Bears' new arrival had to hit the ground running

AT Lam has revealed both his first and second choice hookers suffered training ground incidents last week to thrust emergency signing Nathan Langdon straight into the matchday 23 to face an Argentina XV last weekend.

- JOHN EVELY

Once again, luck was not on Bristol Bears’ side in the buildup to the exhibition game at Ashton Gate, which they went on to lose, with both Harry Thacker and Gabriel Oghre ruled out of the match late in the week.

Thacker had even done the pre-match press conference to promote the game in a clear sign of his likely involvement.