The phrase ‘competition breeds excellence’ is certainly applicable to the battle for Warriors Women’s starting scrum-half spot.
Brooke Bradley and Ffion Lewis are the two fighting it out to be named as starter, with both players impressing in the early rounds of the Tyrrells Premier 15s.
Though the results have not come yet, Bradley insists that having such strong competition from Lewis, who was recently called up for Wales Women’s Autumn Internationals, can only improve the team.
“Ffion’s a very good player. We have a similar playing style and it’s good to have someone who is that good as my opposition but I’m definitely looking to get that start again,” she said.
“At the moment if one of us starts, the other gets decent game time off the bench. I think that’s good because we both play quite quickly, having someone to speed up the game and getting it to go our way.
“Teams tend to switch off in the second-half so having that turn of pace, controlling the tempo and making it go our way will definitely help us.”
Warriors have started the season with four defeats, but Bradley believes the team are heading in the right direction.
“I’ve been enjoying the season so far, although it’s been difficult because we haven’t got the results we wanted,” she added.
“But we’re really growing as a team, the new girls that have come in have fitted in well and have made a big impact.
“It’s all mindset. Just going out there and execute what we’ve been doing in training, and putting out what we’re talking about in training on the field.
“Sometimes we switch off and our heads go down after a score, but we need to just think next job and look to score points.”
Warriors have been given a boost this week with the appointment of Jo Yapp as Director of Rugby, a move which Bradley is delighted about.
“I’m really excited,” she said, “I’ve worked with Jo in the England Under-20s. She’s a really good coach, very organised and she knows what she’s talking about.
“It’s really important to have that experience with us and driving us to push forwards.
“She already knows the players here, she knows how we play, how we train. So that will help the transition.”
Yapp’s previous coaching position at England Under-20s saw her oversee several members of the current Warriors Women first-team squad, including Bradley.
The 20-year-old was part of the squad which won the 2018 Tri-Nations Cup, and she credits the experience with her improvement on the pitch.
“I played in the Tri Nations Cup in Canada, it was really good fun and we won the cup that year,” Bradley said.
“It’s a really good opportunity to wear the shirt and playing against other countries, getting those wins and lifting silverware is really nice.
“It was amazing, I’d never been on a long-haul flight before. That was an experience on its own.
“Playing against two physical teams in the USA and Canada, having big strong girls running at you is a challenge but it was really good fun.
“That’s the things about 20s is that it’s a good transition, especially coming from youth rugby. You’re then working with players who are bigger and stronger which gets you ready for the Premier 15s where you’re playing against World Cup winners.”
Bradley will hope to be involved when Warriors Women travel to Gloucester-Hartpury on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).