Alisha Joyce returns to Bristol Bears on one-match deal five months after family-driven exit

Alisha Joyce has returned to Bristol Bears on a one-match contract for Saturday’s JAECOO Next Gen Cup fixture against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop, just five months after departing the West Country club for family reasons.

The 29-year-old lock left Bristol in May alongside her wife, Jasmine, with the couple citing the birth of their son, Ralphie, and the difficulty of commuting from Wales as the driving factors behind their decision. “This has not been an easy decision but one we have made for family reasons with the arrival of Ralphie,” Joyce said at the time. “The travel to and from Bristol to train and play is not ideal when you have a young family.”

Joyce has been named to start at lock, partnering England and Ireland age-grade international Jorja Battishill. Both she and Jasmine are set to represent Brython Thunder in the 2026/27 Celtic Challenge, which begins in December, having played for the Welsh regional side last season.

Her return to club rugby follows a Wales appearance off the bench in their 50-19 win over South Africa in September, though she was not selected for the national team’s subsequent two-match tour of Japan.

Also returning to action for Scott Lawson’s side is England hooker Lark Atkin-Davies, a Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 winner, who makes her first appearance since giving birth to her daughter, Olive, 16 weeks ago.

Bristol head into the fixture having won one of their two Next Gen Cup games this season — a 47-19 victory over Gloucester Hartpury — after opening their campaign with a 28-24 defeat to Trailfinders Women.