Released Bristol Bears lock touted as the next big thing finds new club

Released Bristol Bears second-row Charlie Rice has signed a full-time contract with Championship side Cornish Pirates having made a single appearance for the club on loan last season.

Rice, despite still only being 21 years old, is a towering presence in the second row at 6ft 6in and nearly 19 stones and was tipped for big things at his home-town club Bristol having represented England at U18s and U20s level. But the Bristolian struggled to transition from the academy into the first team and only made six senior appearances for the Bears before being released this summer. He has also run out for local side the Gordano Sharks and for Hartpury in the Championship and ahead of joining the Pirates he played for Sumner RFC in New Zealand.

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Rice's inability to kick on at the Bears has been an all too familiar story for academy players in recent years, with director of rugby Pat Lam struggling to deliver on his initial vision for the club of packing the first team with homegrown developed players. Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, James Dun, George Kloska, Will Capon and Josh Caulfield are the club's contingent of local players to represent the club regularly.

Discussing the signing, Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said: “Charlie is a talented forward who has played a good amount of senior rugby, and we are particularly delighted to welcome him on board. Still very much a young man, and one able to play that physical role, he is another player with a great profile.”

“Having gained experience playing in New Zealand since he was last here was good both for him and us, as he returns with the bit between his teeth, which is fabulous. His aim now will be to play regularly, and show expected determination and a hunger to progress, as such young men do.”