With the 2024 Women’s Six Nations in full swing, the eyes of the rugby world are on the Red Roses, as they look to retain their Grand Slam title. England have won the Six Nations on the past five consecutive seasons, and welcomed back a multi-time champion to the squad, ahead of last weekend’s victory over Italy.
Bristol Bears lock Abbie Ward is back in the Red Roses fold, just a matter of months after she welcomed baby Hallie to the world. Ward returned to the rugby pitch 17 weeks after the birth of her daughter, and strong shift over in the West Country has earned Ward a spot in John Mitchell’s squad for the ongoing Women’s Six Nations.
Ward marked her return to England with a try against Italy, after her first time crossing over the line was chalked off for double movement in the tackle. Ward muscled her way over to score from close range, in a first half try that built upon Hannah Botterman’s earlier score, as England began to establish a foothold over the Azzurri. Ward and her new arrival, have been familiarising themseleves in and around the Red Roses camp in recent weeks.
The Wards are set to become the focus of a new ITVX documentary, that focuses on the pregnancy of the leading England lock. The documentary is set to offer an interesting insight from a fly on the wall perspective, into one of the Red Roses’ top returning players. Ward has made 61 appearances for England, and is apart of a formidable Bristol pack that features the likes of Red Roses front rowers Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern.