Pat Lam has given up on his Andy Uren experiment and granted the scrum half a release from his contract at Bristol Bears three years earlier than planned to join Italian URC side Benetton Treviso from the 2023/24 season.
The 27-year-old Bristolian, who has made over 150 appearances for his boyhood club, has been granted an early contract release request to join the Italian side having only signed a massive three-year extension until 2026 back in September.
Director of Rugby Pat Lam said: “Andy came to us with a very significant offer on the table from Benetton to go there as first-choice scrum half and asked us to consider the possibility of a release.
“When you consider the contribution that Andy has made to the club on and off the field; playing more than 150 games, Harry Randall being committed to the Bears long term, and the fact that this is a life-changing opportunity for him and his family, it was an opportunity we felt Andy deserved and he leaves with our full support.
“Andy can be very proud of what he has achieved at Bristol Bears to date – and at just 26 years old, the plan is for him to return an even better player and person from the incredible experience of playing in a different country and competition.”
It appears Uren has become fed up of playing increasingly second fiddle to England international Randall, with whom he was neck and neck with only a couple of seasons ago. In fact Uren has even fallen down the pecking order this season with the arrival of Will Porter from Wasps, although Porter has already signed a deal to join Harlequins next season.
Earlier this season Lam also granted scrum half Tom Whiteley an early release from his contract to join Leicester Tigers. In fact releasing players while still in contract at the club has been something of a theme this season with Luke Morahan and Elliott Stooke both being permitted to take up offers in France in December despite having deals until the end of the current campaign with Bristol.
Lam has never quite got Uren playing the game the way we wants. Watching the Bears director of rugby in the coaches box while Uren is pulling the strings at scrum half is like watching a man with a faulty remote control, frustrated as in this case his player goes 'off script' to his carefully laid plans, or simply doesn't deliver the ball at the speed wanted.
Uren said: “It’s been such a difficult decision to leave Bristol, but the opportunity in Treviso was something that I had to take for the next stage of my career. I’ve been at Bristol for a long time and I’m looking forward to broadening my rugby knowledge and life experience overseas.
“I’m hugely grateful to Pat and the club - not only for their support during my 13 years at Bristol - but for granting me an early release at the end of the current season to take up this opportunity in Benetton. The culture and environment that has been created here aresecond to none and I have no doubt the club will continue to go from strength to strength.
“I’m really excited by what we can achieve at Bristol Bears in the final period of the season and hope to finish my time here on a high.”
