Bristol Bears flanker Steven Luatua has joined the University of Bristol’s coaching team for the 2025/26 season as part of the club’s grand plans to strengthen the links between the two organisations to grow it into a fertile development pathway in the future.

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Gallagher PREM clubs like Exeter Chiefs, Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby have been trailblazers in growing partnerships with their neighbouring universities playing in the BUCs Super League, and with Bristol sat in the smallest academy catchment area in the country, Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is looking to imitate their success, having formally linked up with the University of Bristol in May 2024.

READ MORE: Bristol Bears vs Bath Rugby LIVE: Play-by-play PREM Rugby Cup updates from Ashton Gate

Lam has made no secret of his belief that there is plenty of PREM-ready talent playing university rugby, previously picking up the likes of club captain Fitz Harding from BUCs Super Rugby side Durham University, and just this summer signing Josh Carrington from Cardiff Met.

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Former All Black and current Samoa international Luatua will be joined in the coaching team by Bears homegrown hooker Will Capon, assistant coach Andrew Bell, legendary Bears Women and Red Roses star Amber Reed and head of rugby Olly Slym.

The first job of the new coaching group is to help the University of Bristol Men earn promotion into BUCS Super Rugby with the club having started the season unbeaten.

Bristol Bears head of academy, John Barnes, said: “Our partnership with the University of Bristol is hugely important for both our men’s and women’s pathways, so we’re pleased to be joining forces on the coaching provision across the programme.

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“The addition of Steven Luatua, whose rugby achievements and experience need no introduction, Bristolian Will Capon, and the experienced Andrew Bell to a coaching team that already features Amber Reed is hugely positive as we work towards establishing the University of Bristol as a BUCS Super League side.”

University of Bristol head of rugby, Olly Slym, said: “We are now entering the second season of the partnership with Bristol Bears, and the partnership has already seen a huge amount of success off the field, particularly in recruitment and the level of athlete attending Bristol University due to the link we have with the club.

“Therefore, it’s important that we get the coaching to match the player profile we now have at the University. With Bears adding Andrew Bell, Steven Luatua and securing Will Capon for another year, it shows that we have a coaching team to match the squad we have.

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“I personally want to thank Pat Lam and John Barnes for their continued support and hope we can repay them in a successful season on the pitch.”