Pat Lam’s selection was a real eye-opener
Louis Rees-Zammit was absent as Bristol Bears slumped to a 38-17 defeat against Sale Sharks, with director of rugby Pat Lam forced to field an entirely English-qualified matchday 23.
In somewhat of a rarity for a single game in the professional era Lam insists he had no choice but to go down this road in order to satisfy Rugby Football Union regulations.
Each club needs to have 15 EQP in its matchday squad and meet this average across the season. This is assessed at two points during the season and failure to meet the criteria could result in a fine of £250,000.
Due to injuries throughout the season, Bristol were short of the required average number heading into the final game, meaning the likes of Rees-Zammit had to sit out.
“Hitting the required average of English-qualified players every season is something I am very proud of at the Bears,” said Lam.
“To be able to achieve it again in one of our most challenging seasons with so many EQP players unavailable throughout the whole season is a credit to all.
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“That list has been compounded again this week with Ellis, Fitz and George joining James Williams and a long list of unavailable players.
“When you add that to the large number of long term EQP unavailability we’ve had to Harry Randall, James Williams, Joe Jenkins, Jack Bates, Gabriel Ibitoye, Noah Heward, Rich Lane Aidan Boshoff in the backs and Gabriel Oghre, Joe Batley, James Dun, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Kofi Cripps, and Paddy Pearce in the forwards throughout the entirety of the campaign, it’s had a significant impact on our EQP numbers.”
Lam had to go to extreme measures during the final game of the season due to Bristol’s raft of injuries throughout the season while the Bears were also out of contention in the play-off race.
“We applied for some dispensation around our massive EQP injury list and while they RFU had sympathy and understanding for our situation, the regulations don’t permit change this season but it’s something they will consider for the future,” said Lam.
“While it’s disappointing to lose so many experienced players, it also presents a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger guys.
“We’ve got five current Academy players starting and several more involved in the matchday 23, which is a real credit to the work being done throughout the pathway.
“It’s another chance for these young players to show what they’re capable of on the PREM stage and continue building the future of Bristol Bears.”
But there were five players who qualified for Wales as well as England in Lam’s 23 in hooker Tomas Gwilliam, centres Joe Jenkins and Jack Bates, wing Aidan Boshoff and second-row Kenzie Jenkins.
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