Pat Lam has hailed the impact world-class kicking coach Dave Alred has had at Bristol Bears since joining the club this summer after the Premiership side announced he will extend his stay for the 2022/23 campaign.
In July the veteran of the 2003 England coaching staff that won the Rugby World Cup, joined the coaching staff of his hometown club Bristol on a short-term deal. But Bears director of rugby Lam has been quick to tie down the coach for the rest of the season in a bid to give his side an edge as they look to not only make a vast improvement on last season's 10th place finish in the Premiership but bid to win the club's first league title.
Lam said: “I have known Dave for a while and he is a world-class operator. He still works with Johnny Sexton, Beauden Barrett and some key players around the world but what he has been able to do in a short period for our backs has been phenomenal."
READ MORE: Bristol Bears injury and availability latest: Steven Luatua, Ellis Genge, Ioan Lloyd, Harry Thacker
And Alred's impact is reaching far beyond the art of the perfect spiral kick according to Lam. He said: "Within the coaching group, his wisdom, his knowledge have been tremendous for a young coaching group and even for myself, it has been awesome.
“Harry Randall hit a spiral into touch at the weekend and he took a mark. All the different varieties and techniques for the players, the players are loving him. He is not a young man, I wouldn’t say grandfather-like but he is certainly building great relationships with everybody so we are thoroughly enjoying him.
“It was just a no-brainer that we offered him to stay and more importantly he was keen to stay which was good. He is a Bristolian and he loves being part of it.”
Alred added: “The thing that attracted me to Bristol, and something I have detected, is an underlying culture of humility and hunger to learn. Very quickly, I’ve been made to feel welcome and accepted by both the coaches and the players and this culture prevails across the organisation.
“There is an encouragement to innovate with coaching methodologies and practice, and the players have responded really well to coaching processes that they, otherwise, have not experienced before. I’m looking forward to getting into the season.”
READ MORE:
Bristol Bears fill key vacant coaching role with former player
Great Genge and two Exeter powerhouses: West Country Gallagher Premiership Team of the Week
- Ellis Genge more than a returning hero as Bristol Bears' win over Bath went beyond derby joy
- Bristol Bears chief Pat Lam rues lack of TMO as he questions two on-field decisions against Bath
- Ellis Genge stars in fairy tale homecoming as Bristol Bears beat Bath Rugby
