Bristol Bears' owner Steven Lansdown and chairman Chris Booy are celebrating a victory off the field bigger than any they will achieve on it this season having secured the services of visionary director of rugby Pat Lam until the end of the 2027/28 season.
With the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership set to kick-off this evening when Saracens come to Ashton Gate, last season's table-toppers Bristol have confirmed Lam has signed a new five-year contract following the completion of his existing deal, keeping him at the club until the conclusion of the 2027/28 season.
Billionaire owner Steve Lansdown explained why he has locked down the former Samoan international on such a long contract.
He said: “What Pat and his team have achieved in a short space of time at Bristol Bears is excellent, but it’s not just the way that the team have performed on the field, it’s the culture and standards he has set to continually drive the organisation forward.
“Bristol Bears are on an exciting journey, and we are delighted to have Pat at the forefront of that.
"He has embraced the rebrand and our vision of ‘Inspiring Our Community Through Rugby Success’. From the Academy to our Women’s team, Pat lives and breathes our mission every day.
"He has given the city a rugby club we can be proud of.”
In 2017/18 Bristol won the Championship in Lam's first season at the club having arrived from Connacht where he led the Irish province to the Pro12 title. The following season they finished ninth in the Premiership with the highest points tally for a newly promoted club in twelve years.
A year later, Bristol clinched a third placed finish in the Gallagher Premiership and secured their first major silverware since 1983 with a European Challenge Cup Final victory over Toulon.
Last season Bristol recorded their highest ever regular season position, topping the table and making the Champions Cup knockout stages, while Lam was awarded Global Reach Director of Rugby of the Year.
Bristol chairman Chris Booy said: “We’re delighted to have secured Pat’s signature on a long-term contract.
"It’s no surprise he would have the interest of every top club in the world, so it’s testament to the ambition of the Bears that Pat was eager to stay.
“We are absolutely aligned on the direction of the club. Bristol Bears will continue to grow and we will achieve sustainable success at the top of the domestic and European game.
“Pat has built a squad of humble young men who not only represent our community superbly, they play an innovative brand of rugby that has everybody taking notice.”
Director of Rugby Pat Lam said: “It’s an absolute honour to continue as director of rugby at Bristol Bears. To have the opportunity to work with a great group of people, and to represent our community with pride and love is very special.
“I am grateful to have the continued support of Steve, Jon and Chris and I’m thankful that they have entrusted me to keep leading the Bristol Bears along our journey of Inspiring Our Community Through Rugby Success.
“While we have come a long way in the last four years, I am really excited by what is still to come as we challenge all of us individually and collectively to raise the bar every day.
“I genuinely believe that now we have all our Men, Women and Academy aligned as one club, we are poised to bring a lot of inspiration and success, on and off the field, for many years ahead and I feel very humbled to be a part of it.”
For more exclusive Bristol Bears content sign up to South West rugby writer John Evely's Rugby Week email newsletter right here with a team of the week and all the latest news from around the West Country during the 2021/22 season.
