Bristol Bears sign Samoan forward Totoa Auvaa after Saracens release

Bristol Bears have signed 21-year-old Samoan forward Totoa Auvaa, who was dismissed by Saracens earlier this season. The club confirmed the move on Sunday, bringing a player known for his physicality into the squad for the 2026/27 campaign.

Auvaa left Saracens after a second off-field incident in six months. In June, he was involved in a nightclub altercation in St Albans with England cricketers Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes. Stokes, who had been captain of the national team, retired from international cricket following that night's events.

Bears director of rugby Pat Lam, a former Samoa captain, said he wants to help Auvaa develop through guidance and structure. Lam noted that Auvaa arrived from a small village in Samoa to the large city of London and made some mistakes during that transition.

“His agent reached out to me, to see if I would be willing to help him and give him a second chance,” Lam said. “I’ve always believed that young people deserve the opportunity to learn from those experiences, grow and become better people.”

Lam described Auvaa as a big, physical young man with enormous potential. The director of rugby said the Bears aim to provide mentorship so Auvaa can succeed as a player and as a person, becoming someone his family in Samoa will be proud of.

Auvaa has previous leadership experience, having captained Samoa at U20 and 'A' levels. He also faced disciplinary issues while on loan in the Championship at Ampthill last season. He received two red cards for violent conduct against Hartpury, first punching an opponent after a try and later kicking a player in the head during a ruck in March.

The Bears are prepared to offer Auvaa another opportunity to establish himself professionally. He will join a squad that values strong back-row and back-five play, aiming to utilize his size and strength in upcoming matches.