The first big signing of the close season has been announced. Lark Davies of Loughborough Lightning, moves to Bristol Bears for 2022-23.
She was at Worcester Warriors (then Valkyries) in the first years of the Premier 15s, captaining them through a difficult period when wins were hard to find.
In 2019 she moved to Loughborough as they were busy signing up other major figures like Sarah Hunter, Katy Daley-Mclean and Emily Scarratt.
KD-M retired at the end of 2020, and Hunter and Scarratt were injured for much of the recent season, so Lightning weren’t able to profit from their presence with another appearance in the knock-outs.
Bristol on the other hand have undergone a complete reorganisation that has seen them reach the semi-finals. They weren’t able to defeat the other intensely ambitious (and new) club, Exeter Chiefs, away from home, but are obviously on the look-out for extra playing strength.
Davies provides that in spades. Who would have expected her to take precedence over the excellent Amy Cokayne as first-choice Red Rose hooker? But she did, and proved the selectors right with a series of outstanding performances.
England’s mastery at the line-out depends in the first instance on a reliable throw, and Davies has offered that time and again.
She has become the top try-scorer in the Prem 15s two years running, most of her offerings coming on the end of catch-and-drives, she herself providing the intial line-out possession.
With Davies added to a pack already containing Sarah Bern and Abbie Ward, quite apart from other leading figures like Simi Pam, Rownita Marston and a a string of Welsh caps, the Bears will present a formidable challenge next season.
Nervous Staffs
The summer must be a nervy period for head coaches and managers. Who will be the next to announce her departure? Pre-season moves were many and varied in the first two seasons of the new league, for understandable reasons. They grew fewer as the league settled down, and Exeter found it impossible to attract top (Red Rose) talent away from their clubs as the World Cup approached.
Tony Rowe of Chiefs saw his dream of a league win snatched from his grasp at the last hurdle. Susie Appleby may now repeat her efforts to attract more top talent to Sandy Park.
The positioning of the RWC in October-November places it awkwardly in the middle of a conventional season, but the planners knew about this long ago, and will have their revised plans in place.
Still, it’s possible to imagine a host of signings taking place, especially as the disparity in club funding remains so wide. The terms the ten clubs can offer vary too much. They should be at the centre of the league executive’s policy review.
The danger remains that the most affluent clubs will become stronger at the expense of the less well funded. The undoubted advantage that brings the Red Roses must be set against the loss of competitiveness in the league.
But the executive has already announced its intention to ensure a minimum number of English players are retained by all ten clubs, though they didn’t go into detail. It’s open to question how many of Chiefs’ overseas stars will be willing and able to return for a third season. It’s just possible that that other national unions will alter their policy too, encouraging their best players to stay at home.
One Move, a Domino Effect?
The arrival of one top player at a club means another player has to consider her future.
In Davies’ case that is Hannah West. She moved from Wasps to Bears to further her career, and has impressed many observers, including no doubt, England selectors. But, as with so many positions, the competition is tough. Will she look to move away? Otherwise she will be restricted to games where Davies is called away on England duty, and they won’t be many.
In short, this first big signing may well set in train a host of others. Head coaches, keep your fingers crossed!
