Jasmine is a class above
CROSS CODE star Jasmine Joyce-Butchers has taken the PWR by storm this season with back-toback player of the week awards despite Bristol Bears‘ inconsistent start.
The GB Sevens flyer and Wales XV’s full-back is a key cog in Dave Ward’s side after returning from sevens duty.
Despite being on the wrong side of last Friday’s 34-19 loss to Harlequins, the 29-year-old remained a class above her competitors producing mesmerising attacking numbers.
Joyce-Butchers had 22 carries, made 122 metres, three line breaks, and beat 10 defenders. That followed her standout performance in round four, which included two tries in Bristol‘s 57-10 thumping of Sale.
She said: “I’m loving my rugby at the minute. In the PWR you’ve got the best players in the world around you and by playing against quality players it improves your game through learning. It’s a great opportunity for us to get better, especially with the World Cup on the horizon.
“At Bristol, we have a lot of touches on the ball as a back three, so our carry stats are naturally going to be higher than some of the other sides. I’m pretty chuffed to receive that award in the first two games I’ve played for Bears this season. We score some unreal tries which are good to watch.”
The Pembrokeshire-born player has won 20 caps for Wales but has been an international sevens player since 2015, representing Team GB at this year’s Olympics, and says the shorter format has made her more unselfish.
“A lot of people know that I don’t like passing but sevens has definitely helped me do that,” said Joyce-Butchers.
“Tom Luke our backs coach said the try that Millie David scored on the weekend wouldn’t have been passed by me last season. It’s good to know that my skillset is getting better and sevens has definitely helped me with that.”
Joyce-Butchers is part of an electric backfield, with young talents Millie David, 19, and Reneeqa Bonner, 20, either side of her and expects her free-scoring team-mates to earn international honours in the short term.
Joyce-Butchers said: “They are ridiculous for players at the beginning of their careers. We have a lot of fun together. Millie is ridiculously fast and just backs herself which I love, while Ren has one of the best goose steps I’ve ever seen. Hopefully soon we’ll see them in an England jersey.”
Back-to-back PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury came into this weekend having tasted defeat twice already this season, which is as many losses Sean Lynn’s side had suffered in the past two seasons.
Exeter came in as the only unbeaten side, while last year’s finalists Bristol picked up just two wins from their opening four outings and Joyce-Butchers says that just reflects the competitive nature of the PWR.
She added: “We wouldn’t have expected to be in this position four games in but no titles are won at the front end of the season. I think the higher teams are going to lose to different teams and the table will be very muddled up this year.
“Gloucester wouldn’t have expected to lose two games and Exeter may have expected to have lost one by now. Harlequins are much better this season, so it’s a hugely competitive environment which is what you want. You don’t want to be able to guess the top four at this stage of the season.”
