Bristol swoop for Lovejoy Chawatama as Kyle Sinckler's replacement
Bristol have secured the signature of Harlequins prop Lovejoy Chawatama, filling the vacancy that will be left by the touted end-of-season exit of tighthead Kyle Sinckler to the Top 14.
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam had been keen on bringing Chawatama to Ashton Gate ever since the front-rower’s former club, London Irish, went into administration at the end of last season.
At the time, Chawatama opted to sign for Harlequins but the 31-year-old from Zimbabwe has now committed to Bristol, who need a replacement for the France-bound Sinckler.
Chawatama was a mainstay of the London Irish team in their swansong Premiership season in 2022/23, making 18 league appearances.
The tighthead has since struggled for game time at Harlequins, only taking the field on seven occasions in all competitions this season.
Chawatama is no stranger to the West Country having had a brief spell in the National Leagues with Clifton while he was studying construction project management at the University of the West of England in Bristol.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Tuesday that Callum Sheedy, the Bears' long-serving No10, will join Cardiff next season to reignite his stalled international career with Wales.
Sheedy joined the Bristol academy in 2014 before graduating to the first-team squad, going on to make his international debut for Wales in 2020.
The 28-year-old has scored 1,165 points for Bristol during his 178 appearances, making him the club’s sixth-highest points scorer of all time.
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Hey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
Go to commentsI don’t think this has been ventilated enough. Discuss. Perhaps the lesson in all of this is that, in the game of life, one should do all the talking on the field of play. And in the game of rugby, what’s said on the field - stays on the field. Take care of yourselves. And each other.
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