'I think it's just one of those coincidences' - Piers O'Conor the latest to follow well-worn Bristol-Connacht path

We're now seven years into what appears to be an unofficial exchange programme between Connacht and Bristol Bears.

Pat Lam laid the tarmac on what’s now become a well-travelled road between the two clubs when he left Connacht to move to the then-English Championship side in the summer of 2017, and over the next few seasons that road has seen a steady flow of traffic.

First, his assistant Conor McPhillips followed him across the Irish Sea, and when promotion to the Premiership was secured in 2018 two other ex-Connacht men followed suit – flanker Jake Heenan and second row Aly Muldowney, the latter of whom spent time at Grenoble in between.

Niyi Adeolokun, Peter McCabe and Stephen Kerins also traded Galway for the south-west of England, while John Muldoon linked up with Lam when he retired from playing in 2019, before returning to Connacht as a coach in 2023.

In the last year, Ireland international Kieran Marmion swapped the Sportsground for Ashton Gate, with second row Joe Joyce going the other way, while in the last few seasons the sides have crossed paths on numerous occasions in pre-season and European games, the latest of which was a fortnight ago.

Piers O’Conor is the latest to make the move from Bristol to the Dexcom Stadium.

"I can't say there is a direct link, I think it's just one of those coincidences," the 29-year-old says of trading between the two sides.

"It's weird because I know Pat [Lam] had nothing to do with my transition here, and I don't think either had Joycey [Joe Joyce].

"But then with Marmo [Kieran Marmion] going over to the other side...I don't think there was a trend like, I think it's just one of those weird coincidences and sometimes that happens in rugby. And I think if you look elsewhere, you may see