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Clifton
Ladies join the Bristol Rugby family |
For
immediate release: Tuesday 4th November 2008 Issued on
behalf of Bristol Rugby |
Bristol
Rugby are delighted to announce that, as from November 2008,
the successful Clifton Ladies team will join the Bristol Rugby
set up and play under the name of Bristol Ladies.
The
Ladies were established as a club initially in 1984, and have
since been one of the leading women's rugby clubs in the
country. From the 1990s the 1st XV have played in the
Premiership, and over recent years have been National Cup
winners (2002) and National Premiership League winners (2004);
the only team outside of London to have won these
titles.
During the 2007/08 season, individual
achievements included:
· 6 Clifton players gaining
international honours for Wales · 5 Clifton players gaining
international honours for England, who took the 6 Nations
Grand Slam · 6 more Clifton squad members represented the
South West team in the Regional competition, which reached the
National Final.
For the 2008/09 season, the team are
playing in the Premiership, and are also re-establishing a
2nds team, which will be re-entered into the league structure
next season.
Bristol Ladies will continue to play their
home fixtures at Clifton RFC, sporting a new playing strip
which will feature the logo of Cabot Circus, Bristol's main
rugby sponsor.
Club Captain Monica Lewinska from
Bristol Ladies explained why the change is a good move for the
team:
"Women's rugby is becoming ever more competitive
and, whilst we have had a terrific track record to date, we
need to keep moving forward. We feel that being part of
Bristol Rugby opens up real opportunities for us in terms of
increased profile and participation and the chance to benefit
from sharing knowledge with the players and staff at a
Guinness Premiership club.
It's an exciting move for us
and one which we feel will enable us to remain right at the
very top of the Women's game."
Bristol Rugby's General
Manager, Corin Palmer added:
"One of the great
strengths of Bristol Rugby is its relationship with the
Bristol community. We have a great Academy, we enjoy good
relationships with Bristol Minis & Juniors and the Bristol
Combination clubs and our Community Team, led by Ben Breeze,
is going from strength to strength."
Welcoming the
Ladies squad into the fold is an extension of all that work
and we are very much looking forward to them being part of the
Club."
Clifton Rugby Club's Chairman, Richard Clifton
said:
"Whilst we are sad to see the Ladies leave our
club, it is understandable that they, and other Women's teams
are linking with Guinness Premiership clubs to thrive in a
professional sporting environment. We wish them
well."
For more information, please contact Duncan Wood
at Bristol Rugby or Clifton Rugby Chairman, Richard Clifton,
at richardclifton@nfumutual.co.uk |
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