Bristol Bears face the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday in Round One of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup

Bristol Bears will be without the majority of their big guns for Saturday’s Champions Cup opener away at the Stormers as a combination of injuries and a prioritisation of the league has shaped Pat Lam’s selection.

The Bristol director of rugby confirmed that one-cap England international hooker Gabriel Oghre has not made the trip to South Africa after suffering a calf strain in the 30-7 defeat to Saracens on Saturday, meaning the Bears will head into the class in Cape Town with their third and fourth choice hookers in action, with Harry Thacker still sidelined with a neck injury.

Elsewhere Scottish international full-back Tom Jordan is also unavailable for the Champions Cup opener having been pulled late in the day last weekend, providing selection headaches in the 15 jersey with Noah Heward out for the season with an ACL injury.

Lam said: “Tom Jordan’s still recovering from that niggle, a little leg strain. Gabriel Oghre picked up a calf strain in that game as well, so he's recovering from that.

"At the moment they are [fairly minor], but it's week-by-week, and we'll see if they're available next week or not.”

Bristol announced earlier in the day the club have signed Kiwi hooker Bryn Gordon as cover for the injured Thacker, and Oghre’s injury saw a hasty change of travel plans for the 25-year-old.

Lam explained: “We've been tracking Bryn Gordon as an English-qualified New Zealand hooker. We knew we got him on board as soon as he completed his time in the NPC with North Harbour—they lost to Taranaki at the weekend, so he was available and was going to fly to Bristol.

“With Gabriel Oghre injuring his leg in the Saracens game, we had to quickly change the flight and bypass to South Africa, bringing him down to South Africa first. He just arrived a couple of hours ago [on Thursday], so he's got a bit of jetlag he has to deal with.

"He's the traveling reserve in case. You never know with those specialist positions—that's why you need cover, because of the specialist positions of 2 and 9.”

Bristol sit sixth in the Gallagher PREM table after three rounds, but with two difficult wins under their belt, beating Sale Sharks on the road before getting the better of the defending champions Northampton Saints, they are right in the mix with the Bears just two points behind leaders Gloucester.

With the travel back from South Africa taking its toll, Lam has also opted to leave number of stars at home, including winger Louis Rees-Zammit, while centre Max Clark suffered a leg injury against Saracens at the weekend to rule him out.

Argentina international Matias Moroni looks set to come in for Clark at outside,having recovered from surgery on his face.

Lock Josh Caulfield has also recovered from the ACL injury he arrived with after rejoining the club over the summer from Ealing Trailfinders.

Lam said: “It's good to have both of them back, and they're buzzing and rearing to go.”

Lam is hoping for a significant boost in numbers ahead of the Gallagher PREM tie with Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate, with Ellis Genge expected to be back from his wrist injury, Max Lahiff targeting a return from a foot/ankle issue, and Benhard Janse van Rensburg set to be cleared to play providing he completes all his Return to Play protocols following a big head knock from the win against Saints.