Bristol Bears will take on Bath Rugby at the Principality Stadium on Saturday in Round 16 of the 2024/25 Gallagher PremiershipGabriel Ibitoye runs in a try for Bristol Bears on his return from injury. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Pat Lam is backing his team of ‘rejects’ to deliver another derby victory against Bath’s star-studded side on Saturday when the two clubs go head to head in a potential make-or-break game in the play-off race at the Principality Stadium.

Bristol’s path into the play-offs, while still in their own hands, is now a tightrope walk with little room for error. With three rounds remaining, they have dropped down to fourth in the table, just a point ahead of Gloucester and three in front of Saracens.

Looking ahead to the derby against the table-toppers, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “It is a game I don’t need to motivate the guys for too much, because that just takes care of itself. We just need to make sure we are all pulling in the same direction.”

The Bears certainly have more obvious motivations going into the game with Bath having already secured a home semi-final in the play-offs following their 55-19 victory over Newcastle Falcons in Round 15. Having also secured a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Lyon in three weeks’ time, and with a match at the Recreation Ground against Leicester Tigers next weekend, there is a strong suspicion Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan will rest a number of his first team stars this weekend, but Lam says with Bath’s budget this season any side they put out will provide a challenge.

He said: “We have probably spent two million less on our squad this season compared to Bath to get our house in order financially. Bath have probably spent £2m more than us, they are the highest spenders in the league, and they have got a big squad. But the one thing we have always prided ourselves on since I got here is we don’t lose to Bath and I am really proud we have never lost to them at home. We have won eight on the trot. We have won more games against Bath than any other side, but saying that, they are the form team. They have got a huge squad and a lot of quality players.”

Newcastle director of rugby Steve Diamond has labelled Bath ‘the Galacticos’ this season, and the tag has seemed to stick, with their ability to bring international players off the bench – sometimes seven at a time – key to their runaway success this season.

Not so long ago that same tag was attached to Bristol, with Semi Radradra, Charles Piutau and Chris Vui gracing the side. But with owner Steve Lansdown tightening the club’s belt Lam has had to change his recruitment strategy, looking for more diamonds in the rough to polish up.

Lam explained: “My whole team is full of rejects and I mean that in the nicest possible way. There are lots of people there who have been turned down by someone, you are not in this academy, or school team, or at this club. I admire sportspeople who have had tough times and come back.

“If someone has got a dream and is willing to work hard, then they can make it. It is not the most talented players who always come through, it is those with resilience, fight, and desire who will come through.”

While Bristol have spent money on top talent like Ellis Genge, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Kalaveti Ravouvou, there are also plenty of players who have done it the hard way.

Instead of former All Black Piutau at 15 this week, or injured England star Max Malins, there will be Rich Lane this weekend, who was picked up from Championship side Bedford Blues. The Gallagher Premiership’s leading try-scorer, Gabriel Ibitoye, was signed from Israeli side the Tel Aviv Heat, having been let go by Harlequins. Hooker Harry Thacker was picked up from Leicester Tigers having been misjudged as being too small.

Lam continued: “Our captain, Fitz Harding, his journey in rugby is crazy. We went to Wellington College but didn’t get picked for the London Irish academy. He went to Durham University and was playing in the 4th team, enjoying himself. They realised he was pretty good and moved him up to the first team. We saw him playing in the BUCs league. He played a couple of sevens games for us and came in for a trial.

“The boys started saying to me, “When are you going to give this young kid a go, because he was firing into everyone in training? “A few years later, he is captain of the club at 25 years old. He is someone who epitomises everything we are about, fighting for everything. He has great skills but loves hard work.

“Jimmy Williams, there is another reject who was playing in the Championship when we found him. He was playing for Sale, got let go there, and is now playing at Hartpury. We played them in a pre-season game, and I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He was really controlling and driving them, and they nearly beat us. I offered him a contract, and he has taken his opportunity well.

“There are more talented players without a doubt, but one thing I will always back Jimmy on is his ability to fight for everything. He is like the Roy Keane of our side, attitude-wise; he won’t give in.”

And it is those types of players and attitudes Lam is banking on getting the job done in Cardiff to keep the race for the play-offs alive to the final hurdle, with Sale away and Harlequins at home still to come.