‘Player and squad development at Bristol Bears Women is on an exponential rise’

We’re asked on a very regular basis what it’s like to be a rugby player in the Allianz Premier 15s.

For some of our international superstars at Bristol Bears Women, it’s a full-time career; while on the flip side many of us work full time or part time jobs, or play alongside studying at college or university.

In the squad, our non-rugby professions vary from doctors to supermarket workers to teachers like me – and everything in between!

This is our second season being at the Bristol Bears High Performance Centre, with all its phenomenal facilities.

Just some of the facilities that we are fortunate enough to have access to include a world-class gym, two full size grass pitches and an artificial half-size replica pitch of Ashton Gate in ‘the barn’.

But the most popular facilities for us at the HPC in Failand include the sauna, smoothie and snack bars, though I can’t imagine why!

With these world class facilities and our head coach, Dave Ward, the improvements we’ve made in the last couple of seasons have been huge: from winning just four games in the 2020/21 season to reaching the semi-finals in both the cup and Premiership in the 2021/22 season.

With even higher aspirations for this coming season, both player and whole squad development is on an exponential rise.

While our internationals are currently away at the World Cup in New Zealand, the opportunity for players to step up and take on roles of leadership has seen many progress in leaps and bounds, even since the start of our cup campaign just a few weeks ago.

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This season has been a little different for me, having spent the last few months watching from the side lines after rupturing my ACL towards the end of last season.

It’s an injury that will have me out of the game for about ten months but has given me a chance to work on other areas of my game, and has taught me a lot about mental resilience.

A highlight so far in the world of rehab has been relearning how to run, and I must give a huge shout out to our medical and athletic performance teams for the amazing job they’re doing!

Bristol Bears’ High Performance Centre opened in 2020 – photo: Martin Booth

When I’m not at the High Performance Centre teaching myself how to run again, I work as a science teacher in a local secondary school.

Juggling full-time teaching and playing semi-professional rugby is certainly a challenge, but I’m very fortunate to work with colleagues in both settings who have a wealth of experience that I can learn from.

I’ve also recently had the opportunity to start up a girls’ rugby club after school, and have seen the girls progress so much just since September – we could well have some future Bears in the making!

From my position as chief bench warmer, I’ve particularly enjoyed seeing so many younger players progressing through their school years and the centre of excellence programme into the senior squad, even if it makes a few of us feel a little old when we’re behind on the latest TikTok trend.

With continued investment into the women’s game, the idea of the league becoming fully professional is inching ever closer.

We would all love for you to come and watch your Bristol Bears Women continue to pave the way for the next generation at Ashton Gate for our first league game of the season versus Wasps on November 19, with tickets from just £4.

The Bristol Bears Women squad and backroom staff ahead of the 2022/23 season – photo: Fever Pitch

Jenny Herring is a back row forward with Bristol Bears Women. When not playing rugby, she is a science teacher; having studied biology at the University of Bristol

Main photo: JMP

Read next:

• Bristol Bears’ new High Performance Centre is ‘world’s best rugby training facility’
• Simi Pam: Bristol24/7’s sportsperson of 2021
• Bristol Bears become first rugby club to partner with Her Game Too
• Bristol Bears Women win 115-0
• Bears Women and City Women now more closely aligned with men’s teams

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