In this weeks's episode we preview the return of the Prem with help from the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan. It's been a long break but there's all to play for and as we're only three points off 6th and six points off 4th can we dare to dream?

We also comment on Pat's interview on Bears TV this week and then try and pick the team for Friday. With a lot of players seemingly available it's actually quite a pleasurable task.

Finally we also revel a piece of news that will send shockwaves around BS3. Yes, Lee is going to come to the game. On mates rates of course.

Up the Bears!

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In the second of our occasional 'doc-pods' we head towards the end of this long fallow period by hearing from Paul Morgan, who is  the Communications Lead of PWR and previously Communications Director at Premier Rugby and before that editor of Rugby World. He talks about the rebranding of the PRW this season, his thoughts about Bears Women team and offer some more general thoughts on where domestic rugby union is going given the challenges that is has faced in recent times. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy and a preview of the Premiership re-start, with a special guest,  should be with you later in the week!

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In this week's slightly delayed pod (technical difficulties) we hear from Bristol legend and current Galway resident Joe Joyce . He gives us some insight into what it's like getting  a bit of niggle going with some of your best mates in the European Cup, speaks candidly about why he left his home town for pastures new and 'talks about' his future aspirations as well as revealing a surprising candidate for 'hardest man' in the Bears camp.

We also review the excellent Bears' Women victory against Saracens on Sunday with help from one of our occasional roving reporters, Marcus Watts, and then give our thoughts on the World Book Day contract extension news and speculate on what this may mean for next season.

Finally, we revisit an old Goat and its not bobble hats (or dry robes) although it does involve frustrations surrounding merchandise.

Thanks for listening as always and if you have any comments please get in touch via @bearsbeyondgate on Twitter, bearsbeyondthegate on Instagram or email to [email protected]

Up the Bears (even though we haven't seen them play for a while)!

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It's only Pete and Lee this week down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom supping a couple of cheeky beers, as Miles calls in sick at the last minute.

However, they still manage to fill the time, with help from listener posts, discussing the Bears Women victory against Loughborough Lightening in particular and how their season is hotting up more generally, as well as intertwining their thoughts with other subjects as wide ranging as Super League netball and the importance of not doing well in GCSE mock exams.

Realising that time is moving on, they also discuss the positive feedback received as a result of last week's Dave Attwood interview and agree that both 'Bristanbul' and more controversially, dry robes, are now discussion topics that have finally been put to bed although they do worry about the gentrification of East Street, Bedminster. They also 'talk about' news of a signing and a contract extension coming out of the club this week.

Finally they dip their toe into the more general rugby podcasting arena with a low key discussion of England vs Scotland loosely based around Gengey's travails before calling it a day as the timer approached the hour mark.

Enjoy!

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In this week's BUMPER episode we hear from Dave Attwood about:

• His life since retirement...
• His time at the Bears and what it was like working under Pat...
• THAT semi final defeat and why it all went wrong...
• What he thinks about Bristol's season so far AND how we are not 'a million miles away from clicking' and finally...
• His answers to some incredibly searching short sharp questions, including one that is on every fan's lips i.e what might be considered appropriate attire at rugby matches...

We then chat about some of the really interesting points that he raises and then discuss our thoughts on the season so far with help from listener questions, finally signing off to most people's relief with some shout outs and reminders of upcoming events.

On that note here are the details of the Open Day at South Bristol Girls Rugby that is mentioned at the end of the episode:

• 6.30pm on Friday 23rd February
• At Bristol Barbarians  RFC in Whitchurch
• Food, Drink and Rugby available!

South Bristol Girls run U12, U14 and U16 teams (Yrs 7-11) with training evert Thursday between 6 and 8pm. Get in touch via [email protected] or follow them on Facebook and Instagram

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In the first ever Bears Beyond The Gate 'docu-pod' we hear from Kiera, Kaye and Sophie about the work of the Bears Together Supporters Advisory Committee (SAC)  an initiative  that was announced at the start of the season as a way of the club being able to gather more direct feedback from fans about off-field matters. They talk about who they, and other members of SAC are, how the first meeting went and their aims of for the future. They are there to represent US so if you have any comments or suggestions for them please complete the Google Form below by clicking the link. Enjoy!

Bears Together Feedback form

And if you want to see what they all look like then click below!

Bears Together webpage on the Offie

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As the Premiership takes a mid season break for the Six Nations, we review the monumental banger at Ashton Gate as Bristol maintain their seven-game home town winning streak against Bath. Basically it was just a mental game of rugby. Multiple line breaks, gorgeous offloads and 14 tries AND virtually no box kicks or scrums. It was rugby played the way it should be!

As well as hearing from both sets of fans before and after the game thanks to our brand new audio recording device and Miles wearing a huge pair of headphones, we also read out a record-breaking 21 short, sharp summaries, the quality of which are university level, with a selection of game related limericks, acoustic poems and even haikus.

We also discuss a few other things such as our plan to get people in the Atyeo for every game but relatively quickly because we want to keep the pod under an hour ( we failed..).

Finally, many thanks to all listeners who voted for us in this year's Sports Podcast Awards. We have no idea whether we'll get on the podium but if we do it'll be a victory for hardworking, dedicated and often long suffering clubs fans all round the country.

Cheers!

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In this week's episode we welcome work experience fella Reg to deputise for Lee who is still in witness protection after his new year Bristol Post article - or is he just taking the Christmas Tree down?

We discuss the poor result and performance against Connacht which essentially saw us dumped out of both European Cups in one go and debate what this means in terms of goals and targets for the rest of the season and beyond. Is change needed and if so, what should it look like?

That said there is of course a huge game on Saturday, as Ashton Gate prepares for an inundation of dry robes with the visit of Bath Rugby and their Tesla driving Cockapoo owners. Is this the most must-win game ever in the history of must-winability.? We talk to Bath fan Tom Dabinett and actually feel quite positive as he reminds us that they haven't won there for ages.

We also review the successful Bears Woman's victory over Quins at Shaftesbuty Park with help from listener Kate McCoy and finally make one last shameful appeal for support in the Sports Podcast Awards with voting due to close this Sunday 28th January. If you haven't done already click the link below to give Bristol Bears the only remaining chance of silverware this season.

Multiple email accounts could and should be used!

VOTE HERE!

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Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards 2024 and help us bring home some silverware for the Bears! Click on the link below...

https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-rugby-podcast/

And in other news, the Bears lose to a decent Bulls outfit who out-muscle them in the scrum and generally look a bit better all round. Hear our thoughts and then those of Alan and William from Connacht's 'The Craggy Rugby Podcast' as they help us preview the final pool game from gorgeous Galway. The audio clip also includes Joe Joyce's post match interview after their loss to Lyon. How we miss those dulcet tones!

All this and more with Pete, Lee and Miles and a few pints of real ale recorded exclusively at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom.

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In this week's show we prepare, bake and scoff large amounts of humble pie after the surprise Bears' victory away at Sale Sharks. How can we be so bad and so good all in one week? We get the views of regular social media followers and also hear from yet another roving reporter who saw the game live, as well as throwing in our thoughts and opinions for good measure.

The last time a South African side game to the Gate a whole nation was disappointed but this time we welcome the Bulls in the next round of the Champions Cup. We are joined by fan A-P Cronje who not only gives us the lowdown about one of South Africa's premier club sides but also throws in a bit geography and history to boot. You can't say you don't learn stuff on this pod.

Finally, we have a quick chat about the work the Bears Women need to do to as they enter the second half of their season and finish off by mentioning that we have been nominated in the best rugby pod category for the 2024 Sports Podcast Awards. Seeing as we are up against national behemoths like The Rugby Pod and Maul or Nothing we could really do with your votes as well as those of extended families, distant relatives and anyone else you happen to know.

If you haven't done so already please click on the link below and help us push for amateur pod glory!

Vote here!

Thanks and Up the Bears!

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