the eligibility rule is right or wrong, you've jumped to conclusions there…


The fact is the eligibility rule does exist and any English qualified player is aware when they sign a foreign contract that they're making themselves ineligible and less likely to be picked for the Lions. If Jack Willis and Dave Ribbans priority was playing for England and the Lions they wouldn't be playing in France. Whether they should be allowed to play for England or not isn't my point. Under the current rules they have chosen to make themselves ineligible so they can't have their cake and eat it while other players have taken lesser salaries to commit themselves to their dream of playing for England and the Lions. They have made their choices.


Besides, while it works for South Africa doesn't prove it will work for any other country. South Africa have an extraordinary talent pool of incredible rugby athletes which no other country can compete with. They sadly don't have the resources to keep hold of them so they've been forced into this system. If they had the wealth to keep all their players at home and were still playing in Super Rugby they might be even better… they could be worse. We can't know for sure but cherry picking the best country in the world with a sample size of 1 and extrapolating it to other nations with very different circumstances doesn't hold water. Again, not saying the eligibility rule is correct just that you can't assume scrapping it would benefit us simply because South Africa are world champions.

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I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
How Leinster bullied the Bulls at Croke Park

Expert coaches exist across the land and the IRFU already funds plenty. Ulster own their academy and who owns Ulster?


If you go to school in the North and rugby/tag rugby isn’t even on the PE curriculum until 12/13 as opposed to 7 or 8 in Leinster, how is that the IRFU’s fault? Even then, it’s only certain schools in the North that will offer it. On what basis would they go up to the North (strictly speaking, another country in the eyes of some) and dictate their schools programme?


The ABs used to be light years ahead of the pack because their eventual test superstars had been playing structured, competitive rugby from an average age of 5/6! On top of kicking it around the yard from the age they could walk with their rugby mad parents and older siblings.


Have you somehow gotten the impression that the Leinster system is not working for Irish rugby? What is that based on? The SARU should just stop competing because despite their back to back RWC’s, all 4 of their URC teams aren’t contesting semi-finals every year?


A couple of mining towns basically provided a Welsh team in the 70’s that were unplayable. Queensland in the old Super 10 provided the spine of an Oz team that were the first to win multiple world cups and in the same decade. The ABs population density is well documented with 35% of the population living around one city.


Is England’s match day 23 equally represented by mid-counties players, tough as nails northerners, a couple from Cornwall, a pack of manc’s and a lone Geordie? Ever?

It’s cute they won’t relegate the Falcons but has a Geordie test player ever hit 50 caps?


It’s ok not to understand geography. It’s also ok not to understand sport. Not understanding the geography of sport is something different entirely.

266 Go to comments
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