Bristol Bears Sign Totoa Auvaa Following Saracens Departure

Bristol Bears have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old Samoan forward Totoa Auvaa, shortly after his contract was terminated by Saracens. Auvaa's departure from Saracens followed an investigation into a late-night incident in St Albans. Prior to this, the forward had been involved in an altercation involving England cricketers in June, though Saracens maintained their support at that time.

Pat Lam’s Rationale

Director of Rugby Pat Lam expressed his belief in second chances, noting that he sees potential for Auvaa to develop into an outstanding player. Lam highlighted:

• Auvaa is currently training with the squad and adapting to team systems.
• There are no formal ultimatums regarding his future behavior, though expectations for player conduct have been established.
• Lam aims to provide mentorship, drawing on his own life experiences to support the young forward.

Support and Mentorship

Lam acknowledged the efforts of Saracens, specifically noting that the club previously provided language support and mentorship from Maro Itoje. Itoje has reportedly maintained contact with Auvaa to offer guidance as he transitions to his new environment at Bristol.

Future Expectations

While Auvaa made only one appearance for Saracens, lasting 20 minutes in a Prem Rugby Cup match, he is expected to feature for Bristol in their upcoming November group stage matches against Sale and Bath. Lam emphasized that the focus remains on Auvaa learning the club's systems and integrating into the team environment. The situation remains subject to ongoing police investigations regarding the incident that led to his exit from Saracens.