Former Ireland international Bernard Jackman has returned to a hands-on role in rugby after joining Bristol Bears.
The 50-year-old has renewed his working relationship with Bears director of rugby Pat Lam. He will be taking up a new position as head of recruitment at Ashton Gate.
According to RugbyPass, Jackman has taken over responsibility for recruitment following the departure of Gethin Watts, who leftl in August after seven years.
His first major task is understood to be finding cover following a serious injury to Noah Heward. There is also serious interest in Bristol prop Ellis Genge.
The versatile back suffered a significant knee injury during Bristol Bear's PREM Rugby Cup defeat against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
Back in rugby
The appointment brings Jackman back into the professional club game after building an increasingly varied career since hanging up his boots.
The former hooker represented Connacht, Sale Sharks and Leinster during his playing days and also won nine caps for Ireland.
Jackman moved quickly into coaching following his retirement, initially working in Irish club rugby before heading to France.
He spent several years with Grenoble, initially working with the forwards before eventually becoming the Top 14 club's head coach.
A move to Wales followed when Jackman took charge of the Dragons in 2017, remaining in the position until December 2018.
He later returned to Irish club rugby with Bective Rangers, joining in 2019. During his time there, Bective won back-to-back Leinster League Division 1A titles and reached the AIL play-offs.
Jackman stepped down from his Bective role in 2024, having combined his rugby commitments with a position in high-performance sport.
Different sporting challenge
Away from rugby, Jackman was appointed to a senior high-performance position with Horse Sport Ireland ahead of the Paris Olympics.
He has also become a familiar figure in rugby media through his work as an analyst, commentator and columnist.
The move to Bristol now brings him firmly back into the professional rugby environment.
It also reunites him with Lam, with Jackman now set to play a significant role in shaping the Bears' squad moving forward.
His arrival comes at an important time for Bristol, with recruitment decisions already being made ahead of future seasons.
