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Injury-hit Bristol dip into the Championship to secure short-term backline cover
By Online Editors
Bristol Bears have moved to tackle their backline injury crisis by signing Coventry’s Henry Purdy on a short-term loan.
The New Zealander exited Gloucester in 2019 after scored 16 tries in 49 Premiership appearances, How now arrives at Ashton Gate from Coventry after what was a short-lived stint in the Championship where he scored three tries in five appearances.
Bristol have been left without Siale Piutau (knee), Piers O’Conor (knee), Charles Piutau (knee), Will Hurrell (head), Luke Daniels (shoulder) and Charlie Powell (ankle), generating the need for Purdy’s acquisition.
“We’re light in the centre position, so it’s good to be able to bring somebody of Henry’s quality and experience in right away,” said director of rugby Pat Lam to the Bristol Bears website.
“Henry knows a lot of the boys in our environment and he comes with a desire to establish himself back in the Premiership. He’s been a standout performer in the Championship and also benefitted from a spell in Otago during the Mitre 10 Cup.”
(Continue reading below...)
Second-tier Coventry weren’t surprised that Purdy form has caught the eye higher up the ranks after he joined this winter from Otago. “Henry has played well since he joined us, and I believe that it was only a matter of time before I would get a call from a Premiership club about him,” said Coventry director of rugby Rowland Winter.
“Henry has not just played well in matches; he has also been a really good person to have around the club with his positive attitude towards his training and our work in general.
“We’re going to miss him, but it is also another good reflection of what we’re trying to achieve at Butts Park and we were not going to stop him achieving of playing back in the Premiership. We wish him every success with Bristol in the next chapter of his career.”
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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