Ex-All Black Luatua was busy on Twitter with Bristol winning Euro Cup not long after birth of his daughter
Bristol Bears captain Steven Luatua has thanked Pat Lam for allowing him to miss Friday night’s Challenge Cup final win so that he could attend the birth of his child.
The former All Black was set to lead his side against Toulon at the Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence but he withdrew from the squad with the club’s blessing and didn’t travel.
The 29-year-old thanked Lam on Twitter for his understanding, Luatua writing that he was told by his director of rugby that “your most important job today is to be there for your family”.
The flanker also showed his gratitude for other support he received, particularly from owner Steve Lansdown for providing an opportunity for him to travel to the south of France if the birth had happened early enough and left sufficient time to fly over on a charter flight to play.
In the end, Luatua and wife Olivia’s new baby daughter didn’t arrive until 45 minutes before kick-off.
Welcome to the world baby girl Luatua. So incredibly proud of her mum & my resting little cub. Much love. Now get up the Bears ????
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
There were fears that the absence of Luatua – along with injured pair Nathan Hughes and Charles Piutau – would be too heavy a loss for Bristol to manage. However, the Bears showed their tenacity in the final to win the club’s first major silverware since a 1983 England Cup win.
The Bears won on a 32-19 scoreline after producing an unstoppable second-half surge to turn around a 19-13 deficit with 52 minutes gone in their first-ever European showpiece.
Some wonderful pace from the try-scoring Max Malins and the precise kicking boot of Callum Sheedy were pivotal to that successful comeback.
But there was no getting away from the wow factor that Bristol had produced right from the kick-off when scoring the quickest try in European rugby history.
Fifteen seconds was all it took for Harry Randall to touch down for the opening score after some typical Semi Radradra magic.
Thanks for the messages of support everyone, means a lot. Mother bear is well and resting, and as slow as the process is, we’re trusting in it ????
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
Thanks to Pat and my team for understanding & allowing me to hang back. “Your most important job today is to be there for your family” Pat. ???
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
Last but definitely not least, thanks to Steve & the Lansdown family for even giving me an option to travel late & play today if the universe had lined up. ? Mind blown by their support, Truly grateful.
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
I love this man. Like many, he’s been through the wars with Bristol & I’m so happy to have been able to get him & the Bristol braves some well deserved silverware ??? https://t.co/hlStH3rZbz
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 17, 2020
Here for this ?????? https://t.co/5qNiXoYwDm
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
Yes thacks! @harry_thacker This is going to be me all week & some https://t.co/DH5kAbMqu4
— Steven Luatua (@StevenLuatua) October 16, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Blues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
2 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
2 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
47 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to comments