Bristol Ladies To Move To Cleve RFC

After five years based at The Portway Rugby Development Centre, the Ladies have made the decision to move to a new home ground ahead of the new campaign.

Following a review of last season and consultations with players, the number of games that were played away from The Portway due to the poor condition of the pitch was deemed unacceptable and the Board have made the decision to no longer remain at The Portway.

Board member and CEO, Heidi Chapman-Mercer believes that having a stable and suitable home ground is pivotal in creating a positive and high performing environment for next season.

She said: "Our time at the Portway has enabled us to establish ourselves as a standalone club, but as we move towards our aspiration of winning the Premiership we need a ground that can support our growing squad and provide us with an environment that will engage players and supporters alike.

"This is an exciting time for the club and being part of a community based centre at Cleve RFC will provide us with a professional environment to build the club, both on and off the field.

"I’d like to take the time to thank John Allan and Dale Sawyer from ALM for their commitment, support and understanding during our time at the centre.

"Cleve RFC have been a great support to the club through the last few seasons, with several games played there when The Portway was waterlogged, and this move will strengthen and cement our relationship with the club."

Club Captain Amber Reed added: "This is a really positive step for us as a club, the Portway has been a good home for us but now we need some consistency. We can now look to build a new fortress for next season and joining a well established club like Cleve RFC is fantastic for us.'

Bristol Ladies' fixtures for the 16/17 season are currently being finalised and will be announced in the near future. They look forward in welcoming you to Cleve RFC in September.