Bristol Bears Women head coach Dave Ward signs three-year contract extension

Bristol Bears have announced that the women's head coach Dave Ward has signed a three-year contract extension with the Gallagher Premiership club.

Ward, who had a stellar 16-year playing career for Bath, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, Cornish Pirates, Harlequins and Ampthill took over as the head coach of Bristol Bears Women in 2021 and guided them to a third place finish in the 2021/22 season of the Allianz Premier 15s.

He will now remain with the club until at least 2025.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have extended my stay with the Bears. To have come from eighth position in 2020/21, to third this season is a huge credit to everyone involved and I’m hugely excited about the levels this squad can reach moving forward," he told the club's official website.

“Everything at the High Performance Centre is set up for us to achieve our vision of Inspiring Our Community Through Rugby Success and that’s not just winning on the field, that’s about growing the women’s game and developing pathways to encourage girls and young women to play and enjoy rugby.

“I have loved working with such an ambitious group, and I am delighted to be able to continue this journey with the Bears.”