Bristol Ladies Ones To Watch: Danielle Waterman

Rugby was always going to play a part in the life of Danielle, who is affectionately known as 'Nolli'.

You couldn’t have watched a game that featured Nolli without seeing her dance her way through the oppositions defence.

Her father, Jim, appeared in more than 450 games for Bath Rugby, both her brothers play and now she’s a World Cup winner, having scored a try in the 2014 final against Canada.

In fact, Nolli has played in three World Cups and three finals, is England’s longest-serving current player and is centrally contracted.

She was chosen in the 12-strong British Women’s Sevens squad for two invitational tournaments in March last year in Las Vegas and Vancouver as part of the preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in which she became a member of Team GB.

Nolli made a triumphant return to the England Sevens squad in the title triumph at Langford in April 2016. A knee injury meant that her most recent World Series appearance had been in Atlanta 13 months earlier.

Danielle said: “The one goal for me, through a really difficult rehab, was just to be able to wear the England shirt again. I think this is probably my biggest achievement in 14 years of playing for my country. Physically and mentally it has challenged me in every sense.”

She made her Test debut in 2003, became the youngest girl at the age of 18 to represent her country and has scored 41 tries in 68 Test appearances. 

In 26 Six Nations games Nolli has scored 25 tries, including one this February when England beat France for the third time in a row and two against Wales the following week and one against Scotland in March.

She had made a dazzling 60-metre run to the line at Twickenham Stadium that bewildered the Canadian defence in a 39-6 victory last November. 

Taunton born, she returned to the West Country when moving from Worcester to Bristol. She was Head of AASE Academy at Hartpury College and is now one of the 18 players on full-time 15s contracts with the RFU.

Bristol Ladies secured a place in the Premiership Play-Off Final at Sixways Stadium on Sunday, April 23rd.

A well earned seven try victory over Saracens Women in the sunshine at Cleve RFC put Bristol into the final for the first time in the clubs history.

Bristol Ladies Rugby take on Aylesford Bulls Ladies in the battle for the title while Lichfield Ladies take on Richmond Women for third place. 

Entry to the day is FREE with parking on-site is also FREE. 

Seating will be in the East Stand, where bar and catering concessions will also be available. while gates open at 11am.

Bristol Ladies kick-off at 3pm at Sixways Stadium in Worcester. 

It is the last action in the Women's Premiership before next season's inaugural Women's Super Rugby campaign.

If you can't make the trip, the game will also be live streamed on the England Facebook Page. 

Follow @Bristol_L_Rugby to keep up-to-date on all the action. 

Bristol Ladies Media - sponsored by Wring Group.