By Bryn Palmer

Hill has revitalised Bristol

Bristol coach Richard Hill has vowed not to abandon his side's expansive style as they bid to survive on their return to the Guinness Premiership.

"We haven't got a side that are going to take on some of the bigger packs in the Premiership," he said.

"We are not going to win games by a war of attrition and if we try to do that I think we will come off second best.

"The only way for us to get any wins is playing our brand of rugby, which is a 15-man game and trying to score tries."

Bristol, who were relegated from the Premiership in 2003, won National League One in style last year, and took Wasps to extra-time in a memorable Powergen Cup tie.

They won plenty of plaudits along the way, but Hill accepts there may come a time when pragmatism takes priority over panache.

Hopefully we can get a few more Bristolians back at the club, but we have to survive first Richard Hill

"Worcester won 26 matches out of 26 in League One two years ago and in their first five games in the Premiership they tried to play some great rugby, but lost them all," he noted.

"Then they went back to a 'must-win' type of game, but they had the pack to do that.

"We may have to alter our game plan if things are not going well but hopefully we can have faith in the way we are trying to play and it brings us some success."

When he took over as coach following relegation two years ago, Hill had a three-year plan for the club to reclaim its place among the elite.

Promotion arrived "a year ahead of schedule" with a largely home-grown squad of locally born and bred players.

Regan's experience will be vital on his return to the West Country

Two more former players - hooker Mark Regan and centre Mark Denney - have returned to their old stomping ground, but elsewhere Hill has had to change his recruitment strategy this summer.

Samoans Brian Lima and David Lemi and Fijian scrum-half Jacob Rauluni will bolster the backline, while Argentine duo Mariano Sambucetti (lock) and Martin Rospide (prop) will beef up the pack.

"Hopefully if all goes well we can get a few more Bristolians back at the club, but we have got to survive for that to happen," Hill said.

"I have always been a great believer in developing home-grown players but for this year, our first-team squad will probably compromise two-thirds of non-English players.

Premiership Ins and Outs

"We needed to buy a bit of time and bring the youngsters through."

One player who will be charged with helping that process is 36-year-old lock Gareth Llewellyn, Wales' most capped player.

"We needed some experience in the second row and Gareth was involved in helping set up the Wales line-out system," Hill added.

"He is completely sold on the way Wales play, which is very similar to how we try to play.

"It is a high-risk game, playing the ball out of contact, but we have had great success doing that over the last couple of years. Hopefully it will continue."