The Bear-lympics: How Paris 2024 inspired Bristol's preseason

Dave Ward is using some unorthodox methods to prepare last year’s Premiership Women’s Rugby runners-up Bristol Bears for the upcoming season.

The West Country outfit reached both the PWR Cup and showpiece final in their 2023-24 campaign but with aspirations to finally get their hands on some coveted silverware, head coach Ward has used the Paris Olympics to inspire his team to greatness.

“The girls have come in fit; we’ve obviously tried to make it quite fun as well and the fact that the Olympics have been on at the same time has really been inspiring for everyone,” Ward said. “We did shot put, discus, javelin, a row, a ski erg and a relay. We managed to steal a high jump from a local school as well which was awesome.

“Reneeqa Bonner was just amazing, and she wasn’t even using the correct technique so that was quite funny. We did hurdles too which was carnage as you can imagine!

“Gabriella Nigrelli in the javelin – she used to do it quite competitively so when she rocks up and throws 30 metres just off the bat we were like ‘Okay! Okay!’”

Bears have made only two summer signings ahead of the new season, but Ward hopes this consistency will strengthen his squad.

Olympian Jaz Joyce returns to the fray after some time away to focus on her Sevens career while Scotland international Emma Orr is set to make her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut as she moves from Heriots Blue's in the Scottish Premiership.

“It's the old classic of evolution not revolution,” Ward said. “We want to play the Bears way. We want to inspire the next generation, and we just need enough to take our game forward another step.

“It’s going to be the most competitive season yet.

“There’s going to be six or seven teams right up there pushing for that top four and that’s what we want as a league, as head coaches. We don’t want to look down the list and predict the results every week.”

Bristol open their season at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens against last year’s fifth place finishers Loughborough Lightning.

They will also enjoy a showpiece fixture at Ashton Gate in the third round as the squad face Saracens in front of TNT cameras.

He added: “We know how good a team Loughborough are – it’s going to be an interesting game because all the internationals are going to be away with WXV.

“They ran us close at home last season and they put in some decent performances at the back end of last season. They’re going to be very proud to start their league campaign at Franklin’s Garden against the finalists.

“We’d love to be [playing at Ashton Gate more often]. We’re doing a double header with the men on the 19th of October which is incredible. Thank you to PWR and Premiership Rugby for making it happen.

“The men want to support us and we want to support them. We want to get to Ashton Gate as much as possible, but we want to do it in the right environment.

“We also love Shaftesbury Park, it’s our home, we got 1,000 people there a couple of times last season which is incredible for a ground like that.

“For us it’s getting the balance right for when to be at Ashton Gate.”