# Bristol Bears Women

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 and play their home matches at Dings RFC in the Premiership Women's Rugby.

## 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. In 2007, they were promoted back into the Women's Premiership and played one more season as Clifton RFC. In 2008, Clifton became affiliated to Bristol Rugby, who then took over the running of the team from Clifton RFC. 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.

## Current squad

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

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.

### 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 Amy Wilson-Hardy Kay Wilson |

### Wales internationals

| Keira Bevan Liza Burgess 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
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