Rugby / Jake Heenan
‘Bristol vs Bath is one of the highlights of the West Country calendar’
There’s been no highlights reel from the past two months. No sold out stadiums and no group renditions of Blackbird, our victory song.
For professional rugby players, the summer is about laying the foundations to take on one of the toughest team competitions on the planet; the Gallagher Premiership.
As we prepare for Friday’s season curtain raiser, all that sweat and effort now counts for something. We welcome local rivals Bath to Ashton Gate and for anybody who has experienced that derby atmosphere, you’ll know it’s one of the highlights on the West Country calendar.
is needed now More than ever
There’s something about the buzz in the city in the lead up to derby day.
Whether it’s being stopped in the street or that extra energy around the training paddock, the boys know how much it means to Bristolians to earn the bragging rights over our neighbours.
Our director of rugby Pat Lam talks about celebrating the hard work on matchday. That means making sure that we are prepared with clinical precision to perform when the spotlight is on us.
Our coaches will put us under intense scrutiny through the week – making us think, act and execute at the highest level. Being able to perform under pressure is what separates the truly exceptional players.
Last season, we weren’t at our best. But the Bears journey doesn’t start in September and end in May. That road started long before I arrived in Bristol and will continue long after I’ve left.
We believe we’ve turned a corner, learnt some pretty tough lessons and come through it stronger for the experience.
A common theme during my time at the club has been showing resilience in the face of disappointment. “There is no education like adversity” is one of my favourite quotes from Benjamin Disraeli and it rings true at the Bears.
Lose to Wasps in the Premiership semi-finals in 2020? Beat Toulon a week later to become champions of Europe. A 50-point drubbing at Worcester Warriors in 2018? Dust ourselves off and clinch a play-off spot a year later for the first time in 12 years.
Harsh moments force us to dig a little deeper, be a little more honest with ourselves, and ask ourselves: what did I do well? What can I do better? Finishing tenth last season has fuelled our determination and we know we’ve got a point to prove.
That starts on Friday and which foot we lead with will determine not only our performance but the trajectory of our campaign.
Make no mistake, we will enjoy the occasion and I hope you will too.
More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for Bristol Bears vs Bath at Ashton Gate on Friday night. Buy your ticket at tickets.bristol-sport.co.uk/en-gb/categories/bristolbearshome
Main photo: JMP
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