Rugby / Bristol Bisons RFC
New head coach for the Bristol Bisons
Bristol Bisons RFC are returning to the pitch, and welcoming a new head coach to the team.
The South West’s first LGBTQ+-inclusive rugby club, which turns 16 in 2021, will be coached by former England Rugby Women’s player, Sasha Acheson.
Having previously played for England Women and the Barbarians and guest coached for the Bristol Bears, London Irish and the Cornish Pirates, Acheson joins the team with a wealth of experience.
is needed now More than ever
She also coaches the England Fire Service Forwards and has also been an athlete ambassador for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, coaching and mentoring people through sport.
“The Bristol Bisons represent something so much bigger than rugby, and that is shown through their diversity as a squad,” says Acheson.
“The team is brilliant, and the sense of community is something I wholeheartedly respect, admire and want to be a part of.
“As rugby players they have flare and desire, and they don’t want to be confined by their labels: they want to be just who they are and play a sport they love. These are several things which really resonate with me.”
Acheson brings a wealth of experience to the role. Photo: Wonderland Comms
She hopes to help the squad become a “real threat” ahead of the next season of International Gay Rugby, giving them “the tools to become an unbelievable team”.
Formed in 2005, Bristol Bisons RFC is a group of gay, straight, and bisexual men from Bristol, Somerset, South Gloucestershire who play rugby both on a friendly and competitive basis.
Since restrictions eased on the March 29, the Bristol Bisons have been able to train twice a week safely and effectively, with on average 30 players coming along to training sessions, The group has now grown to have more than 70 members in total.
“We are so incredibly pleased that Sasha has agreed to join us, and very excited to welcome Sasha to our herd,” says Bristol Bisons chairperson Donald Calcott. “Sasha brings so much experience to a team with great enthusiasm, and we are hungry to learn more and continue to develop.
“Over the 16-year history of the Bisons, we have continued to offer a space for all people in the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy rugby in Bristol and the surrounding areas.”
Main photo: Wonderland Comms
Read more: Bristol’s LGBTQ+-inclusive rugby club returns to the playing field
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