England and Lions star Kyle Sinckler signs for Bristol Bears
Kyle Sinckler will be a Bristol Bears player from next season after signing a lucrative two year contract at Ashton Gate.
The 26 year-old tight-head forward has been lured to the West Country from Premiership rivals Harlequins by a reported £500,000 a year salary and the opportunity to play under Director of Rugby, Pat Lam.
Sinckler has established himself as a formidable force for club and country with an uncompromising, physical style of play.
He has won 31 England caps to date and starred on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand.
Most recently, Sinckler was pivotal in steering England towards the Rugby World Cup final in Japan, which they lost to South Africa after he was concussed early in the match.
At club level Sinckler has made 146 appearances for Harlequins since making his professional debut in September 2011.
This is how Bristol Bears have celebrated their latest acquisition on social media:
Sinkler's signing represents another major statement of intent from Bristol Bears.
Rumours of the deal started circulating in November and he now joins a fast growing group of stellar names at Ashton Gate.
Sinckler will line up alongside fellow giants of the game, Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua and Nathan Hughes, as well as next season's other box-office addition, Semi Radradra.
Despite this all-star cast Bristol Bears have so far managed to stay under the £7m-a-year salary cap.
The club will most likely have to manage without Sinckler's services for roughly a third of the domestic and European club season while he is on England duty, so 36 year-old All Black, John Afoa, will now stay for another year.
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, has hailed his latest recruit as "one of the best in the world - it's huge for us."