The Rugby World Cup taught us there is plenty of untapped talent around the globe who could certainly do a job at Gallagher Premiership level.
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is building a well founded reputation for finding high quality bargain players as well as key big name signings.
For the likes of the Charles Piutaus, Semi Radradras and Kyle Sincklers - All Black, Fijian and England internationals respectively and arguably the best players in their positions in the world - Lam and his recruitment team have unearthed the likes of Henry Purdy playing at Coventry in the Championship, Scottish international Luke Hamilton working in his restaurant without a club and Max Lahiff scrabbling for a contract after failing a medical with Clermont.
Not to mention the likes of Toby Fricker who was plying his trade in the Welsh Premiership before getting a deal at the Bears.
In the same vein, Bristol have been linked with Uruguay number eight Manuel Diana Olaso.
The 25-cap international played in three of Los Teros’ 2019 Rugby World Cup games in Japan in the Autumn, facing Wales and Australia before playing a key role in securing a famous 30-27 victory over a Fijian side which included stars like Radradra, Harlequins’ Niki Goneva and Bath’s Josh Matavesi.
In the win over Fiji Olaso packed down at number eight opposite 2018 European Player of the Year Leone Nakarawa, scoring one of Uruguay’s tries in arguably the biggest win in their history.
Olaso, 24, currently plays for Canadian Major League Rugby (MLR) side the Toronto Arrows but is expected to move on next season.
At 6ft 2in and 15 and half stone the backrower could make a useful addition to the Bears’ resources at number eight with cover behind first choice Nathan Hughes a little thin of the ground ahead of 2020/21 with former England international Jordan Crane retiring at the end of the current season.
Hamilton is also out of contract at the end of the season with his future currently unknown.
Steve Luatua is more than capable of playing at the back of the pack if required, Mitch Eadie could do a job there when he returns to the West Country from Northampton Saints next season while Sam Graham is coming through from the academy having spent most of the season on loan at Hartpury, but like Hamilton he is also out of contract at the end of the current campaign - whenever that may be.
