Bristol retain core squad

Mark Lilley: Staying with Bristol

Bristol have retained 28 members of their existing squad for next season's Championship campaign.

With the core of his first team firmly in place, head coach Liam Middleton can now focus solely on the club's main aim of a top four finish in the league.

Mark Lilley (Bath), Glen Townson (Newcastle) and Matthew Jones (Newport-Gwent Dragons) have all agreed deals to stay at the Memorial Stadium.

Redford Pennycook and Luke Eves have also put pen to paper to remain with the club for the upcoming campaign.

In addition to the senior players, Bristol have also secured the services of a number of youngsters including Callum Braley (Hartpury), Joe Joyce (Filton) and Steve Uren (Filton), who have all signed professional Academy contracts.

On top of the core group Middleton has sought to boost his squad with a series of new signings totalling five so far.

James Grindal (Leicester Tigers), Bryan Rennie (Exeter Chiefs), Bruce Douglas (Worcester Warriors), David McIlwaine (Doncaster Knights) and Adrian Jarvis (London Irish) will join up with the squad for pre-season training.

Fourteen members of the 2011/12 squad, including number eight Dan Montagu, prop Mark Irish and Academy duo Darren Barry and Mark Davies are leaving the club.

Retained squad: Ross Johnston, Rhys Lawrence, Tom Channon (Academy), Wayne Thompson, Mark Lilley, Jason Hobson, Will Davis (Academy), Mariano Sambucetti, Roy Winters, Glen Townson, Ben Glynn (Academy), Joe Joyce (Academy), Redford Pennycook, Iain Grieve, James Merriman, Marco Mama (Academy), Steve Uren (Academy), Mitch Eadie (Academy), Tom Slater, Ruki Tipuna, Callum Braley (Academy), Tristan Roberts, Matthew Jones, Jack Tovey, George Watkins, Ryan Edwards (Academy), Jon Goodridge, Matt Williams, Luke Eves, Fautua Otto ,Jack Gadd (Academy)