This weekend sees the launch of the 16/17 Premiership Rugby season, and Bristol Ladies look to get our campaign off to a great start as we travel away to Wasps.
Kick off is 2pm at Twyford Avenue Sports Ground.
The squad sees Sasha Acheson back in the number 3 shirt after two years sidelined with a knee injury. Intensive rehabilitation and a strong pre-season suggest Acheson is one to watch this season as she looks to fight her way back into the England squad.
Returning players Poppy Cleall and Marlie Packer earn their first starts of the season alongside an all international back row, completed by Ireland’s Claire Molloy and England’s Izzy Noel Smith.
9,10 and 11 have a Welsh flavour with new recruit Carrie Roberts joining Internationals Sian Moore and Elinor Snowsill on the field, with a set of young England hopefuls completing the team.
The bench is full of talent, with Wales Hooker Carys Phillips returning to Bristol this season, and England forwards Poppy Leitch and Sarah Bern poised to take their opportunity to impress. Stephenson and Gascoigne are new to Bristol this season and impressed during pre-season.
The 1st XV continue under the captaincy of Amber Reed.
The 2nd XV look to build on their strong performance last week against Wimbledon.
Kick off is 2:30pm at Cleve RFC.
Captain Trish Brown is back to her normal position in the forwards after a stunning performance at centre last week, and Filton SGS College graduates Mulhearn, Marston and Escott are back in the mix with Chantelle Miell guiding from 10. The bench sees some new faces out in a Bristol shirt for the first time, with Hood and Sarafian two to keep an eye on.
Game One – 1st XV vs Wasps, Away
1. A. Parsons
2. C. Nielson
3. S. Acheson
4. A Buckland Hurry
5. P. Cleall
6. M. Packer
7. C. Molloy
8. I. Noel Smith
9. S. Moore
10. E. Snowsill
11. C. Roberts
12. A. Reed (c)
13. L. Holland
14. C. McNaney
15. S. Gregson
16. C. Phillips
17. S. Bern
18. J. Stephenson
19. P. Leitch
20. B. Belcher
21. H. Gascoigne
Game Two – 2nd XV vs Bath, Home
1. J. Hood
2. D. Travers
3. K. Armstrong
4. S. Giles
5. N. Lewis
6. T. Brown (c)
7. N. Smith
8. S. Neumann
9. M. Escott
10. C. Miell
11. S. Cleverly
12. R. Marston
13. L. Juffkins
14. E Lacey
15. C. Bishop
16. G. Hood
17. E. Mulhearn
18. L. Herring
19. R. Dives
20. S. Sarafian
Report courtesy of Bristol Ladies Press Office
