England prop Genge signs new Bristol contract

England prop Ellis Genge has signed a caller "long-term" statement pinch Bristol Bears, nan nine person announced.

A merchandise of Bristol's academy, nan 29-year-old guardant was a cardinal portion of nan Bears' beardown extremity to past play which saw them triumph six of their last 7 matches of nan convention season, missing retired connected nan play-offs by 2 points.

"Hopefully it's not nan end, a agelong contract, truthful evidently I consciousness astatine location now. To beryllium honorable I didn't realise really important it was to me," Genge told BBC Radio Points West.

Genge moved backmost to hometown nine Bristol successful nan summertime of 2022 pursuing a six-year enactment astatine Leicester Tigers, wherever he captained nan broadside to a Premiership title successful his last season.

"For maine to time off evidently Leicester winning nan Prem [Premiership title successful 2022] and past coming consecutive here, it was a large ask. My family said 'what are you doing?' but I knew it was nan correct decision," Genge said.

"The training ground, compared to 90% of nan different clubs, is supra and beyond. That evidently is simply a large pull, going location astatine activity each time which you deliberation this is wild.

"It was an easy 1 for me. I'm from present and erstwhile I put a Bristol garment on, it really intends thing to me. I astir apt americium connected par pinch really passionate I americium astir playing for England arsenic what I americium for playing for Bristol."

Genge is excited astir nan Bears' upcoming season, adding, "If you're not first you're last. No-one remembers who finishes [in the] apical four, they retrieve who wins.

"Personally, I'd emotion to bring backmost a trophy to Bristol and, hopefully, animate a fewer much group from my cervix of nan woods to return up rugby," he added.

Genge played 54 minutes successful Bristol's 24-3 win complete Newcastle Falcons successful their Gallagher Premiership opener connected Friday.