Shaftesbury Park named as new home venue for Bristol Bears Women

Shaftesbury Park is a newly built facility in Frenchay, Bristol and is home to National League 2 South side, Dings Crusaders RFC. 

The ground boasts an impressive 200-seater stand for supporters that overlooks the first team pitch - which is an artificial playing surface.

Bristol Bears Women CEO Heidi Chapman-Mercer believes the move to Shaftesbury Park provides a professional environment for Kim Oliver’s side as they head in to a new Tyrrell’s Premier 15’s season.

“As a club it is imperative that we provide a professional setting for players, staff, volunteers and supporters as the women’s game takes the next step in its evolution and we believe this is the right setting to do that in.

“They have welcomed us into their new home and together we hope to make Shaftesbury Park a place where supporters can enjoy the wide range of rugby on show.”

Accessible via junction 1 of the M32, the complex also contains an indoor sport hall, weights room, clubhouse bar that overlooks the two main pitches and two large function rooms. 

Bristol Bears Women have a history of working with Dings Crusaders RFC having played at their old ground, Lockleaze for three years and they have shown support for the women’s game by having a full compliment of girls age-range rugby.

The move does bring the Bears Women’s time at Cleve RFC to an end and everyone at the club would like to thank Cleve for their support over the past two seasons. 

“Cleve RFC provided us with a great platform to show our games to a wider audience at the start of the TP15s and with their support it saw us double our match day audience. We would all like to thank them for their time, energy and support.”, added Chapman-Mercer. 

Address: Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1LG