Bears Beyond The Gate

Ever wondered how professional rugby players navigate the transition from one team to another while maintaining their game and sanity?  Join us as we chat with Callum Sheedy and Dan Thomas, ex Bears who recently set up shop in Cardiff. They share what it's like to move from familiar territory, the emotional rollercoaster of starting anew, and how commuting together helps them stay connected t...

What happens when you mix a makeshift dining room studio with lively rugby banter?  You get a fun-filled episode of Bears Beyond the Gate!  Join us as our usual podcast space at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom is commandeered by the BBC, forcing us into the homely pod studio. Miles shares his up-close experience from the England versus Australia clash at Twickenham but despite England's loss...

In this week’s episode we discuss the extent to which Ashton Gate is on its first steps to becoming a fortress after the first home win of the season against Saints despite our general lack of historical knowledge and the fact that the boys had to dig deep from 15-0 down. We also analyse TNT’s official post match interview with Joe Batley as well as our own unofficial one with pod favorite AJ ‘Adg...

In this week's episode we re-live the agonising defeat against Sarries, who are now well established as our Ashton Gate bogey team. We were much the better side but just couldn't put the game to bed when in front and on top. However it was a great spectacle for the 18K fans who turned up for the family day double header and long may the fast flowing and exciting rugby continue. We talk a...

This week the boys break down yet another away win for the Bears down at Sandy Park.  At 32-12 down with all stats against us and only 14 minutes left on the clock, we somehow snatch victory from the jaws of defeat leaving us in dreamland and top of the table after four games. We try to make sense of the mayhem whilst opening cans of beer and marveling at how sometimes fact is stranger than fictio...

We can bearly contain ourselves this week as the Boys went to the Rec on Saturday as underdogs but left it with a wholehearted Blackbird ringing in their ears. It was a game of passion, purpose and no little skill on both sides but for the 145th time in the history of this fixture the Bears were triumphant. We break down the events at the Rec and then look forward to the next game at Chiefs with t...

In this week's show Pete and Miles review the Friday night harem scarum defeat to Gloucester with help from many listener contributions and the Deputy Manager of the Bristol Bear Factory, Lewis. It was one of those games where every single statistic was in our favour apart from the one that matters, that is, the final score and perhaps on another day we would have strolled to victory. But we...

This week we review the start of the Premiership with the gritty but points-profitable win away at Newcastle.  Was it a solid start with a few leanings or rather as good as you might expect given the time of year, the weather and the fact that they are coached by Steve Diamond? We read out listener thoughts, both poetic and prosaic, give our views on the game and forensically analyse Bennard Janse...

The boys get Season 6 (yes 6!) off to a solid start from the world famous Bristol Beer Factory and 'talk about' the following things: The Big Day out - good, bad or a bit of both? The new home and away kit - obviously good but just how good? The pre-season game vs Dragons - Miles and Pete report back along from a wet night at Clifton RFC with a bonus post-match sound bite from Pat and a...

The lads finally manage to organise a time to meet up and record their final thoughts on what turned out to be yet another roller coaster season for the Bears. They run through the season and their memories of each game, reveal the results of the listener vote and outline one final Lee-related Goat. Has he managed to secure a seat for next season or have sinister forces been at play working agains...

In this week's pod we re-live our epic journey to SW London on the Supporters Coach where we experienced, quite simply, one of the best rugby away days ever. We loved the Stoop... We loved the running rugby... We loved the ale and the Chicken Caesar burger (albeit a bit pricey) And one of us loved the cheeky little techno DJ... What a day, what a win and what a shame Sarries let us down. Oh w...

In this week's episode, Pete, Miles and Lee review the defeat against Saracens at Ashton Gate. Despite a good start the Bears ultimately lost control of the game in the face of an incredibly experienced, focused and effective opposition who delivered a classic 'been there, seen that and worn the T-shirt' sort of performance led by the mercurial Owen Farrell. Fair play to the them. T...

This week we pick over the carcass that was the massacre in BS3 and we’re not talking about the hammering of Falcons at Ashton Gate last weekend.  No, we’re talking about the first ever live pod at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom. We look back on an evening of structured chaos, discuss the learnings and then move quickly on to more pressing matters such as the fantastic victory yesterday away at...

It's a carnival atmosphere down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom this week as having constantly 'talked about' doing a live pod the lads actually execute one straight after the 13-try massacre of Newcastle Falcons at Ashton Gate. It's raw and it's raucous but the lads try their best to analyse the game despite 10% off the beers and 50% of the champagne. They also look t...

In this week's episode we formally announce our first ever live pod, in the sense that we are inviting an audience to the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom post Falcons at 6.30pm next Sunday. If you are interested in finding out more, and even contemplating joining us, then complete the Eventbrite registration below (it's free but it helps us get an idea of numbers) as well as the Google form...

You’re listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We’re two and a half season cardholders at Ashton Gate who love the club, the game and all things Bears. Well, Miles is happy as Pat listens to his selection advice from the ski slopes of France and moves Max to full back, Noah Howard to the wing and gives Gengey the starting berth at loosehead. And it works,...

In this week’s episode Pete and Miles dial in from their respective ski resorts  whilst Lee shakes his head at the whole middle classy-ness of it all. That said, it was worth the effort as the boys chew over the fantastic victory against Saints on Friday and give their thoughts on what was very close to being the elusive 80- performance. They discuss various key moments in the game, reflect on the...

In this weeks's episode we preview the return of the Prem with help from the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan. It's been a long break but there's all to play for and as we're only three points off 6th and six points off 4th can we dare to dream? We also comment on Pat's interview on Bears TV this week and then try and pick the team for Friday. With a lot of players seemingl...

In the second of our occasional 'doc-pods' we head towards the end of this long fallow period by hearing from Paul Morgan, who is  the Communications Lead of PWR and previously Communications Director at Premier Rugby and before that editor of Rugby World. He talks about the rebranding of the PRW this season, his thoughts about Bears Women team and offer some more general thoughts on whe...

In this week's slightly delayed pod (technical difficulties) we hear from Bristol legend and current Galway resident Joe Joyce . He gives us some insight into what it's like getting  a bit of niggle going with some of your best mates in the European Cup, speaks candidly about why he left his home town for pastures new and 'talks about' his future aspirations as well as revealin...

It's only Pete and Lee this week down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom supping a couple of cheeky beers, as Miles calls in sick at the last minute. However, they still manage to fill the time, with help from listener posts, discussing the Bears Women victory against Loughborough Lightening in particular and how their season is hotting up more generally, as well as intertwining their though...

In this week's BUMPER episode we hear from Dave Attwood about: His life since retirement... His time at the Bears and what it was like working under Pat... THAT semi final defeat and why it all went wrong... What he thinks about Bristol's season so far AND how we are not 'a million miles away from clicking' and finally... His answers to some incredibly searching short sharp que...

In the first ever Bears Beyond The Gate 'docu-pod' we hear from Kiera, Kaye and Sophie about the work of the Bears Together Supporters Advisory Committee (SAC)  an initiative  that was announced at the start of the season as a way of the club being able to gather more direct feedback from fans about off-field matters. They talk about who they, and other members of SAC are, how the first...

As the Premiership takes a mid season break for the Six Nations, we review the monumental banger at Ashton Gate as Bristol maintain their seven-game home town winning streak against Bath. Basically it was just a mental game of rugby. Multiple line breaks, gorgeous offloads and 14 tries AND virtually no box kicks or scrums. It was rugby played the way it should be! As well as hearing from both sets...

In this week's episode we welcome work experience fella Reg to deputise for Lee who is still in witness protection after his new year Bristol Post article - or is he just taking the Christmas Tree down? We discuss the poor result and performance against Connacht which essentially saw us dumped out of both European Cups in one go and debate what this means in terms of goals and targets for the...