Bears Beyond The Gate

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 playe...

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 nic...

It's a rough and ready one-take Zoom episode on account of one pod member sweating profusely half way round the world, and with no music intro, but the lads talk over the 'stuttery' win against Newcastle Red Bulls and briefly reminisce on the glory of Big Game 17 in London.

They also discuss what this means for the visit of Sale next Friday and briefly look forward to the final European group games...

They finish with ...

Just like the BBC, the pod is here to inform, educate and entertain so we were delighted to chat with Rob Graham from the Rosbifs Rugby pod about all things Pau.

He gives us an insight into this less fashionble club from the foot of the Pyrenees and predicts how they might shape up at Ashton Gate on Sunday.

We also hear from Mark and Cameron from the Bears Supporters Advisory Committee who give us an update on their successes so far ...

In this episode we review the game against Scarlets. It looked like we were cruising at 12-0 up with more points to come but the home side had other ideas and put in a proper shift to take us to the wire.

We discuss the reasons why this might have happened as well as hear the thoughts of some listeners. 

Equally as importantly the game marked the first BBTG road trip of the season so we also review activities that took place off the ...

The lads jump on Zoom to speculate on the team for Saints this coming Saturday now that the Autumn International break is over. 

Which returning players will feature?

Have we succesfullly reduced our Guinness world record breaking injury list to more manageable levels?

Is the officiating team for the weekend more akin to watching a mash up of Last of the Summer Wine and Monarch of the Glen?

And will we win?

All this and not a lot more a...

It was a derby day to remember and although it didn't go our way for us, the effort was there. 

Pete, Lee and Miles ‘deep dive’ into the heated clash with them down the road, where the Bears battled hard, created big moments, but ultimately found that Bath were just that little bit better on the day.

🔥 Key Talking Points:

• Early impact & momentum:

From the off, the Bears looked fired up: a charge-down leading to a try...

This week we go over Friday night’s 7-try, 49-point dismantling of Gloucester under the lights and in front of the baying crowd at Kingsholm. We regained the Rifles Cup with another warrior-like performance of grit and graft but also sprinkled some fantastic handling and offloading. Despite our injury woes if felt a bit like the Bears Way in its full glory.

Not only did the frenetic nature of the game help last minute loanee and for...

Pete, Miles and Lee pick through the narrow win against the Chiefs as well as previewing the upcoming fixture against Gloucester with help from Ed Price from the Cherry Jam fan pod.

There is also the usual excellent contributions from listeners and a bonus section on Bennard Janse Van Rensburg's post match interivew with Clare Thomas.

Finally, we finsh off with a big, big Goat, an update on the work of the Supporters Advisory Co...

The five key takeaways from the pod this week after a few cheeky beers and bit of rugby banter…

1. Bears suffered an "absolute shellacking," losing 50-17 after falling 31-0 down by halftime, though the lads accept that Saracens' performance was "outstanding" and they probably would have beaten any team in the league it was that good.

2. The Bears just couldn’t convert any of pressure that they did create stru...

We chew over the opening day bonus point victory from the Media Conference Room at Ashton Gate. We were the only ones in it mind but it was still quite exciting nonetheless.

A shaky first half, where Tigers did a 'Radwan' on us, subsequently developed into a comfortable victory as the intensity increased, the pack took control and Prem debutant Tom Jordan ran the show.

The atmopshere at the stadium was excellent as the Bris...

Pod friend James Dun makes his second appearance live from the BBF Taproom to tell us how pre-season has gone, talk us through how the boys will prep for the game during the week and even make some of his own suggestions for ramping up the atmosphere at the Gate, in particular searching for George Kloska look-a-likies in the crowd...

As always, we appreciate his time and it's good to see the 'fourth mic' getting some ...

Having reached a double ton at the end of last season wth the help of emerging club and Instagram legend James Dun, the boys road-test their brand new crowd funded recording equipment at the BBF Taproom Studio Bar for the season seven opener with Bears CEO Tom Tainton, who, lets be honest, was well impressed with the set up and admtted that he had never done a pod in a lock-in before.

The boys asked him briefly about his journey to ...

Running order:

00.00 - 14.30: Re-living the semi at the Rec

14.30 - 18.40: Back to the start of the season and the focus on cohesion

18:40 - 25.45: Pronouncing Ravouvou, thoughts on Rubiolo and gym strength

25.45 - 30.45: Integrating the Internationals

30.45 - 41.00: Lee's list of positives, centurion or not centurion and Wooley tribute

41.00 - 52.30: European campaign, man love for BJVR and the Clermont cauldron

52.30 - 70.07: Quick...