Bristol far too strong for Pau in Champions Cup

Investec Champions Cup Pool Four

Bristol Bears (33) 61

Tries: Genge, B Grondona, Marmion, Ravouvou, Oghre, Janse van Rensburg, Batley, Boshoff, S Grondona Cons: Jordan 8

Pau (0) 12

Tries: Brau-Boirie 2 Con: Mondinat

Bristol Bears made it two wins from two in the Champions Cup pool stage, scoring nine tries in a comfortable home victory against French club Pau.

Bristol narrowly beat Scarlets in their opening fixture but this was a much more comfortable outing for the Bears.

They scored five tries in a dominant first half, the first of them from England prop Ellis Genge inside the first minute.

Ben Grondona crossed himself before setting up Kieran Marmion for Bristol’s third, Kalaveti Ravouvou wrapped up a try bonus point after being fed by Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Gabriel Oghre went over from a line-out catch-and-drive just before the interval.

Janse van Rensburg, who becomes eligible for England selection in November 2026, showed excellent handling to collect Marmion’s kick and take Bristol’s lead to 40 points early in the second period.

The other scores in their emphatic victory came from Joe Batley, Aidan Boshoff and Santiago Grondona, while Tom Jordan kicked eight of his nine conversion attempts.

The victory puts Bristol third in Pool Four with nine points from two games, one point behind last season’s two Champions Cup finalists – Northampton Saints and defending champions Bordeaux Begles.

Pau, the surprise package in France’s Top 14 this season, were not at full strength at Ashton Gate and are bottom of the pool after defeats by Northampton and Bristol.

Young centre Fabien Brau-Boirie crossed for their two tries in a losing cause.

Louis Rees-Zammit had been named to start at full-back for Bristol when the teams were announced on Friday.

However, Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said before kick-off that the Wales international had been left out as a precaution after he felt tightness in his calf during a training session.

Bristol lock Joe Batley, speaking to Premier Sports:

“To score that many tries and the quality of the tries as well – being a forward, I very much enjoyed the maul try before half-time – we showed a little bit of everything that we can do as a team. We can go from 80 [metres] or we can go from five metres.

“I’m really happy we kept the intensity up, especially being that far ahead at half-time.

“I’m gutted we let them in a couple of times but we can’t fault the fight. It was very positive.”

Bristol, fifth in the Prem, return to league action at Harlequins on Saturday, 20 December (18:00 GMT).

Next up in the Champions Cup is a trip to South Africa to face Bulls on 10 January, 2026, with the Bears rounding off the pool stage with a home fixture against Bordeaux eight days later.

Bristol: Elizalde; Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Marmion; Genge, Oghre, Chawatama, Rubiolo, Batley, Owen, B Grondona, Harding.

Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Halliwell, S Grondona, Ivanishvili, Wolstenholme, Worsley, Carrington.

Pau: Luc; Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie, Valentino, Carol; Mondinat, Robson; Bibi Biziwu, Rey, Tokolahi, Jolmes, Capelli, Kpoku, Paul, Tuipulotu.

Replacements: Delhommel, Seneca, Zabala Arrieta, Picquette, Credoz, Souverbie, Decron, Hewat.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) and Padraic Reidy (Ireland)

TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)