STATEMENT: Bristol Bears winger Louis Rees-Zammit RULED OUT

Hosting an in-form Exeter Chiefs side at Ashton Gate this weekend, Pat Lam’s squad will line up without a staggering 15 unavailable backs — an injury crisis the Bears’ Director of Rugby admits is unlike anything he’s ever seen.

“We named the team today and only had one full training session because we’ve got 15 backs unavailable this week — something I’ve never experienced before,” Lam said frankly.

The Bears began their campaign brightly with a hard-fought 42-24 win over Leicester Tigers in round one, showcasing glimpses of their trademark attacking rugby. But last weekend brought a harsh reality check at the StoneX Stadium, where Saracens — clinical and physical — dismantled a makeshift Bristol side 50-17.

“There’s been a positive reaction,” Lam insisted. “We were disrupted in our flow last week — a new backline, a back three that hadn’t played together, and a new 9-10 combination with limited minutes. We weren’t cohesive enough to apply the pressure we normally do. But what disappointed us most was our collision level, and that’s been a focus this week.”

The list of absentees reads like a who’s who of Bristol’s backline: AJ MacGinty, Gabriel Ibitoye, James Williams, Noah Heward, Rich Lane and now Louis Rees-Zammit — plus promising academy centres Joe Jenkins and Toby Baker, all sidelined.

“Joe Jenkins unfortunately needs surgery after getting caught awkwardly in a jackal situation,” Lam confirmed. “Louis Rees-Zammit picked up a foot sprain when someone fell on the back of his leg, so he’s out this week but shouldn’t be sidelined too long.”

To help bolster the depleted squad, the Bears have pulled off a smart bit of recruitment, signing Argentina international Matías Moroni — a versatile and experienced back with Premiership pedigree.

“It’s a really pleasing signing for us,” said Lam. “With a few backs unavailable, getting someone with Moroni’s experience is key. He’s played in the Premiership, he’s a quality player, and he’s known by a lot of the boys here — not just the Argentinian lads, but others too. He arrived this morning and will settle in quickly. We expect him to be available for selection next week.”

Despite the challenges, Lam remains pragmatic and positive.

“We couldn’t do much contact work earlier in the week, and a few who are up for selection couldn’t train fully,” he admitted. “So we focused on clarity and preparation off the field. It’s about adapting — just like during a game. We asked: what can we do that’ll benefit us this weekend? That’s what we focused on.”

The good news is that some reinforcements are arriving — in the form of returning Argentina internationals.

“Pedro [Rubiolo], Santiago [Grondona], and Ben [Grondona] are all back and available,” Lam said. “Pedro’s played a lot of rugby since returning from injury but not a huge amount of club rugby, so it’s about managing his load. Santiago didn’t get too much game time recently but has trained well and looks sharp. Ben’s confident and happy to be back — all three returned Monday and have fitted straight back in.”

The visitors, Exeter Chiefs, arrive in confident mood. After a thrilling 33-33 draw with Northampton in round one and a commanding win over Newcastle last weekend, Rob Baxter’s side look much rejuvenated following a transitional last season.

“They're going well,” Lam acknowledged. “We always said they were too good a team to stay where they were last year. Rob’s done a brilliant job with them, and you can already see their improvement. We've got no illusions about how tough this game will be. They’ve got off to a good start and they enjoy coming to Ashton Gate too.”

With so many young players thrown into the deep end, Lam sees opportunity in adversity.

“There’s always an upside. Some of our established players got their break when others were injured, and now they’re regulars. This gives our academy lads and fringe players real opportunities. With a smaller squad, they train with us all the time and are getting valuable reps. It’s great for their development — but they also know one senior appearance doesn’t mean they’ve made it. It’s all part of the journey.”