Rugby / Bristol Bears
A historic night at Ashton Gate as Bristol Bears beat South Africa
It was a historic occasion at Ashton Gate on Thursday night: matchday programmes were on sale at the ground for the first time since the pandemic.
The commemorative programmes will certainly be collectors’ items, with their return marking a special game of rugby as reigning world champions South Africa took on Bristol Bears.
The historic night finished in a memorable win: 26-18 to the Bears
is needed now More than ever
The famous green and gold jerseys of the Springboks were an awesome sight under the floodlights in BS3 in front of a sell-out crowd.
The official attendance was 26,387 – the biggest attendance ever for a sporting event at Ashton Gate – who roared on the Bears to victory with tries from Gabriel Ibitoye and Yann Thomas, and the rest of the points from the boot of Callum Sheedy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClE7Z4EI_Et/
This may have been a friendly match but after a mostly disappointing start to the Premiership season, the Bears seem to have got their mojo back.
Soprano Emily Haig sung Nessun Dorma and The World in Union before kick-off, as well as belting out the national anthems.
And if that wasn’t enough history for one night, a new and improved Brizzley mascot (now seemingly renamed Briz) was also introduced to the crowd who – while not cheering on tries – also took part in a rare Mexican wave: another global touch at this most special of international spectacles.
Main photo: JMP
Read next:
- ‘Player and squad development at Bristol Bears Women is on an exponential rise’
- Ashton Gate hosts Red Roses in history making win over Wales
- ‘Working in hospitality can make professional sport look easy’
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