Video: Bristol Ladies Sign England Duo

Wednesday, September 7th 2016

England players Marlie Packer and Poppy Cleall join Bristol Ladies ahead of 2016/17 season.

Bristol Ladies boost their squad this season by adding another two internationals.

Marlie Packer comes straight in from the Great Britain Sevens squad where she just missed out on Rio 2016 selection.

The Yeovil-born player left her West Country roots in 2013 to play for Wasps and has gone from strength to strength.

The flanker featured in the Sevens World Cup in Moscow three years ago and crowned a remarkable rise with a start in the 2014 World Cup Final in France on the back of scoring two tries against Spain in the pool stages.

Packer began her rugby career as a five-year-old with Ivel Barbarians, a club where she spent 13 years and is no stranger to Bristol Ladies where she played in 2009.

Packer was the England Players’ Player in the 2012 Six Nations Championship and played in the São Paulo leg of the World Series in February, scoring in the 24-7 win over Brazil in her side’s final match of the tournament.

"Bristol Ladies have been really welcoming and it's great to be back," said the flanker.

"I am a West Country girl and I love being back around my friends.

"We have some world class players here and to be back in the fold with them is a dream come true.

"This season is massive, not just for Bristol Ladies, but also for the sport as a whole. With the success from Rio and the World Cup just around the corner, its a huge year for Women's Rugby."

England capped and former Saracens player, Poppy Cleall also joins the squad this season. The 23-year-old has experienced success in the Premiership after clinching the title with her former club in 2015 along with earning her first senior England caps earlier this year.

"I love Bristol as a City and the set-up here has always been great," said Cleall.

"I have wanted to come back for a while, especially in such an important year in the sport.

"I am really looking forward to playing at Ashton Gate, it will be a great occasion."

Bristol Ladies play their opening game of the 2016/17 season away to Wasps on Saturday, September 10th with their first home game at Cleve RFC on Sunday, September 18th against Aylesford Bulls Ladies.