Bristol Bears fly-half Tom Jordan handed hefty ban for red-card against Exeter Chiefs

Round Four of the 2025–26 Gallagher PREM will take place at Kingsholm on Friday night between the Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby. During the Gallagher PREM game, Tom Jordan of the Bristol Bears reacts.

After receiving a 20-minute red card against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, Scottish international fly-half Tom Jordan was suspended, meaning the Bristol Bears will be without him for three weeks. Jordan’s four-week punishment will be lowered by one if he participates in World Rugby’s “tackle school.”

Due to his expected call-up to play for Scotland in the Autumn internationals, he will not be eligible to play for the club until November. In the 30th minute of the 18-14 victory over Exeter at Ashton Gate, the versatile back—who had been starting at fly-half for the second consecutive week after AJ MacGinty suffered an Achilles injury on the first weekend of the league season—was sent off after he hit Chiefs number eight Ross Vintcent in the head with his shoulder while defending in his 22. After a failed HIA, Vintcent was stood down this weekend and did not participate in the game any more.

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Bears rugby director Pat Lam has only one fit specialist fly-half, 22-year-old Sam Worsley, after the independent disciplinary hearing’s decision. Bristol will play Gloucester Rugby away at Kingsholm in Round Four of the Gallagher PREM this Saturday. They play the defending champions, Bath, the next week.

“Tom will obviously not be available for these next two Prem and Prem Cup games, as he has a four-week suspension due to tackle school that goes down to three weeks,” Lam stated.

“If selected, of course, he should be good for Scotland to get back onto the international stage, and then ready for round Six in the PREM for us.” Lam is reportedly looking for another fly-half to cover for him over the coming weeks, but he hasn’t found one yet. Benhard Janse van Rensburg is the player scheduled to start at number ten in the event that Worsley is defeated.

Lam acknowledged that he is currently just taking it week by week as he attempts to lead his team through the injury maze they have found themselves in. With 13 backs out, they will travel to Kingsholm on Friday night to play Gloucester, who defeated the Bears both at home and away during the last league season.