Gabriel Oghre Signs New Bristol Bears Contract Extension
Gabriel Oghre has signed a new contract extension with Bristol Bears, ending any doubt over his future at Ashton Gate. The 28 year old hooker has scored 26 tries in 63 appearances since his 2023 debut for the Premiership club.
Bristol Bears have confirmed the deal but have not disclosed its length. The Gabriel Oghre Bristol Bears extension keeps one of the division’s most productive hookers at the club, with the exact terms kept private for now.
Pat Lam and Gabriel Oghre React to Deal
Director of rugby Pat Lam explained why the club moved to tie Oghre down, pointing to his physicality and timing. Speaking after the deal was confirmed, in comments carried in a BBC Sport report, Lam said: “Gabs has developed into one of the leading hookers in the Prem.”
He went further on why Oghre suits Bristol’s style: “He’s been outstanding for us over the past couple of seasons. His athleticism, power and skillset really suit the way we want to play and at 28, Gabs is coming into the prime years of his career.” Lam added: “The most exciting thing is we believe his best is still to come.”
Oghre pointed to the freedom Bristol’s approach gives him. “The way we want to play really suits me and gives me the freedom to express myself,” he said. He also credited the coaching staff, saying they have continued to challenge him to improve all areas of his game.
Try-Scoring Hooker’s Role and Career Path at Ashton Gate
Oghre joined Bristol in 2023 after spells at Wasps, Leicester and Bordeaux-Begles, and the move has proven decisive for his career. Since then he has scored 26 tries in 63 appearances, an exceptional return for a hooker and clear evidence of how involved he is in the team’s attacking play.
That record played a part in Lam’s description of him as one of the leading hookers in the Premiership. His form also earned an England call, and he won his single cap against the USA in July 2025.
At club level Oghre remains a key figure in the front row, a picture reinforced by our recent Premiership squad updates and news summaries. Hooker positions across the league have faced scrutiny before, not least in our earlier discussions on hooker injuries, and Oghre’s output has become a rare point of certainty for Bristol in that department. The Gabriel Oghre Bristol Bears partnership now enters a new period with the hooker settled as a senior figure under Lam.
Return From Knee Surgery and Bristol Bears’ Next Steps
Oghre’s season was interrupted in April when he twisted his knee away at Newcastle, an injury that required surgery and ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.
Bristol have given no return date, and this extension confirms his long-term role at the club rather than signalling anything about his recovery timeline. With the new deal in place, attention turns to reintegrating Oghre once he is fit, as Bristol continue their Premiership campaign.
