Joyce twins leave Bristol to return home for family and Celtic Challenge rugby

Alisha and Jasmine Joyce will play their domestic rugby in the Celtic Challenge next season after departing Bristol Bears, the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed. The couple, who between them hold 113 Wales caps, cited family reasons following the birth of their son Ralphie last autumn as the primary motivation for ending a six-year stay at the Premiership Women’s Rugby club.

Bristol announced the pair among 11 departures from the club this summer. Until now, both players had commuted to the West Country from West Wales, a logistical challenge that became increasingly difficult after Ralphie’s arrival. Alisha returned to club rugby for Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge just 123 days after giving birth, and came off the bench for Wales against England in the Women’s Six Nations only 35 days after that.

Alisha Joyce said the decision, while not easy, was made with their family’s needs at the centre. “The travel to and from Bristol to train and play is not ideal when you have a young family and we know we need the support network provided by our families and friends to bring up Ralphie,” she said. “We are still committed to our careers as rugby professionals. We know this will provide us with certainty and support to do that.”

Jasmine Joyce, a three-time Olympian and 57-cap wing, echoed those sentiments, adding that both players remain driven at club and international level. “Both of us have always wanted to play a high standard of club rugby in Wales but we have never had that opportunity until now,” she said.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has actively encouraged his international players to return home and compete in the Celtic Challenge, a policy that has already seen forward Gwen Crabb make the same move earlier this season. Lynn welcomed the news, pointing to the value the Joyces’ experience will bring to younger players coming through the Welsh pathway.

“To have their experience of the PWR and Test rugby rub off on the younger players emerging through our pathway is going to be a real benefit to everyone,” Lynn said.