Pat Lam believes centre Kalaveti Ravouvou is on the route to becoming a ‘world-class’ player after confirming the Fijian has committed his future to Bristol Bears by signing a contract extension.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who joined the Bears from Fijian Drua in the summer of 2023, has scored seven tries for Pat Lam’s team and made a splash in 2024 by winning both league games against the Northampton Saints and the Leicester Tigers.
Last month, in the Bears’ historic victory over the Tigers, Ravouvou made 230 metres with the ball in hand, which is the second most ever recorded in a Premiership game. He also beat 10 defenders and made 18 carries in a spectacular display.
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “It’s great to see Kala fully settled in the club and the city, which has seen him go from strength to strength since arriving at the Bears. I believe we’re all seeing his world class ability come to the fore with some outstanding performances this season.
His stunning performance against the Leicester Tigers earlier this month and his subsequent inclusion on the Premiership Player of the Month shortlist prove that he is among the most devastating backs in the league.
Kala’s ability to play across the backline is huge for us with a smaller squad and we look forward to seeing him develop further over the next few seasons.”
Away from the Bears, Ravouvou has four caps for Fiji having made his debut against Ireland in the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
Ravouvou said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Bristol so far and love the culture, environment and my teammates, so it was an easy decision to stay.
“The brand of rugby here really suits my game and I’m excited to see what this team can achieve over the next few years.”
