Bristol Bears Women ready to tackle Gloucester-Hartpury in the Women’s Rugby Premiership Final at Sandy Park

Both head coach Dave Ward and co-captain Abbie Ward passionately believe Bristol Bears Women have what it takes to win the Premiership Women’s Rugby title, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.

The Bears take on West Country rivals Gloucester-Hartpury at Sandy Park on Saturday June 22 (kick-off 3pm) in the final, their opponents losing just once all season.

Coming off the back of a 29-21 semi-final win over Saracens, Bristol went into the game full of confidence having won their last seven games in a row.

Abbie Ward said: “It’s the final so whoever is the best team on the day will win the game.

“Gloucester have been really dominant in recent years; they are so clinical, but for us the focus must be on ourselves.

“This season we’ve seen massive growth, the way the team has transformed with new players coming in has been brilliant, but the rest of the season now doesn’t matter much, it’s about how you perform in the big knock-out games. “

By defeating Saracens at the StoneX Stadium in the previous round, Bristol Bears Women became the first team to win an away semi-final in the competition.

Furthermore, making the final Dave Ward’s side became the first Bristol Bears team (male or female) to reach a Premiership final.

Abbie Ward said: “It was amazing to win especially with the odds against us, however we were very vocal that we didn’t want this to be our final.

“We didn’t want it to be the game where we spent all our energy and played the final a few weeks too early.

“It meant a lot to the girls to beat Saracens, but ultimately the final will mean so much more.”

Hooker Lark Atkin-Davies scored a hat-trick last time out in her first full game back from an ankle injury suffered in April.

A brilliant performance from the Bristol pack helped Atkin-Davies on their way as they scored two tries from the Bears’ backline.

Reflecting on his prostitute’s performance, Dave Ward said: “Every team needs someone like her; you don’t realize the impact she has on the team until she’s not playing.

“We’re really happy she’s back and we can’t wait to see her in the final at Sandy Park.”

Despite the dominance of Bristol Bears’ forwards, Abbie Ward is adamant the tries her side are scoring come in a variety of different ways.

Against Saracens, the other two tries the Bears scored (one by Atkin-Davies and the other by Reneeqa Bonner) were both scored on the wings.

Abbie Ward said: “If we need to, we can destroy a team, but we also have an electric edge that we can use whenever we want.”

In the previous two meetings this season between Bristol Bears Women and Gloucester-Hartpury, the Cherry and Whites have come out on top twice.

In December, Gloucester won 12-0 in freezing conditions and backed it up in February, coming from behind to win 24-19, with a last-gasp Nel Metcalfe score taking the spoils.

After reviewing his sides recent performances against Saturday’s opponents, Dave Ward said: “Gloucester are a team that never give up so we have to make sure we take the points when they are on offer.

“Hopefully we can take more points than them and lift the trophy.”

Watch the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby Final live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 2 p.m., Saturday. June 22.