Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players

Elinor Snowsill had been obsessed with football as a child but was introduced to rugby through her teacher and former Wales prop Catrin Edwards.

Edwards set up a touch rugby team at Snowsill’s school which the fly-half joined at 14. The team went on to become the Welsh champions three years in a row. The success meant she was recruited to the Wales U19 side and this led to the Bristol Bears star having to choose between rugby and football.

“I got selected on the wing against Canada or the USA and on the same night I had Wales U19 football trials that I had been really wanting to get into for years. So I had to choose between earning an actual cap for my country with rugby or the possibility of getting selected for Wales with football.

“So I chose rugby and was just fortunate I guess. The people in rugby were the main reason I stayed in the sport. Just the family community feel to it and I felt more comfortable and at home in a rugby environment than I did in a football environment.”

Snowsill, 32, has gone

on to win 58 Wales caps and is part of Bears’ hugely improved side this season. The west country outfit are unbeaten and top of the table after five rounds and she says that’s mainly thanks to their new head coach Dave Ward.

“His impact has been absolutely huge. You wouldn’t recognise the training standards from last year. He’s by far one of the best coaches I have ever worked with. Tom Luke, who is a backs coach, both of them are just brilliant.

“It’s an interesting one with Dave as he has so much experience with the professional side of the game from his own playing years. But he also has experience of semi-professional coaching through Ampthill. He’s not completely oblivious to the demands of juggling careers with rugby. He has got the passion for the women’s game through Abbie (his wife and Bristol and England player). So he’s got a perfect blend of what you need to be taking a team in the Prem right now.”

In addition the club has become more tightly knit with the men and women’s sides having stronger links.

She adds: “Our experience has massively increased just through linking up more solidly with the men’s side. We have moved into the high performance centre which has just insane facilities: massive brand new gym and amazing pitches. Pat Lam (men’s director of rugby) is very involved in that he’ll give advice. His attention to detail is brilliant.

“We’re having skills sessions with the men’s coach. All of that is upskilling us and exposing us to a much higher level of coaching.”