Bristol Bears will make their return to the European Rugby Challenge Cup in October under former Samoa and Connacht Rugby head coach Pat Lam after a year out of the competition. We take a look at some of the eye-catching additions at Ashton Gate, including former All Black back Charles Piutau and World Cup-winning All Black prop John Afoa. Charles Piutau 26-year-old full-back Charles Piutau is likely to be an exceptional signing for Bristol Bears after making the move from Ulster Rugby to Ashton Gate this summer. Piutau scored four tries in 20 matches for the All Blacks between 2013 and 2015, before moving from Super Rugby side Blues to Wasps. In his first season at Wasps, he played every match in their run to the Champions Cup semi-finals, before being beaten 24-17 by eventual winners Saracens. The former All Black’s excellent try-scoring record continued at Ulster Rugby, where he scored four tries in 11 Champions Cup matches, including a brace against Exeter Chiefs. Blessed with a unique combination of pace and power, expect plenty of fireworks whenever Piutau steps on the pitch for Bristol Bears this season. https://twitter.com/BristolBears/status/1030491951156678656 John Afoa World Cup-winning prop John Afoa brings bags of experience at international and European level to the West Country side this season. The 34-year-old played for Auckland-based Super Rugby side Blues between 2004 and 2011, during which time he was in the All Blacks squad that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Hard-hitting Afoa moved to Ulster Rugby in 2011, helping them reach the European Cup final in his first season with the Irish province, before they were beaten 42-14 by Leinster Rugby at Twickenham. He moved onto Gloucester Rugby in 2014 and played in the Cherry and Whites’ successful Challenge Cup campaign in 2015 as they beat Edinburgh Rugby 19-13 in the final at Twickenham Stoop. The prop has since played in two more Challenge Cup finals, including last season’s dramatic 31-30 defeat to Cardiff Blues in what turned out to be his last match for the club. Harry Thacker 24-year-old hooker Harry Thacker is another player to join Bristol Bears during the off-season with experience of Champions Cup rugby. Thacker made his debut in Europe’s elite club competition back in 2015, helping Leicester Tigers reach the Champions Cup semi-finals before being beaten 19-16 by Racing 92 in a nail-biting semi-final at the City Ground in Nottingham. Since then, his appearances in Europe have been sparse with his sole start coming against Castres Olympique in last season’s competition but it would be no shock if Thacker plays a role in their Challenge Cup campaign this season. https://twitter.com/BristolBears/status/1029727320075063296 George Smith 38-year-old Australia back-row George Smith makes his return to European rugby with Bristol Bears after a season with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath. Smith was in the same Wasps team as Charles Piutau that reached the Champions Cup semi-finals in 2016, before a narrow defeat to Saracens. He would win several awards that season including Wasps’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. Prior to his move to Wasps, Smith had previously spent time in European rugby with RC Toulon, Stade Français Paris and Lyon. Bristol Bears have been drawn in Challenge Cup Pool 4 alongside Russian side Enisei-STM, 2018 Champions Cup quarter-finalists La Rochelle and Zebre Rugby, who they will meet in Round 1 on October 13.