WARRIORS WOMEN MAKE THREE CHANGES FOR BRISTOL AWAY

Warriors Women have made three changes for tomorrow’s Round 8 Allianz Premier 15s clash against Bristol Bears Women at Shaftesbury Park (kick-off 2pm).

Amelia Buckland Hurry returns to her old stomping ground where she spent seven seasons, and partners Cara Brincat in the second-row, while England capped back-row Jo Brown gets the nod at blindside flanker.

Brooke Bradley rounds off the changes, the scrum-half looking sharp when she came on in the second half of last week’s narrow defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury.

Alex Matthews misses out after sustaining a knock last weekend, while Lydia Thompson, Lyndsay O’Donnell and Carys Phillips continue their rehab. Laura Keates is ruled out for the season after coming off injured at Sale Sharks Women a fortnight ago.

“It’s always a tough game when we face Bristol and this weekend is no different,” said Mike Hill, the Academy Forwards Transition Coach and Warriors Women Forwards Coach.

“We’ve played them a few times including a friendly last year and they’re always physical and direct. They’ve got some really good ball players in the backline too and we’ll have to meet the challenge head on right from the word go.

“Jo [Yapp] has been working on our defence, which you can see has tightened up and we’ve got to make sure that we build on the positives of last week’s game against Gloucester-Hartpury, and if we do that then hopefully, we can get a result.”

Jo Yapp’s charges played in front of supporters for the first time in over ten months when they welcomed Gloucester-Hartpury to Sixways last weekend. Bristol are in Tier 3 of the Government guidelines meaning that there will be no spectators at tomorrow’s game, although you can watch it live via the England Rugby and Premier 15s platforms.

Warriors will host supporters again on Sunday December 20 when Harlequins Women come to town with tickets available here.

Warriors Women | 15 Abi Kershaw, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Jade Shekells, 12 Meg Varley, 11 Vicky Laflin, 10 Sarah Nicholas (CC), 9 Brooke Bradley, 1 Caryl Thomas, 2 Carmen Tremelling, 3 Flo Long, 4 Cara Brincat, 5 Amelia Buckland Hurry, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Sioned Harries (CC)

Replacements | 16 Hannah Stephens, 17 Roz Jermine, 18 Elizabeth Shermer, 19 Philippa Rawbone, 20 Taz Bricknell, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Robyn Wilkins, 23 Zoe Heeley

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