Randall out to get Bristol motoring

HARRY Randall is using his disappointment at missing out on the World Cup to ensure Bristol make a strong start to the Premiership campaign.

-  PAUL REES

The 25-year-old scrumhalf trained with England at the start of the summer, but was released from the squad when players from the teams that made the play-offs last season returned from their rest period.

Randall won the last of his six caps in France at the end of the 2022 Six Nations. Injury ruled him out of the following autumn campaign and he has been overtaken by Jack van Poortvliet, who has been ruled out of the World Cup by injury, and Alex Mitchell with veteran Danny Care earning a recall.

Randall finished last season strongly after returning for Bristol at the end of January. He scored nine tries in 13 Premiership starts, but his running and linking style do not chime with England's more functional approach under Steve Borthwick.