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<\/p>\n“At Bristol Bears, we don’t call ourselves a rugby club. We are a marketing agency that plays rugby.”<\/p>\n
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam and new chief operating officer Tom Tainton (Photo: Ryan Crockett\/JMP)(Image: Ryan Crockett\/JMP)<\/p>\n
Bristol Bears’ chief executive has told a major sports coverage that the Gallagher Premiership club takes players’ off-field appeal into account during recruitment discussions.<\/p>\n
Tom Tainton, speaking at SportPro London, likening the organisation to ‘a marketing agency that plays rugby’ in his comments where he said that off-field factors and marketabilitity are an important factor in recruitment decision.<\/p>\n
Currently sitting fifth in the Premiership table as they push for a play-off spot this season, the Bears have made several high-profile additions to their squad in recent years, including Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit made his return to rugby from the NFL while Ilona Maher’s brief appearance in Premiership Women’s Rugby last season generated considerable attention for both the Bears and the league more broadly.<\/p>\n
The CEO, who was previously chief operating officer and head of communications at the club, explained at SportPro London that ‘Bristol Bears are a marketing agency that plays rugby’, as reports the Independent.<\/a><\/p>\n “There is no point going to market and spending marquee money on a player and just expect them to do something between the white lines on a Saturday,” Tainton said.<\/p>\n Want to make sure you are on top of all the rugby news in the South West? Then our new newsletter is the perfect place to do so<\/p>\n All the latest news, views, interviews, reports, and analysis concerning Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby are delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE<\/a><\/p>\n “At Bristol Bears<\/a>, we don’t call ourselves a rugby club. We are a marketing agency that plays rugby. Yes, our players have to be competent and able to deliver on the field, but if they are not bringing any value off the field, that genuinely factors into our recruitment conversations.”<\/p>\n Tom Tainton is pictured as he is announced as CEO of Bristol Bears. (Photo by Rogan\/Bristol Bears)<\/p>\n Tainton’s remarks arrive as the PREM shifts towards an expansion strategy having abolished promotion and relegation, and during a period of renewed investment within English rugby.<\/p>\n “I’d argue we have done the hard bit \u2013 the product is superb,” he added, as reports the Independent.<\/a>. “There are young, articulate men and women playing the game. We’ve got a great base to grow from. We now have to take some bold risks to get out of our comfort zone and do things that the sport hasn’t previously done.”<\/p>\n Bristol Bears on Whatsapp<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Bears stories sent straight to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_JS130771282.jpg\")
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