Bristol Bears scoring try signs for Doncaster Knights

Hooker Fred Davies will swap Bristol Bears for Doncaster Knights next season, the Championship club have confirmed.

Davies, 25, joined Bristol ahead of the 2022/23 season as a star player for Durham University’s BUCS side. While at university he broke the BUCS Super Rugby record for try scores in a single season, landing 22 times in the 2021/22 season and was named the BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Year to attract the attention of the Director of Rugby Bears, Pat Lam. .

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However, the former Northampton Saints academy product has struggled to establish himself in the first team at Ashton Gate, making just five senior appearances for the Bears, with the likes of Harry Thacker and Gabriel Oghre ahead of him in the pecking order. When he played for the Bears, Davies impressed.

Doncaster head coach Joe Ford said: “He gained invaluable experience while playing at Bristol. He is Bristol’s captain and will come in and add real competition to the squad and as always add great options at hooker for the new season.

“He worked with Darren Fearn (Doncaster Knights forwards coach for 2024/25) at the England students and Darren was very keen to bring him into the side.”

Bristol have already confirmed the signing of Doncaster hooker Tom Doughty ahead of next season as their third choice option in the specialist position.