Bristol Bears Women
Bristol Bears Women are a women's rugby club founded in 1984 who play in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) (Tier 1). Their home ground is Shaftesbury Park, which holds 2,000.
Last updated May 2026
Key facts
| Founded | 1984 |
|---|---|
| League | Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) |
| Tier | Tier 1 |
| Head coach | Dave Ward |
| Home ground | Shaftesbury Park |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Nearest station | Bristol Parkway |
| Local derby | Exeter Chiefs Women (West Country derby) |
| Marquee fixture | West Country derby vs Exeter Chiefs |
| Matchday pub | Clubhouse bar - on-site Fan Village at Shaftesbury Park |
| Official website | https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/bears-women/ |
Club history
The club originated as Clifton Ladies RFC founded in 1984 after a charity match.
The team affiliated with Bristol Rugby in 2008 and was renamed Bristol Ladies before rebranding to Bristol Bears Women in 2018.
Bristol Bears Women competed in the inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s season in 2017-18.
England prop Sarah Bern is one of the club's most prominent Red Roses internationals alongside lock Abbie Ward.
Former Harlequins hooker Dave Ward serves as Head Coach having previously held the same role at Guildford RFC.
Recent seasons
Dave Ward was confirmed as head coach having moved from Ampthill ahead of the 2023-24 PWR season.
England internationals Sarah Bern and Abbie Ward both committed their futures to the Bears for the 2024-25 PWR campaign.
Bristol finished fourth in the 2024-25 PWR regular season and lost the semi-final 36-20 to Gloucester-Hartpury at Kingsholm on 2 March 2025.
Abbie Ward returned as captain for the 2024-25 season as the club continued playing home matches at Shaftesbury Park.
Notable players
Club legends
- Pip Tucker
- Marlie Packer
- Amber Reed
- Lauren Cattell
Current squad
- Sarah Bern
- Abbie Ward
- Lark Atkin-Davies
Turning Bristol Bears Women footage into insight
Every match Bristol Bears Women play holds a goldmine of detail. Framesports turns rugby footage into the analytics that actually matter and data that builds smarter game plans, collected by analysts and checked by humans. See how it works on the Framesports features page.
Frequently asked questions
When were Bristol Bears Women founded?
Bristol Bears Women were founded in 1984.
Where do Bristol Bears Women play?
Bristol Bears Women play at Shaftesbury Park, which holds 2,000. The nearest station is Bristol Parkway.
What league do Bristol Bears Women play in?
Bristol Bears Women compete in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), tier 1 of English rugby's league structure.
Who are Bristol Bears Women's local rivals?
Bristol Bears Women's local derby is against Exeter Chiefs Women.
Who is the Bristol Bears Women head coach?
Bristol Bears Women are coached by Dave Ward.
Other Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) clubs
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