The 33-year-old back rower, capped by New Zealand and Samoa, last week signed a new contract at Ashton Gate and said he wanted to sign off with the Premiership trophy.
Bristol were in the Championship when Luatua joined them, swapping the pristine pitches in the southern hemisphere for mudheaps, but under head coach Pat Lam, who was in charge of the Blues in Auckland when Luatua signed for the franchise, they were soon moving upwards.
“I remember in my second game for the Bears being up to my knees in mud at Cornish Pirates,” said Luatua. “It was quite a humbling experience. It was a frustrating time because we were not functioning well, but it has been an amazing experience here and I am really happy to be continuing.”
Luatua has captained Bristol for most of his time at the club, but this season Fitz Harding took over the armband, leaning on the vast experience of the former All Black who played for Samoa in last year’s World Cup.
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Denne historien er fra May 12, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
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Scarratt excited by new pathway
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Baxter: I want to make things better
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Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
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New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
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Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
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Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
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New faces take the plaudits for Saints
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