By John Harding

BRISTOL Ladies start the new women's rugby ten-team domestic competition, the Tyrrells Premier 15s League, with a home game against their Richmond counterparts at Cleve RFC on Sunday afternoon, kick off 2pm.

Last season's beaten finalists in the Women's Premiership final have lost a number of their England World Cup players including the Red Roses skipper Sarah Hunter who has joined Tyrrells Premier 15s League rivals Loughborough Lightning as assistant coach.

But Bristol Ladies new head coach Kris de Scossa, the former Wales Women's head coach, is excited by the squad of players that he has gathered and will give six of them their debuts on Sunday.

He added: “We’ve got some really young, talented players that have come up from all of the South-West, that tied in with some of the Welsh internationals and developing England under 20’s players has made a real cauldron of talent and ability."

Second row Amelia Buckland-Hurry will captain the side while Leadership on the field will also come from Abbie Parsons, Sasha Acheson, Clara Nielson, Poppy Leitch and Cat McNaney, who were all included in last season’s final against Aylesford Bulls Ladies.

Bristol Ladies (home v Richmond Ladies, 2pm at Cleve RFC): Lagi Tuima; Lillian Stoeger, Charlotte Holland, Rownita Marston, Carys Cox; Sarah Graham, Rhi Parker; Sasha Acheson, Clara Nielson, Abbie Parsons, Amelia Buckland-Hurry (capt), Kate Newton, Poppy Leitch, Abbie Fleming, Hollie Cunningham. Reps: Jessie Hood, Ellie Mulhearn, Daisy Mayes, Clea Fawcett, Brooke Bradley, Lucy Attwood, Cat McNaney, Poppy Cleall.