Bears Beyond The Gate

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In this special preview episode Pete is joined by Rob from the Rosbifs Rugby pod.

He gives us the lowdown on what to expect from Toulouse on Saturday. It's not particularly optimisitc but there are a few crumbs of comfort and who knows, stranger things have happened?

Equally, or maybe even more importantly, the second half of the chat is all about what to do when you get out there this weekend including going to watch Colomiers vs Dax on Friday night as well as following his recommendations for places to eat, drink and be merry whatever the result!

Marche Victor Hugo - classic French market:

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La Voie Maltee - craft beer bottle shop for takeaways to enjoy by the river:

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La Bierographe - bar for craft beer nerds:

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Chez Tonton - Student bar by the river. A bit rowdy but a Toulouse institution:

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The Hopscotch Pub - Scottish bar with beers brewed in house:

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Little Big Bar - small bar with good beer and a decent mixed platter. Lots of restaurants on the same street:

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Pub O'clock - next to Marche Victor Hugo. A big sports bar with good range of beers.

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Le Dahu - Great value restaurant with traditional 3-course meal and amazing Dauphinoise potato. 

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Finally, Rosbifs Rugby favorite place - a small wine bar with generous pourings. Listen to the end of the pod to find out its name!

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In a slight diversion from the norm Pete, Lee and Miles record live from The Philarmonic on St Mary's Street, Cardiff, both before and straight after the game.

What a difference a few hours makes!

You can only say what you think and the Thatchers fuelled pre-match expectation and optimism is countered by the harsh reality of the post-match result. If that doesn't remind anyone of the fickle nature of being a fan then we don't know what does!

On further reflection we may think differently or we may double down on our initial thoughts. Who knows? 

But as always we try to give a balanced view on a game that we barely had time to process before hitting the record button. You may agree, disagree or not give a toss but either way it is what it is!

Enjoy and up the Bears!

Time stamps:

00:00 - 08:32 - Pre match chirpiness

08:33 - 18:00 - Post match reflection

18:01 - 18:45 - A small ray of sunshine - Look-a-like-cam?

18:46 - 23:30 - The  debrief continues

23:31 -  25:06 - A positive listener viewpoint

25:07 - 26:30 - A random positve chat with Rob from Skewen RFC

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

We're back from our Six Nations hiatus with a round up of news from in and around the club as well turning our attention to the relatively happy hunting gound that is Welford Road as we re-start our quest to reach the Prem summit on Sunday.

Running order:

1. Injury updates
2. Contract extensions
3. New signings
4. Big Day Out ticket sales
5. Bears Women
6. Matt Salter
7. Prem Cup campaign pluses and minuses
8. Tigers preview with a little help from BBC Leicester Tigers Rugby Show
9. Poetry goat
10. The end

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The main event is the Jake Heenan interview where we chat to him about his rugby career which of course included seven years and over 100 appearances for Bristol Bears. We also discuss his relationship with Pat from his time as a youngster in the Auckland Blues Academy through to the title winning Connacht side of 2016 and finally his successful stint in Bristol. He provides great insight into the ups and downs of a pro rugby player but also demands recognition for the selfless way that he gave up his contract here in order to free up cap space for Tom Jordan and Louis Rees-Zamitt!

Joking aside it was a very interesting 30 mins or so which we hope that listeners will enjoy.

Prior to that we also discuss the recent Prem Cup games, the emergence of Bears players in England A and (and senior) squads (up the Klosk!) and reaffirm our belief that it was us who started the famous 'Gengey's coming home chant'.

All that and more with Pete, Lee and Miles and a few cheeky beers provided by the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom via the ever generous Lewis.

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

Let us know what you think!

The band is back together again as the boys chat over the gritty, but not particularly pretty new year win over Sale. 

It was a chilly night at the Gate and the fortress was certainly tested but thankfully the drawbridge was raised in the 72nd minute when Kela Ravouvou scored the deciding try.

Lying fourth at the mid point of the Prem season is probably better than we could  have hoped for but we now seemed to have settled into a nice rhytmn with a level of physicality that is delivering results.

Next up is a trip to the sunny High Veld and an appointment with the Vodacomm Bulls. There is a suspicion that the South Africans aren't massively keen on the Champions Cup so a victory in Pretoria would set things up nicely for the visit of Bordeaux Begles the following week. 

Lewis Rees-Zamit's contract extension is also discussed as is the suggestion that Moroni has the air of a Latino Henry Purdy.

Join Pete, Miles and Lee for a cheeky beer and a bit of Bristol-related rugby banter...

Let us know what you think!