"I've got unfinished business here." That was the message from Bristol Bears' official new signing Ellis Genge.
The England international loosehead prop will return to his hometown club this summer from Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Genge came through the academy at Bristol before breaking into the first team, making 28 appearances before departing in 2016 before Pat Lam's arrival.
Since then Genge has become club captain at table-topping Tigers, making 97 appearances for Leicester, while also earning 31 international caps, gaining a feared reputation as one of the best young looseheads in world rugby.
Explaining the motivation for making the move back to the South West, Genge said: “I’m so proud of my roots in Bristol and what the city means to me and my family.
"I have close relationships at the Bears and I’ve got unfinished business here – so it’s important for me to be able to come back and represent Bristol and play my role in the community.
“I want to pay tribute to Leicester Tigers and everybody who made my time there so special.
"It’s an unbelievable club and I have grown as a player and a person, I cannot express how grateful I am to all my teammates, coaches and fans at Welford Road.”
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam added: “Ellis is a World Class player who has grown to be a leader on and off the field for club and country. He obviously will add real value to us as a team and the whole Bristol Bears community.
“The thing that impressed me most about Ellis was his genuine love for Bristol and our people. Even while at Tigers, he remained invested in the community here running rugby coaching camps for underprivileged young people from all backgrounds.
“The fact that Ellis has taken a significant pay cut to come back home emphasises his commitment to his family and wanting to inspire our Bristol Community, which is central to our Bears vision.”
