Max Malins prepared for positional shift as versatility proves useful for Bristol Bears

Max Malins is well versed in scoring tries for club and country from wing or fullback, but some may not be aware that the 27-year-old is just as comfortable creating those tries from the centre of the field.

The former Saracens man has easily slipped between playmaker and try scorer throughout his career – able to step into flyhalf and back to wing/fullback whenever required. Formerly a number ten by trade, the blonde speedster is often now seen darting around the back three, getting on the end of killer passes, rather than delivering them.

Having shown real class at ten during Bristol’s match against Harlequins last season, however, head coach Pat Lam will be looking to utilise Malins’ versatile talents moving forward. With former Bristol player Callum Sheedy having moved to Cardiff, options at ten now look rather limited at Ashton Gate.

“Covering AJ will be Max Malins, Johnny Williams and we’ve got young Sam Worsley who’s not far away,” said Lam in a media session this afternoon.

“Max has been doing a few games at ten, and we saw last year against Harlequins when AJ was ruled out and Callum went down in the first 15 or 20 minutes, and then Max brought the game home.”

With such a heavily congested league and cup season ahead of them, number one fly-half Aj MacGinty will be in for plenty of work this year with Pat Lam keen to stress what an important player the American international will be during the 2024/25 season.

“He started last year in round one when we beat Leicester during which he had a big injury. He didn’t come back until near the back half of the season, and then he played all the big games for us in the second of the season, again highlighting his importance to us.

“He 100% is going to be an excellent coach ’cause his understanding of the game is really good, his basic skills are really good. He can put in quality passes under pressure in front of the D-line and he gives guys time and space.

“But his actual understanding of the game and enjoyment of it is huge, so yeah he’s a big player for us particularly with Callum [Sheedy] gone.”

Bristol travel to Newcastle to face the Falcons at 19:45 on Friday the 20th of September.