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Abbie Ward ready to return for Bristol's Premiership Women's Rugby opener against Sale - 17 weeks after giving birth
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Published 16/11/2023 at 22:25 GMT
Bristol Bears host the opening game of the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby season on Saturday when they face Sale Sharks, live on TNT Sports. There could be a surprise figure in the Bears line-up, as head coach Dave Ward revealed that his wife Abbie is pushing for a place in the team despite giving birth to her first child in July. Bristol v Sale kicks off at 12:30 UK time at Ashton Gate.
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England international Abbie Ward could feature for Bristol in their Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby opener against Sale despite giving birth just four months ago.
The 2023/24 campaign gets underway on Saturday, November 18, live on TNT Sports, when the Bears and the Sharks go head-to-head at Asthon Gate to raise the curtain at 12:30 UK time.
Ward is co-captain of Bristol and a key player but gave birth to her first child Hallie 17 weeks ago in July.
Despite that, her husband and Bristol head coach Dave Ward hasn’t ruled out a role for the 61-time Red Roses international in the season opener.
"This is a big week training for her, I can't understate that," Dave Ward told BBC Radio Bristol.
"She's done a couple of weeks of contact now, but she's probably not done it as much as she wanted to in a 15-on-15 setting.”
Ward’s last competitive appearance was in England’s Women’s World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in November last year.
The 30-year-old lock is expected to play a big part for the Bears this season, but her husband warned that she won’t be getting any special treatment.
"She's got to earn her space,” he said.
“[There are] difficult conversations from our perspective, certainly a few weeks ago in terms of the way that Delaney [Burns], Hollie [Cunningham], Chris [Balogun] and Nicola [Beet] were playing in the cup - outstanding, outstanding performances all round.
“For her to come in and get a shot at either starting or on the bench this weekend, she's got to train well. She has done that, all credit to Abbie she has.
"It's not easy on both sides of the coin, and as a coach I have to be fair to the team and I have to be fair to Abbie as well.
"If I gave her selection, she'd hate me forever as a coach and as a husband, so she's definitely not going to be given anything. What she'll get either way this weekend is what she's earned."
Hallie could come onto the pitch with Abbie before the game starts, and Dave admitted he is in awe of the efforts his wife has put in.
"If it wasn't my wife, I'd probably be making more of a deal of it, if it was any other player, but because she's my wife I kind of don't,” he said.
"But I'm incredibly proud of her and I'm just amazed by her, really. Obviously I get to see her first-hand all the work she's put in."
Bristol Bears Women v Sale Sharks Women will be live on TNT Sports on Saturday, November 18, with kick-off at 12:30 UK time.
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