European Cup record

This will be only Bristol’s fourth season in Europe’s elite club rugby competition. They bowed out in the pool stage in 2002-03 and 2007-08 but reached the last 16 in 2020-21.

Last season

A 27-18 win at Connacht Rugby ensured Bristol progressed to the knockout stage from Pool B, after they went down 51-38 at home to ASM Clermont Auvergne. However, Bristol were then beaten 36-17 at Union Bordeaux-Bègles, who were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual Heineken Champions Cup winners Stade Toulousain.

Director of rugby

Pat Lam initially joined Bristol as head coach in 2017 and guided the then-RFU Championship side into the Gallagher Premiership following 21 wins from 22 games in his first season at the helm. The former Samoan international was later promoted to director of rugby in 2019 after Bristol finished ninth in the English top-flight – the highest position for a promoted club in 12 years. Lam ended Bristol’s 37-year wait for a trophy when they lifted the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2020.

Key players

British and Irish Lion prop Kyle Sinckler spearheads the Bristol pack which also includes ex-New Zealand prop John Afoa and flanker Steve Luatua, as well as former England No.8 Nathan Hughes and lock Dave Attwood. The back line features another ex-All Black in full-back Charles Piutau, Fiji flyer Semi Radradra and young international half-backs Callum Sheedy (Wales) and Harry Randall (England).

Pool fixtures

Bristol open their Pool B games with a home game against Scarlets on December 11, before they travel to Stade Jean-Bouin to face Stade Français Paris on December 19. Pat Lam’s side will then host Stade Français on January 15, before their final fixture on January 22 at Scarlets.

Bristol Bears are the next team to be previewed ahead of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup campaign as Pat Lam’s side hope to improve on last season’s Round of 16 exit.