Bear Necessities - a podcast about the Coventry Bears

Time for another bonus episode for you. Fittingly, our 23rd episode of 2021 is a special with the bears number 23…yes, it's Reece Rance! Dave sat down with Reece to talk about an ever-present year in 2021, his international career, and a few others things too.

In this special, post-season bonus episode, we chat to the new Coventry Bears record points scorer in a single season...the one and only Dan Coates! In this interview, we learn more about Dan's decision to come to Coventry, his route into the game, and some of his stand-out moments from a stand-out year.

The Bears weren't able to round off their season with a win away at Rochdale, although Dan Coates *did* become the club's all-time top points scorer in a single season, which is incredible. Co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart reflect on Sunday's 50-22 loss and also hear from head coach Rich Squires. Also up for discussion are Ralph Rimmer's comments about the future of the Bears specifically, from a press conference at the weekend.

We're back to reflect on another narrow loss for the Bears, who were just edged out 18-13 by Doncaster at the weekend. Co-hosts Dave Musson & Craig Cathcart look back on that one and look ahead to this weekend's season finale away to Rochdale. We're also joined by Bears head coach Rich Squires.

Better late than never, our podcast is back with all the reaction and analysis from last weekend's agonising 32-30 loss away to Hunslet. We also preview the Bears' upcoming trip to Doncaster this weekend, as the end of the season draws nearer.

What a way to mark our final home game of 2021! Ten tries from the Bears on Sunday - seven of them in the second half - saw West Wales Raiders put to the sword in some style, with a 50-18 home win. Co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart look back on an afternoon that saw the Bears regain their confidence and their swagger, and hear the post-match thoughts of head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. They also look ahead to this weekend's trip to Hunslet - can the Bears do the double over the South Leeds side in 2021?

Ahead of this weekend's final home game of the season, we're joined by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson to discuss some big topics - namely the ongoing discussions around plans for restructuring the sport and what it might mean for our club. Alan also gives us reaction to Sunday's tough 46-18 loss away to Keighley Cougars. Get your tickets for this weekend's huge game at: https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

A tough day at the office for the Bears on Sunday, who slipped to a 32-16 defeat at home to an impressive North Wales Crusaders side. Hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart dissect the match and also hear reactions from head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. We also look ahead to this weekend's trip to Keighley, and talk more about the growing uncertainty off-the-field, and how it might be affected what's happening on the pitch.

It was tense, it was close, but it was a win for the Bears in London against the Skolars last weekend! In this episode, co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart look back on a vital victory that keeps the Bears in the hunt for the play-offs. We also hear post-match reaction from Bears head coach Rich Squires and from player/coach Dave Scott. Not only that, they look ahead to this weekend's game, when the Bears welcome North Wales Crusaders to Coventry. Get your ticket for that one at: https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

Happy 100 episodes to us! To celebrate our little podcast reaching three figures, co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart reveal their 13 favourite Bears players from the last four years, most memorable matches, and any other fun podcast adventures. They also share *your* picks. On top of that, we also have post-match reaction from head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott after Sunday's 40-12 loss away to top-of-the-table Barrow Raiders.

Good things come to those who wait…back-to-back wins! The Bears' postponed game with Keighley Cougars finally got played last Friday and it was well worth holding on for. The Bears produced a mature and clinical performance, and ended the evening with a superb 24-18 victory. Co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart have all the post-match analysis, and they bring you interviews with head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. We also look ahead to this weekend's trip to Barrow, reveal our plans to mark our 100th episode next week, and give some shoutouts to ex-Bears men who did the business at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

And now for something a little different… The postponement of the Bears' trip to Workington last weekend potentially left us with another unscheduled week off, so we've used the opportunity to do something we've talked about for ages behind the scenes…feature some of the players! So, this week's episode does exactly that - and will hopefully be the first of many episodes featuring our first team squad. For this special show, we're joined by three Bears players - Josh Dunne, Jack Dawson, and Darius Hamilton - who all have fascinating stories about how they got into the sport and how they found their way to the Bears. Across these three chats, we cover switching codes, the states of rugby league on both sides of the Midlands, playing in the army, and surprising accents! Let us know who else you'd like us to get on the show in the future, and don't forget to get down to the Butts this Friday, 16 July, for the rearranged game against Keighley Cougars - come on down yourself and be part of our small band of loyal fans! Tickets are available from https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

So, that was something else - wasn't it? We reflect on the Bears' stunning 46-44 victory over Hunslet, where they overturned a 22-point deficit in the final 12 minutes of the game. Co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart try to articulate some feeling about the match, and we hear from head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott too. There's also a quick look ahead to this weekend's trip to Workington and a reminder to get down to the Butts on Friday 16 July for the rearranged game against Keighley Cougars - come on down yourself and be part of our small band of loyal fans! Tickets are available from https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

We're back after our unexpected week off, and we've got some controversy to get our teeth into, picking over the bones of the Bears' 34-16 defeat at the hands of Doncaster on Sunday. Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart give their analysis of the game's highs and lows, and they hear the post-match thoughts of head coach Rich Squires, and player/coach Dave Scott. They also look ahead to this weekend's game against Hunslet at the Butts Park Arena. Tickets are available from https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

They might have lost on Sunday, but the Bears put in an excellent performance against promotion-chasing Workington Town - dominating the game in parts. In this week's show, co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart pick out the positives and hear from head coach Rich Squires, and player/coach Dave Scott. They also get mildly distracted by a fantastic mullet, and look ahead to this weekend's home game against Keighley Cougars - don't forget to pick up your ticket for that one so you can come and cheer on the boys. Tickets are available from https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

It was a tough day at the office for the Bears on Sunday, as they were soundly beaten 36-12 by a strong North Wales Crusaders side in Colwyn Bay. Hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart chew over a disappointing result, and hear the post-match thoughts of head coach Rich Squires, and player/coach Dave Scott In more positive news, the Bears' community work has done some quite incredible things already in 2021. So, we were delighted to be joined by club CEO Debbie Watson to hear all about it - from rugby league sessions in primary schools, to the development of our satellite clubs, the impending arrival of Midlands junior festival in Coventry and the continued success of Try Tag Rugby. In short, literally hundreds of people of all ages are now regularly playing rugby league across Coventry, Warwickshire, and the Midlands, and we've got the inside scoop! Don't forget to pick up your ticket for this Sunday's game against Workington Town at the Butts Park Arena. Tickets are available from https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

The Coventry Bears bounced back in some style on Sunday, with a fantastic 38-30 win at home to the Rochdale Hornets. In this episode, we get very excited about it! Hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart discuss the match, the standout players, and we hear from head coach Rich Squires, as well as player/coach Dave Scott. Not only that, we also look ahead to this weekend's trip to face the North Wales Crusaders. Fans are currently still not permitted at sporting events in Wales, so no away fans will be able to travel. However, the game is being streamed via the RFL's OurLeague platform. Purchase your stream ticket here: https://www.rugby-league.com/livestream

It wasn't what we'd hoped for as fans returned to the Butts Park Arena on Sunday, where the Coventry Bears were beaten 44-26 by the London Skolars. Co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart reflect on that loss and bring you reaction from head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. We also look ahead to this weekend's game at home to Rochdale Hornets. Tickets for that match are available now: https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

It's a joyous, bumper show this week as we have a double celebration on our hands. First, the Bears notched their first win of the new season on Saturday with a terrific 36-10 win away at the West Wales Raiders. Hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart will look back on that game and get the post-match thoughts of head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. Second, this weekend's game against the London Skolars at the Butts Park Arena will be the first Bears home match played in front of fans since February 2021. To Mark that very special occasion, we are joined by a trio of fans - Tom Kiernan, Katie Maclean, and Tim Poulter - to hear exactly what this weekend will mean to them. Get your tickets for Sunday's game now - you must buy a ticket online ahead of the match. Secure your spot for the return of rugby league to Coventry at: https://www.coventrybears.com/bearstickets

After more than 400 days away, the Bears finally got back to Betfred League 1 action on Sunday against promotion favourites Barrow Raiders. Although they ultimately lost 38-20, the Bears put in a quite terrific performance that suggests huge potential for the 2021 season. In this episode, co-hosts Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart dissect Sunday's game, and we hear from Bears head coach Rich Squires and player/coach Dave Scott. We also look ahead to this weekend's trip to Llanelli to face the West Wales Raiders. The game against West Wales will be played behind closed doors, but is going to be streamed via the RFL's Our League platform. Tickets for the stream can be purchased online: https://www.rugby-league.com/livestream

The Bears are back in Betfred League 1 action this weekend, with a match at home to Barrow Raiders. To celebrate, we've put together a special episode where we're joined by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson, head coach Rich Squires, and player/coach Dave Scott for a thorough preview of the new season. We reflect on the Bears' two preseason friendlies, look ahead to the weekend's game, and the season as a whole. We also talk about the new satellite clubs that are being launched in the region and the possible impact they might have on the growth of rugby league in the West Midlands. It's good to be back!

The new season is fast-approaching, so our podcast is back for another look ahead!This time, we're joined by Bears head coach Rich Squires to hear how the squad is shaping up in pre-season training, which has been under way for a month now - with plenty of Covid precautions in place.We also bring you a few bits of Bears news and chat briefly about some of the rugby league we've already seen this season.

Your official Coventry Bears podcast is back in preseason and we're delighted to be here! In this first episode of 2021, Dave and Craig look into the Bears' fixture list for the new season, talk about the potential return of crowds, and cover a few other things too.Not only that, we're also joined by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson to hear about how things are going as the club prepares to finally return to the pitch.Check out the Bears' 2021 fixture list here. Find out more about volunteering at the Rugby League World Cup here.

For our final catch-up episode, we're joined once again by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson. This time, we're talking all about the Rugby League World Cup - both about the match taking place at Coventry's Ricoh Arena next October and the Legacy Grant the Bears have been awarded.Not only that, Craig also takes us through his personal schedule for the World Cup - or, at least, the schedule he'd like to have if everything falls into place!This is the official Coventry Bears podcast. This is Bear Necessities.

We're joined once again by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson to discuss what we can look forward to in the Bears camp between now and the start of next season. That means new recruits, new coaching staff, and a Bear Necessities exclusive about next year's playing kit!Also, we hear more details about the charity bike ride from Hull to Coventry being completed by some of the Bears squad next month. To sponsor the riders, head to the GoFundMe page.

We're back! Yes, it's been a while, but your official Coventry Bears podcast is finally out of lockdown and ready for your ears!In this episode, we're joined by Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson to reflect on the 2020 season, which was finally cancelled last month after months of investigation and planning from the RFL.We hear how the players have coped, what went on in those decision-making sessions, and how Alan is doing generally.Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already, and feel free to tell a friend about our show too. You can find us in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, on YouTube, and just about anywhere else where podcasts are available.

The Bears came off second best against one of the hot tips for promotion on Sunday, Barrow Raiders - we've got match analysis, plus exciting news from Canada and New York, and music from Wilde!

We've got all the reaction and analysis from the Bears' first game of the Betfred League 1 season, a home defeat to Newcastle Thunder. That means quick-fire analysis and the post-match thoughts of Bears Director of Rugby, Alan Robinson. Not only that, we've also got our first song from a local musician to play out. This week, you get to enjoy Incompatible Me by Abz Winter.

In tough conditions on Sunday, the Bears' Challenge Cup hopes for 2020 were dashed by a clinical Hunslet side. We've got all the analysis of the match and the reaction of Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson. This is the official Coventry Bears podcast. This is Bear Necessities.

We’re back with more previewing!This week, we’ll focus on the Bears themselves - picking out key players and making our predictions for top try scorer and where we’ll finish in the league table. We’ll also look ahead to this weekend’s Challenge Cup third round tie away to Hunslet and we’ll bring you the second half of our season preview interview with Bears CEO Debbie Watson.This is the official Coventry Bears podcast. This is Bear Necessities.

The new season is fast approaching, so it’s time we previewed it…which is exactly what we’ll be doing over the next two episodes!This week, we look at the rest of League 1 and pick out some teams to watch, we react to the third round draw of the Challenge Cup, which sees the Bears handed an away trip to Hunslet and we’re joined by new Bears CEO Debbie Watson for the first half of a special season preview interview.This is the official Coventry Bears podcast. This is Bear Necessities.

The Bears wrapped up their pre-season fixtures with a defeat away to a full-strength Keighley Cougars side - it was a tough but useful outing for a young, experimental Bears team. In this episode, Dave and Craig pick out the key talking points from Sunday's match, and we hear from Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson. Not only that, we also look ahead to the upcoming draw for the third round of this year's Challenge Cup - which is where the Bears will join the fun! This is your official Coventry Bears podcast - this is Bear Necessities.

The Bears got 2020 off to a winning start on Friday night with a well-deserved 22-14 victory over the London Broncos at the Butts Park Arena. We’ve got all the analysis of that match and we’ll hear the post-match thoughts of Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson.Not only that, we’ll also look ahead to this weekend’s final pre-season game, a tough trip to West Yorkshire to face off against the Keighley Cougars.This is the official Coventry Bears podcast. This is Bear Necessities.

Rugby league is back in Coventry this Friday, and we are *so* ready for it! Ahead of the Bears' match against London Broncos, Dave and Craig are back to preview it all. In this episode, we'll pick out some Bears players to keep an eye out for on Friday, we'll analyse what sort of challenge the Broncos will pose, and we'll discuss the terrific news that the Butts Park Arena will be our home for the next three seasons. This is Bear Necessities - the official Coventry Bears podcast.

It's a new era for the Bears and for this podcast - introducing season 4 from Bear Necessities, your now OFFICIAl Coventry Bears podcast. In this special pre-season teaser, we've got two important interviews to bring you; we look ahead to 2020 with Bears Director of Rugby Alan Robinson, and we invite back former coach Tom Tsang for a farewell interview. We'll be back properly in 2020. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Bear Necessities is the official podcast of the Coventry Bears and is hosted by Dave Musson and Craig Cathcart.