The 'miss you' Ben Earl tweet that Bristol had to quickly clarify

The Bristol Bears social media team were in overdrive this week, excelling with its coverage of the club's signing of Max Malins for the 2023/24 season but getting into a small bit of bother for a teasing follow-up post regarding Ben Earl.

Malins and Earl were two big additions to the Bristol roster when the game in England restarted in August 2020 following the lockdown earlier that year. Saracens decided to allow the pair to head to Ashton Gate on loan so that they could continue their development playing Gallagher Premiership rugby at a time when the London club had dropped down to the Championship.

During their stay, they helped Bristol to top the Premiership table at the end of the 202-/21 regular season while also playing their part in helping the Bears to win the final of the delayed 2019/20 European Challenge Cup before they rejoined Saracens for the 2021/22 season.

It was this week - Tuesday 6pm to be precise - when Bristol published a snazzy, humorous video that confirmed Malins would be re-joining Pat Lam team’s next season from Saracens and they followed it shortly afterwards with a post directed at Earl, whom they had holding a picture of him with Malins and Harry Randall. “Hey, Ben Earl,” it said with a waving hand emoji. “Miss you x.”

The variety of responses came thick and fast. “Don’t tease us like this”. “Er…you already have one - be satisfied”. “Holy fooking shirt if this happened I’d throw up”. “Do it I beg you”. “That would be epic”. “Make my year”. “Vui and Heenan looking at this like”. “Great effort, but no chance lads. Earl will be with Saracens for years to come.”

With so many people thinking the Bristol post suggested that Earl could also be joining Malins in signing for the Bears, the club soon posted a follow-up message to clarify the situation. “Guys, it's a joke, relax,” it stated with a laughing face emoji.

This social media posting aside, director of rugby Lam was in his element at his midweek media briefing, trumpeting his capture of Malins by revealing it was a deal done very quickly. “We are delighted. He fitted in very well with us on and off the field and the whole club, players, staff and fans, everyone is excited that he is coming back for next season.

“That was the success of the loan, that he came and enjoyed himself. It was a conversation that was pretty simple really. I didn’t have to do all the little bits and pieces beforehand, it was just we both agreed I was keen for him to come. He was keen to come and done, it was probably one of the quickest ones. I normally meet players before. I didn’t need to (on this occasion). It was just a case of thumbs up from both parties and deal done.”

Asked where he sees Malins fitting into the Bristol backline, Lam sounded like a kid in the sweet shop. “Full-back, wing, ten, twelve. At the end of the day he has shown his versatility and he knows our game well and will have a big impact.

“He will carry on where he was before. He knows the game well. His quality on reading and timing, the quality of pictures and timing, it’s something he did very well for us and we are keen to continue that.”