Henry Purdy looking to earn a permanent deal at Bristol Bears

The utility back has impressed since joining the Gallagher Premiership club

Bristol Bears emergency signing Henry Purdy says he is hoping for a long-term contract at the club.

Purdy, 25, was signed as injury cover in the backs with Bristol suffering a series of injuries in the centre.

The former Leicester Tigers academy product was plying his trade at Coventry in the Championship having been squeezed out at Gloucester due to the salary cap.

But in just two weeks Purdy, who spent the summer playing for Otago in New Zealand, has made quite the impression at the Bears making his European debut less than seven days after first training with the club and then making his full debut against his former employers the Cherry and Whites last weekend.

A try and comprehensive 34-16 victory from his first run out as a Bear at Ashton Gate continued his impressive return to the top flight. And Purdy hopes it will lead to a long-term future at the club.

Purdy said: “It’s been a surreal few months and a mad couple of weeks since linking up with the Bears.

"It’s awesome to be back in the Prem environment and I’m really grateful for the welcome the boys have given me, and grateful for the opportunity to play. Ashton Gate was absolutely bouncing.

“It was nice to have a good start. It was always a goal of mine to get back into the Premiership, post New Zealand when I linked up with Coventry. It sort of came a little bit out of the blue. Bristol had a couple of injuries but I was stoked when the call came.

"It was crazy. I played for Coventry on the Saturday, spoke to Pat Lam that evening, then agreed terms on the Sunday, had a medical on the Monday and trained on Tuesday.

"There almost wasn’t time to even dwell on it.

"Flying to Italy for the European Challenge Cup on the Thursday. It’s just been a bit of a whirlwind. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but it actually has. The over-riding feeling is excitement, and it’s great to play out there with those guys and I’m grateful for the welcome I received.

“I wouldn’t say I knew I’d get back to this level. I hoped and I had faith in my ability. I hoped the call would come and thought if I stuck to what I do best and keep working hard, the opportunities would come. I enjoyed my time in New Zealand, I enjoyed my time at Cov. I’m just looking forward now with Bris."

Purdy, who not so long ago was considered the up-coming star of English rugby says he loves Bristol’s attack from everywhere brand of rugby.

He said: “It’s awesome. Like everyone in the Prem knows, Bristol like to play. Nothing really changed today and it’s great when you’re given licence to work off your wing, like you saw. Nathan [Hughes] worked to the width and the back-rowers do that really well. That gives you licence to float in, help the forwards out and take some of that workload. It’s a balance, but I was stoked I could get a bit of ball in hand."

In fact no one but man of the match Hughes made more runs than Purdy on Saturday who finished with 73 metres made, one clean break, six defenders beaten and two off-loads.

Having got the call-up from Lam, Purdy said he wasn’t playing with a point to prove at the weekend.

Bristol Bears news straight to your phone!

Are you mad about Bristol Bears?

If so, you could receive the latest club news straight to your phone by signing up to our WhatsApp service.

Bristol Bears writer John Evely will send you links to the breaking stories, direct to your mobile, via the easy-to-use app.

Among the things you can expect are transfer news, interviews, match reports, injury updates, team news and live blogs. You could even use it to ask him a question.

If you would like to sign up, save the number 07715 770289 to your phone (you must do this to receive our messages), then send BRISTOL BEARS in a message to that number via WhatsApp. We recommend saving the contact to your mobile as 'Bristol Bears News'.

To unsubscribe at any time, just send STOP BRISTOL BEARS via WhatsApp to the same number and you will be removed from the service. Your number will not be used for any purpose other than to update you on all things Bristol Bears.

He said: “My motivation was just to play well for Bristol really.

“It was a fresh start for me.

"I didn’t really think too much about playing against my old mates. It’s obviously nice to get the win, but the motivations was to pay back Bristol for backing me and throwing me in there.”

And asked if he is hoping to get a longer contract having signed on to the end of the season, Purdy simply replied: “I hope so, mate.”