Bristol Bears Women

Bristol Bears Women

Full name	Bristol Bears Women
Union	RFU
Founded	1984
Ground(s)	Shaftesbury Park
League(s)	Premier 15s

Bristol Bears Women, formerly Clifton Ladies RFC, then Bristol Ladies, is a women's rugby union team based in Bristol, England. They are a standalone, independent rugby club, running in partnership with the Bristol Bears (formerly Bristol Rugby) since becoming affiliated to them in 2008[1] and play their home matches at Dings RFC in the Premier 15s.[2]

History

Bristol Ladies were founded as Clifton Ladies RFC in 1984 for what was intended as a one-off match against Weston Hornets. They eventually made it into the Women's Premiership before being relegated. In 2002, they defeated Nottingham Medoc Casuals in the RFUW Rugby World National Cup Final at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, Northamptonshire, which they won with thirteen international players in their side. They were the first club outside of the London clubs of Richmond Women, Saracens Women and Wasps Ladies to win the trophy.[3] In 2007, they were promoted back into the Women's Premiership and played one more season as Clifton RFC. In 2009, Clifton became affiliated to Bristol Rugby, who then took over the running of the team from Clifton RFC.[1] In 2012, they moved to Portway Rugby Development Centre from Dings Crusaders Rugby Football Club's ground that they were sharing with Dings Crusaders. This made them the first women's rugby club to own their own facilities.[4]

Current squad

For player movements before or during the 2023–24 season, see List of 2023–24 Premiership Women’s Rugby transfers § Bristol Bears.

The Bristol Bears squad for the 2024–25 season is:[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Hannah Botterman Prop England Simi Pam Prop England Gwenllian Pyrs Prop Wales Sarah Bern Prop England Elliann Clarke Prop Scotland Ellie Mulhearn Prop England Lark Davies Hooker England Holly Phillips Hooker Canada Jess Sprague Hooker England Christiana Balogun Second row England Nicola Beet Second row England Delaney Burns Second row England Hollie Cunningham Second row England Abbie Ward Second row England Alisha Butchers Back row Wales Helene Caux Back row Jenny Herring Back row England Manon Johnes Back row Wales Bryonie King Back row Rownita Marston Back row England Claire Molloy Back row Ireland Gabriella Nigrelli Back row England Bo Osborn-Clarke Back row

Player Position Union Keira Bevan Scrum-half Wales Lucy Burgess Scrum-half England Megan Davies Scrum-half Wales Ellie Lewis Scrum-half England Holly Aitchison Fly-half England Lucie Skuse Fly-half England Meryl Smith Fly-half Scotland Phoebe Murray Centre Amber Reed Centre England Megan Varley Centre England Megan Webb Centre Wales Mollie Wilkinson Centre Reneeqa Bonner Wing England Grace Crompton Wing England Millie David Wing England Jasmine Joyce Wing Wales Courtney Keight Wing Wales Tilly Smale Wing Grace White Wing England Deborah Wills Wing England Amy Coles Fullback Jenny Hesketh Fullback England Ella Lovibond Fullback England Kayleigh Powell Fullback Wales Ilona Maher Centre United States

Notable players

See also: Category:Bristol Bears Women players

At the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup three Bristol Ladies players captained their national teams. Sarah Hunter, Carys Phillips and Claire Molloy captained England, Wales and Ireland respectively.[6]

 England internationals

Sophie Hemming Natasha Hunt Sarah Hunter Charlotte Male Harriet Millar-Mills Isabelle Noel-Smith

Kimberley Oliver Marlie Packer Amber Reed Catherine Spencer Danielle Waterman[7] Amy Wilson-Hardy Kay Wilson

 Wales internationals

Keira Bevan Liza Burgess[8] Bethan Dainton Rebecca De Filippo Natalia John Manon Johnes Megan Jones

Jasmine Joyce Courtney Keight Siwan Lillicrap Carys Phillips Gemma Rowland Elinor Snowsill Rachel Taylor

 Great Britain sevens internationals

• Natasha Hunt
• Amy Wilson-Hardy

 Ireland internationals

• Claire Molloy
• Larissa Muldoon

Source:[6][9][2]

References

1. "Clifton Ladies". Clifton RFC. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
2. "Bristol Ladies". RFU. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
3. "Women's Cup Final". Rugbymatters.net. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
4. Bristol, The (16 August 2012). "Twelve sides line up in Robbie's memory". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
5. "Bears Women confirm squad for 2023/24 season". 5 July 2023.
6. "Bristol Ladies Trio To Lead World Cup Efforts As Captains". www.bristolrugby.co.uk. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
7. "Waterman selected for Wales test". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
8. Liza Burgess (6 February 2014). "Liza Burgess". WRU. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
9. "Bristol quintet in England women's elite rugby squad". BBC Sport. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2014.