Uren leading the charge of home-grown contingent
BRISTOL scrum-half Andy Uren is ready to buck the trend by proving the ambitious club can hang on to their top academy talent.
Uren, 22, has made a storming start to the Premiership campaign but is one of just three Bristolians in Pat Lam’s senior squad.
Former academy stars Ellis Genge, Mitch Eadie, Jake Polledri and Marco Mama now ply their trade elsewhere – a situation Uren wants to see reversed under Lam’s three-point plan to drag the club into rugby’s big time. Uren told The Rugby
Paper: “When you look at Ellis, Mitch and Jake and see how well they’re doing at other clubs, it’s a bit annoying.
“You can’t blame them for wanting to go elsewhere after we spent so many years in the Championship, but it would be great to see them back in a Bristol top and the ambition at the club has changed completely.
“Since Pat’s come in he’s said he wants Bristolians in the team, to make them internationals and be in the Champions Cup – and that’s great to hear because at the moment only me, Joe Joyce and Jack Tovey are from Bristol.
“I’m really pleased to be getting a crack now and, hopefully, other guys will come through our academy and stay.”
After featuring in his third Premiership match of the season against Harlequins yesterday, Uren is relishing his opportunities to direct a pack of forwards containing so much internationally acclaimed talent.
He said: “I’m still quite young and when you see the likes of Steven Luatua and George Smith playing for the All Blacks and Australia and then suddenly they’re right in front of you… it’s kind of surreal.
“I’ve had to pinch myself at times, but it’s really enjoyable playing with these guys and I’m learning so much off them.”
Uren, who signed a twoyear extension last season, is battling Nic Stirzaker, Harry Randall and Reiss Cullen for the No.9 jersey.
He added: “It’s good competition but I learnt a lot playing alongside Rhodri Williams last season and with Pat operating a rotation policy, that’s stood me in good stead.”