Just finishing in the top six this season would be a disappointment to Bristol Bears’ high-flying fly-half Callum Sheedy who is drawing praise from far and wide.
The 24-year-old stand-off orchestrated a stunning 19-13 victory over Bath Rugby on Sunday to secure his side’s fourth successive victory on the bounce in the Gallagher Premiership and move the club up to third in the table after 12 rounds - just a point off second place Sale Sharks and a potential home semi-final.
Sheedy pulled the strings at The Rec as he set up the Bears’ second try with a stunning dummy, searing pace and then pin-point cross-field kick into the arms of Alapati Leiua. It was a moment of genius only a handful of players in the league could have executed.
The Bears have been honest and steadfast in their aims for this season, with the goals set on the top six finish to earn a place in the Heineken Champions Cup next season, but Sheedy confessed “he’d be lying” if he wasn’t aiming higher.
Talking after a first victory at The Rec and league double over derby rivals Bath since 2006, when Sheedy was 10, the fly-half said: “Obviously we set our goals at the start of the season, the top six was the goal, but I’m sure Pat [Lam, the Bears director of rugby] told you that top six can be first, second, third, fourth,” he said.
“But we’re rugby players, we’re competitors, we want to win it.”
“I’d be lying to you saying I’d be happy with sixth place, because I don’t think anyone in that dressing room is happy with sixth place, and I think if you’re happy with sixth place then you are in the wrong environment, we want to win it but so do eleven other teams.”
“But our goal’s top six and that could be first.”
Sixth place sides historically fair terribly in the Champions Cup with just one side in the last decade making it through to the knockout stages in Europe having finished as the lowest qualifiers from the Premiership.
Having been at Bristol during some tough years scraping it out in the Greene King IPA Championship, Sheedy is relishing the growth of the club and this group of players.
He said: “From where we are this week to last week, compared to last year, compared to the year before, we are constantly growing, it’s really special.”
“The growth in the group is unbelievable and it feels like we are growing every training day, every week so it’s really exciting to see where this group can go.”
However Sheedy is aware the Bears can’t take their foot off the gas for a second with Harlequins coming to Ashton Gate on Sunday.
He said: “We have a huge task next week against Harlequins who had a big win last weekend [beating table toppers Exeter Chiefs 34-30].
“This league is relentless, it comes thick and fast and next week will be a new challenge.”
