Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam noted that his team will come up against some “familiar faces” in next season’s Champions Cup after an “exciting draw” on Wednesday.

Following a season in the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Gallagher Premiership side return to EPCR’s elite competition for the 2023-2024 campaign, taking on the Vodacom Bulls, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Lyon and Connacht Rugby in Pool 1.

Lock Joe Joyce and center Semi Radradra have joined Connacht and Lyon, respectively, ahead of next campaign, while coach John Muldoon also is taking up a role with the Irish province.

POOLS HAVE BEEN DRAWN ?

Some huge match ups – which game are you most looking forward to? ?

Remember, teams will play 4 Pool Stage games home or away with no repeats and no same-league clashes… pic.twitter.com/fNb25ktniB

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) June 21, 2023

Lam acknowledged the prospective reunions and highlighted the size of the task Bristol faces to progress from Pool 1, which also features domestic rival Saracens, though they won’t play them during the pool stage.

“It’s a really exciting draw for us,” he told Bristol’s website. “It’s great to be drawn against two clubs that we haven’t played against before in Lyon and the Bulls, and obviously, we’ll be up against some familiar faces at Connacht and Lyon.

“It feels pretty inevitable that we’d be facing Joycey, Mul and Semi so soon after they have left us.

“We always want to challenge ourselves against the best sides in Europe, and that’s what the Champions Cup is all about. It’s going to be a great tournament again this season and we’re relishing it.”