Bristol lock handed a red card for 'clumsy' incident

In tonight’s Pat Lam bowl as his current team, the Bristol Bears faces his previous team, Connacht, it is the Irish side that have raced out to an early 12 – 0 lead.

Needing to secure a win and, ideally, a bonus point to give themselves a chance of qualification, the Bears are not up against it with two players currently off the pitch.

First to go was second row Josh Caulfield, who was shown a red card for a stamp on the face of Connacht and Ireland Tighthead Finlay Bealham.

Running into clear a ruck, Caulfield appeared to lose track of where his feet were and made a nasty contact with Bealham’s face.

French referee Pierre Brousset determined that Caulfield’s action was a clear act of foul play and was left with no option but to send him from the field of play.

Josh Caulfield recieves a red card for standing on the head of Finlay Bealham 🤕

What are your thoughts on the call?#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/nFmkWpYLIQ

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 19, 2024

Seven minutes later, Caulfield was joined by prop Kyle Sinckler, who was shown a yellow card as Connacht barged over for their second try.