Director of Rugby/ Head Coach: Andy Robinson
Captain: Jack Lam
Stadium: Ashton Gate (Capacity: 27,000)
Last Season: Promoted
Prediction: 10th
The long wait was finally over for Bristol, they secured promotion back to the Premiership at the seventh time of asking and they have made some serious progress.
There are a number of star names in the Bristol camp, a man with Gavin Henson’s CV is always going to be a talented player pair that with the new duo of Jordan Crane and Tusi Pisi and the squad has quality.

Bristol captain, Jack Lam.
Bristol have a creative backline led by Samoan fly-half Pisi and the creative midfield should give space to the pace and flair of the quicker players out wide such as former Leicester and Wasps winger Varndell.
The pack is match for most Premiership sides without having any big names and lacking internationals. They should not encounter much in the way of trouble.
THREE TO WATCH
Gavin Henson
Position: Fly-Half/ Centre Nationality: Welsh Age: 34 Height: 1.83m Weight: 100kg
The playmaker has it all as an inside centre, he kicks, passes and tackles well, his pace is not quite what it used to be as he enters his mid-thirties but his playmaking ability make him a valuable player.
Henson also brings international experience and a big game knowledge to a team lacking much of that, he is among a splattering of internationals brought in by Andy Robinson to help Bristol acclimatise to the high level Premiership and Challenge Cup games they will face.
Jack Lam
Position: Flanker Nationality: Samoan Age: 28 Height: 1.88m Weight: 103kg
A ferocious tackler who’s size makes the tackle area a really difficult area to establish any dominance against the Bristol skipper. This coupled with effective breakdown work sees the Bristol captain dominate the immediate tackle situation.
Lam is also no stranger to attack and is more than happy to pop up on the inside shoulder of a fly-half to terrorise opposition tens.
Tom Varndell
Positon: Wing Nationality: English Age: 30 Height: 1.88m Weight: 101kg
Varndell is an absolutely unbelievable finisher, up there with the likes of Cueto and Hanley he can score from anywhere due to his pace. He adds some ‘X Factor’ to the Bristol backline.

Varndell in action for Bristol.
The 30 year old will be Robinson’s main attacking outlet this season, and it is a joy to ahve the talented winger back in the Premiership.
TRANSFERS
IN (13)
Luke Arscott (Bath Rugby, ENG)
Ryan Bevington (Ospreys, WAL)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers, ENG)
Nick Fenton-Wells (Bedford Blues, ENG)
Jon Fisher (Northampton Saints, ENG)
Will Hurrell (Doncaster Knights, ENG)
Giorgi Nemasadze (Tarbes, FRA)
Thretton Palamo (Saracens, ENG)
Tusi Pisi (Sunwolves, JAP)
Martin Roberts (Ospreys, WAL)
Soane Tonga’huia (Oyonnax, FRA)
Jordan Williams (Scarlets, WAL)
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets, WAL)
OUT (10)
Tommaso Benvenuti (Benneton Treviso, ITA)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, ENG)
Craif Hampson (Wasps, ENG)
Darren Hudson (Released, REL)
Marco Mama (Worcester Warriors, ENG)
Matthew Morgan (Cardiff Blues, WAL)
Josh Ovens (Released, REL)
Dwayne Peel (Retired, RET)
James Stephenson (Released, REL)
George Watkins (Jersey Reds, ENG)
Tusi Pisi is a good signing providing them with talent at fly-half. Arscott also has a lot of top level experience making him a clever capture along with number eight Crane. Everyone knows what Tonga’huia is capable of.

Pisi lining up a kick for the Sunwolves.
Genge is a hot prospect and will be missed especially as he is now gaining recognition from Eddie Jones. Mama is a good player and could have been hugely influential for Bristol. What a way for Dwayne Peel to end his career and a glittering one at that.
My Bristol Rugby 23
15 Luke Arscott 14 Tom Varndell 13 Will Hurrell 12 Gavin Henson 11 David Lemi 10 Tusi Pisi 9 Will Cliff
1 Soane Tonga’huia 2 Ross McMillan 3 Gaston Cortes 4 Mark Sorensen 5 Ian Evans 6 Jon Fisher 7 Jack Lam (Captain) 8 Jordan Crane
16 Chris Brooker 17 Ryan Bevington 18 Anthony Perenise 19 Joe Joyce 20 Olly Robinson 21 Martin Roberts 22 Thretton Palamo 23 Charlie Amesbury
Bristol will not be challenging for the top half but relegation doesn’t look likely.