Lillicrap flourishing in Bears environment

BACK IN THE MIX

The 34-cap Wales international has been back training with the Bears over the last four weeks and has been loving the mood in camp.

“It’s been great to be around the girls again, we’re still in our bubbles of five, but it’s good to see everyone else from a distance and we’re excited to get the season started now," said Lillicrap.

“That’s the thing we’ve missed the most as rugby players, the interaction, the banter and the cohesion you have with your team. You go to battle when you play rugby, so our off-field relationships are just as important.

“I’ve missed being around the girls and vibes have been outstanding since being back, so I’m looking forward to a good season.”

WELSH INFLUENCE

Lillicrap, who arrived in the summer of 2019, has seen an influx of her fellow international teammates to the West Country and she believes they will thrive in the environment at Shaftesbury Park.

“The team have done well to recruit quality players and there are a lot of the fellow Welshies that have joined us. It’s great to see familiar faces at training but I also know that they’ll thrive in this environment and it’ll bring out the best in them.”

TOUGH COMPETITON

The 2020/21 Premier 15s competition will see two new teams enter the league as Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks compete in their maiden season and the 32-year-old sees their addition as a huge positive for the competition as women’s rugby heads into a World Cup year.

“We have real competition, we want to play really good outfits, individuals, and really good sides – that’s what the Premier 15s offers.

“I’m excited to get underway and there will be some really tough games this year, but that’s what we all want, especially with World Cup prep for some individuals ahead of New Zealand next year.

“We want to play the highest possible level we can and that’s what Premier 15s offers, and with the side we have got this year we hope we can compete towards the top end.”

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

After bursting onto the Premier 15s last campaign, Lillicrap was named captain for Wales’ Six Nations campaign and the Welsh skipper is thankful for the opportunity given to her by the Bears, which she feels helped her to fulfil a lifelong dream.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that the Bears gave me last year.

“I feel like I really flourished in the environment and enjoyed every time I played for the Bears, as well as the level of training and competition.

“The standards the girls push is absolutely what I need as a player and I think that put me in a good place last year heading into the Six Nations and the opportunities that I had to wear the red jersey and captain my country, which was an honour.

“I’m grateful for what the Bears have done for me in that respect, so I’m looking forward to repaying them and getting back out there and doing some good stuff on the pitch again this year.”