Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has pulled off another sensational signing coup by landing giant French international back Virimi Vakatawa on a deal until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Fijian-born Vakatawa, 31, is essentially coming out of retirement after his former club Racing 92 announced on September 5 last year that the powerful back, who can play both in the centre and on the wing, was banned from playing rugby in France due to the discovery of a medical condition relating to his heart.

However, Vakatawa, made his first appearance in nearly a year last month playing for a Barbarians side coached by Lam which took on Samoa in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Brive. Bristol have now sought independent expert medical advice and 31-cap French international has been cleared to play in England and is expected to arrive at the Bears before the start of the Premiership season on which kicks off on Friday, October 13 against Leicester Tigers.

Vakatawa, who stands at 6ft 1in and weighs in at 15stone 10lb, scored 49 tries for Racing in 146 appearances and was nominated for the European Player of the Year award in 2020 when his club side were beaten by Exeter Chiefs in the final. The powerful back is also a former sevens star showing his impressive versatility and appears to be a stunning like-for-like replacement for Lyon-bound Fijian star Semi Radradra.

Source: Bristol Post