Pat Lam delivered a blunt response when questioned about his future as Bristol Bears director of rugby following their heavy loss to Northampton. 'Yes,' he replied when asked if he remained the right man for the job, shifting focus to Friday's clash with Bath at Ashton Gate.

The defeat at Franklin's Gardens proved historic for all wrong reasons. Northampton amassed 61 first-half points - a Premiership record - in what became the highest-scoring game in English top-flight history. Bristol sit sixth in the table, five points behind Exeter for the final playoff spot with two matches remaining.

Lam, who joined the Bears in 2017 and has two years left on his contract, treated the thrashing like any other setback. He emphasized his consistent post-match process of self-evaluation, trusting his resilient squad to bounce back. The 57-year-old highlighted his players' character after they secured a bonus point with a late try despite the heavy deficit.

Meanwhile, wing Santiago Grondona will depart this summer for France after two seasons with Bristol. The 27-year-old scored six tries in 31 appearances, contributing both on-field quality and off-field professionalism during his tenure at the club.