By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-09-23 22:23:09 | Updated at 2024-09-30 09:32:38
6 days ago
England prop Ellis Genge has signed a new "long-term" contract with Bristol Bears, the club have announced.
A product of their academy, the 29-year-old forward was a key part of the Bears' strong end to last season which saw them win six of their final seven matches of the league season, missing out on the play-offs by two points.
"Hopefully it's not the end, a long contract, so obviously I feel at home now," Genge told BBC Radio Bristol. "To be honest I didn't realise how important it was to me."
Genge moved back to hometown club Bristol in the summer of 2022 following a six-year stay at Leicester Tigers, where he captained the side to a Premiership title in his final season.
"For me to leave obviously Leicester winning the Prem [Premiership title in 2022] and then coming straight here, it was a big ask," Genge added. "My family said, 'what are you doing?', but I knew it was the right decision.
"The training ground, compared to 90% of the other clubs, is above and beyond. That obviously is a big pull, going somewhere at work every day which you think this is wild.
"It was an easy one for me. I'm from here and when I put a Bristol shirt on, it actually means something to me. I probably am on par with how passionate I am about playing for England as what I am for playing for Bristol."
Genge is excited about the Bears' upcoming season and added: "If you're not first you're last. No-one remembers who finishes [in the] top four, they remember who wins.
"Personally, I'd love to bring back a trophy to Bristol and, hopefully, inspire a few more people from my neck of the woods to take up rugby."
Genge played 54 minutes in Bristol's 24-3 win over Newcastle Falcons in their Gallagher Premiership opener on Friday.
