Bristol’s rise built on solid team values

Steve Hill puts the questions to former hooker Dave Ward, the head coach at Bristol Bears Women

Why did you get into coaching and how did you arrive at your current position?

I started my coaching in 2010 while playing at Cornish Pirates when Ian Davies (former Pirates coach) ran an RFU level 2 course. I coached St Just for two seasons and then became Guildford head coach for seven seasons after moving to Harlequins. I did a year at Ampthill as a player-coach before starting with Bristol Bears Women in 2021.

How would you describe your style of coaching?

It is very much how I enjoyed it as a player. I have a really clear way in which I think the game can be played and although it is based around structure I want to give players the ability to make good decisions and then execute them.

What do you find the most challenging aspects of coaching?

Working out when to intervene and went to sit back and let the players learn for themselves. As a coach you are also a facilitator so sometimes the hardest thing is to sit back when all your instincts are to jump in and fault correct.

So far what do you count as your most significant coaching achievement?

Double promotion with Guildford was pretty cool (I let the players shave my head after the play-off win at Tring), I am also really happy with the way Bristol have reached the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

What approach have you taken if your team is struggling for victories?

I have always been a big believer in values as I think this is always something you can refer back to. At Pirates we had a value of ‘Pirates honour’ which basically covered everything however it really meant never let a team-mate down.

You are in the unusual situation of coaching the team for whom your wife, Abbie, plays. What challenges does this present?

It hard to not talk rugby at home but it obviously crops up from time to time. Luckily when it comes to rugby we agree on a lot so it’s easier than you think. The biggest debate is always if a lineout goes astray – I back the hooker and she backs the caller!

What are the biggest challenges facing the elite women’s game and how could they be addressed?

The pathway is the biggest area that needs developing for both club and country. The RFU have recently introduced the PDG programs which will be great for the elite players at U18s. However clubs are prohibited to run their own U18s so there will be lots of players who fall through the cracks. I would love to run a women’s academy at Bears for both U16s and U18s and hopefully that will happen in the future.

Describe how the relationship works between the men’s and women’s sections at Bristol?

Bears is quite unique in the way that all staff are situated in their specific department rather than men’s, women’s and academy. This means there is huge opportunity for shared learning and everyone feels much more like one team rather than three separate entities.

Tell us the name of a player who you have really enjoyed coaching/developing and why?

A tough one to answer… I think seeing the player that Delaney Burns is now compared to the player I first met has been great. Also watching the likes of Reneeqa Bonner from when I first met her at the Centre of Excellence has given me and all the coaching team a real sense of pride.

As a coach what two laws or aspects of the game would you change to make it a better experience for either yourself or your players?

I would like to see players able to dive on the ball again within a metre of a ruck, the 50/50s are what sometimes win you a game of rugby and taking this out of the game takes away a battle to be won.

What two words would your current or previous players use to describe you as a coach and why?

Hopefully diligent and energetic, I try to bring the energy and know as much about my own team and their strengths as well as the opposition.

What advice would you give to anyone considering or just starting to get involved in coaching rugby?

Keep remembering why you are there and what you are trying to achieve, If you improve just one player or one player enjoys what you are trying to do then you’ve had a good day. I would also reiterate what Lao Tzu said: “Simplicity, Patience, Compassion” – if you stick with these three things you won’t go far wrong.