Versatile back three player Toby Fricker has rejoined the clubBristol’s Toby Fricker scores a try during the Gallagher Premiership match at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. Picture date: Saturday October 19, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Bristol. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire.

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Pat Lam has brought USA international back Toby Fricker back to the club for a third spell to help ease the strain of Bristol Bears ‘ unprecedented injury crisis in the back line.

Fricker, 30, signed the short-term deal with the Gallagher PREM club while away on a stag do and Lam reported he turned up to the Bears’ training base on Monday ‘a little dusty’ but has been thrown straight into the deep end along with 93-cap Argentina international Matias Moroni who landed on Saturday having also put pen to paper on a brief deal.

Fricker spent last season playing in the USA in the MLR for Anthem RC and has seven caps for the USA Eagles to his name, but the Welsh native also has 34 appearances for the Bears under his belt, four of which came last season during another injury crisis at Bristol, meaning he has been able to integrate back into the system quickly, much like scrum half Oscar Lennon who arrived a couple of weeks ago having previously been in the set-up.

Bristol director of rugby Lam said: “I managed to find Toby Fricker on a stag do last week. So he rocked into training. He’s obviously been preparing and training because he’s been away with USA Rugby, and he’s managed to join us on Monday. He was a little bit dusty, but he’s passed his medical and he’s out training, so he managed to get some numbers.”

Fricker returns to Ashton Gate with the Bears missing multiple back three options, with wingers Gabriel Ibitoye, Louis Rees-Zammit and Jack Bates out, and full backs Rich Lane, Noah Heward, Josh Carrington and Tom Jordan unavailable – the latter following a three match suspension after earning a 20-minute red card on Saturday.

Bristol went into the season with their smallest senior squad since Lam arrived at the club eight years ago and with 13 backs unavailable heading into the weekend, that has proven problematic. But Lam said the thinking around running a tight squad remains sound. He said: “It’s been great, and we had Oscar and Toby Fricker in here before. And that’s a good example. They could have been on contracts here, but maybe not playing because all the other guys are here. And that was a difficulty, and when I looked at it, there were so many good players, but I couldn’t guarantee them week-in, week-out rugby. So for them and their growth, it is better that they play competitive rugby. So then they went off to MLR and played. And now we have the injury they’re actually coming in and they’re enjoying it because they’re here and they’re lining up. Oscar came in, had one training and now he’s lining up in the 23, so he’s all happy. You know, the boys want to play.