'Departs with our love': Alapati Leiua leaves Bristol for Pro D2

Bristol have confirmed that Alapati Leiua will depart the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the season to join French Pro D2 side RC Vannes, where ex-England international Nick Abendanon is currently playing. One of Pat Lam’s first signings, Samoan international Leiua joined Bristol in 2018 and has since made 101 appearances over five seasons, scoring 26 tries.

Director of rugby Lam said: "Alapati has truly been a fantastic servant to the Bears and a leader for our culture and environment. He has made an immense contribution on and off the field, laying the foundations for the next chapter of the Bears’ journey.

“We are delighted for Alapati, his wife Carmel and son Manu about the opportunity that has come up to play in France and to experience a different culture. He can be proud of what he has achieved and the standards that he has set. He departs with our love and best wishes and will be recognised, as we do with all our leavers, on the final home game of the season versus Exeter Chiefs.”

Leiua becomes the latest player in recent weeks to have lined up a club elsewhere for next season away from Bristol. Ex-England lock Dave Attwood is heading to Bath while Antoine Frisch, the only French player in the Premiership, has secured a move to Irish club Munster.     

Vannes were pipped in the playoffs last season in their attempt to reach the Top 14 but there have endured a more difficult time this season. They are currently in twelfth in the Pro D2 with two matches remaining following the loss of six recent matches on the bounce.  

It was February 2021 when Abendanon told RugbyPass about his first impression at Vannes following his move from Clermont. "You can’t make a comparison between the two clubs. Clermont is one of the big European powerhouses and Vannes have come up from Federale 3 over the last ten years and are trying to progress their way into the Top 14.

“They have big plans to build a training centre at the end of this season and are putting things in place to make sure they are a very ambitious club. But the first day I came to Vannes, I rocked up and they said, ‘This is where the training ground is’. It was a couple of makeshift tents and a couple of Portakabins and I was like, ‘Oh, what the hell have I done here?’

“But it’s quite refreshing in a way. All the guys, there are no big egos. Everyone is very grounded. They work very, very hard here, they are all very ambitious, and they all want to do their best to get spotted and seen and hopefully play in the Top 14. It’s refreshing to come down a peg and re-find the love of the game, I guess.”