Bristol Bears are set to sign French inside centre Antoine Frisch, Bristol Live understands.
Frisch is English qualified through his mother and has been playing under former Bristol coach Richard Hill at French PRO D2 club Rouen during the 2020/21 season, scoring four tries while making 25 appearances.
Hill, who coached Bristol between 2003 and 2009 during the club’s best period in the professional era until current director of rugby Pat Lam arrived, is now understood to also be heading back to England having struggled with work abroad away from family during the Covid pandemic.
The Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler broke the news earlier today that Frisch is to join the Bears, which Bristol Live have since been able to confirm.
Frisch’s signature will not be the first time Lam has signed a Rouen player during his tenure at Bristol, with loosehead prop Yann Thomas returning to his hometown club in 2018 after a year in France.
Twenty-four-year-old Frisch has played the majority of his rugby in the 12 jersey but has also run out at outside centre and even full-back this season showing the versatility which is a trademark of a Lam signing, especially with squads now having to operate under a reduced salary cap.
Frisch, who grew up in Paris playing for Massy and Stade Francais as a youth, stands at 6ft 2in and weighs in at just over 14 stone.
Frisch’s impending signing appears to be a sign Lam is preparing for life without centre Siale Piutau who turns 36 in October.
The former Tongan international captain is a key leader within the Bristol Bears set-up having joined the club in January 2017 and despite his advancing age remains a regular starter when fit.
Lam also has Piers O’Conor, Sam Bedlow and Alapati Leiua to choose from at inside centre..
Frisch will be just Bristol’s second new signing ahead of the 2021/22 season, having already announced that Saracens scrum-half Tom Whiteley will move to the West Country in the summer.
