Bristol Bears fans hoping for another flood of 'big name signings' at the Gallagher Premiership leaders might just be disappointed over the next couple of month Pat Lam has warned.
The dam of talent at the Bears is already close to bursting at Bristol's new world-class High Performance Centre with director of rugby Lam having brought together a band of superstars and bargain players who had been overlooked or slipped through the gaps elsewhere.
For every big money signing, like marquee men Semi Radradra - the Fijian captain, or Charles Piutau - the former All Black, there are the likes of Piers O'Conor who was picked up from Championship side Ealing Trailfinders and has played every minute in the Premiership this season on his way to winning the league player of the month award for January.
Lam has always said in his mind the secret to sustained club success is having a core of players with 100, 150, 200 club appearances to their name, with lock Joe Joyce one of the few players in this current squad approaching those kinds of figures at the moment.
Lam highlighted this week another of his key lieutenants both on and off the field are set to celebrate a landmark appearance this weekend with Wales international Callum Sheedy set to play his 100th game for the club having come through the academy.
He said: "It is massive for Callum Sheedy this week, it is his 100th game for Bristol. When you consider his journey and what he has been able to do since coming right through the academy and now an international player - and a very good one - he is a big leader in our team and it is potentially a big occasion for him."
A core of the squad having 200 appearances is achieved through stability and time, with few players coming and going, and that is exactly Lam's plan for his squad over the next couple of years with likes of essential ingredients to his recipe for success like Radradra still just eight months into a three-year contract and Wales international Ioan Lloyd in the middle of a four-year academy deal.
In the summer the of 2020, the Bears announced 33 contract extensions in one swoop as Gallagher Premiership clubs got their ducks in a row ahead of new reduced salary cap regulations coming into play.
In recent weeks Lam has continued to lock down a combination of young talented players from the academy and players who have proven themselves after taking gambles on agreeing to short-term deals.
Last week one cap Irish international winger Niyi Adeolokun signed a new deal to extend his stay in the West Country as did former Leinster hooker Bryan Bryne who was one of the 33 to sign a deal in the summer.
On Tuesday the club announced emerging backrow talent Fitz Harding has signed a first professional deal having been in the academy previously.
Discussing the stability in his squad this season, Lam laughed.
He said: "Some people will say 'Where are your new signings? Who have you got coming in?'
"I say to them: Semi Radradra, Charles Piutau, Kyle Sinckler, Luke Morahan, the list goes on. I had the big signings because I was building the team.
"There are so many big names in our team, they would be a massive signing going anywhere else but they are already here with us.
"We have done all our signing work and these guys are here next season and the season after and we are just adding bits and pieces to continue strengthening the team and it keeps everyone on their toes."
Lam potentially does have a couple of holes to fill in his squad with England international flanker Ben Earl and full back Max Malins set to return to their parent club Saracens at the end of their season long loan.
However Lam may decide he already has enough cover with Harding promoted into the first team to cover the backrow and Lloyd like-for-like player to Malins. Lloyd's effectiveness as cover for the Bears will depend in part on how big a part he players in Wales coach Wayne Pivac's plans over the coming years having been capped in the Autumn.
Players who agreed contract extensions in the summer
Forwards: Jake Woolmore, Yann Thomas, Harry Thacker, Will Capon, Kyle Sinckler, John Afoa, Max Lahiff, Jake Armstrong, Dave Attwood, Ed Holmes, John Hawkins, Chris Vui, Joe Joyce, Steven Luatua, James Dun, Dan Thomas, Jake Heenan, Nathan Hughes, Mitch Eadie.
Backs: Andy Uren, Harry Randall, Callum Sheedy, Tiff Eden, Siale Piuta, Sam Bedlow, Piers O’Conor, Siva Naulago, Alapati Leiua, Luke Morahan, Charles Piutau, Henry Purdy, Toby Fricker.
Signed new deals since the summer
Niyi Adeolokun, Bryan Bryne, Fitz Harding, Jac Lloyd - Senior Academy
