• Prem Rugby: Bristol 41-24 Northampton

• Bears win opening two games for first time since 2023

Louis Rees-Zammit may have been denied a hat-trick against Northampton but there is no doubting who stole the show as Bristol maintained their flying start to the season by downing the champions. The Wales winger scored twice, earned the Bears’ late penalty try and, just to make clear that there is more than one showman in town, produced his own version of Henry Pollock’s pulse celebration.

“I obviously know Pollock has done that before so I thought I’d just give it a little bit back,” said Rees-Zammit. “Me and Pollock are really close. He’s doing great things for the sport. If we’re going to grow this game we need personalities, he’s definitely one and he’s got to do something next week after the forfeit we spoke about yesterday.”