Bristol prop Sarah Bern handed one-match ban as citing upheld
England prop Sarah Bern will miss Bristol Bears’ Premiership Women’s Rugby encounter with Harlequins on Friday after she picked up a one-match ban.
Bern, making her first PWR appearance since helping the Red Roses defend their WXV 1 title in Canada, was cited for “dangerous play in a ruck” during last weekend’s win at Sale Sharks.
The incident was alleged to have taken place in the 30th minute of the Bears’ 57-10 victory, shortly before Bern powered over for one of her side’s nine tries at CorpAcq Stadium.
The tighthead contested the charge but the citing was upheld by an independent disciplinary panel, chaired by Daniel Gore, on Wednesday and she will now miss the round five match at Shaftesbury Park.
A statement released by the Rugby Football Union said: "The Panel considered the dynamics of the incident and determined that the citing should be upheld on the basis that this was a reckless act which breached the player's duty of care to her opponent."
Bern will next be available for selection when Bristol head to Welford Road on November 9 to take on Leicester Tigers.
The prop spent a large spell on the sidelines through injury last season but returned to start Bristol’s 36-24 PWR final defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury at Sandy Park in June.
She subsequently played a part in both of England’s WXV warm-ups, victories over France and New Zealand, and was part of the matchday squad for all three of the Red Roses’ matches in Canada.
Bristol currently sit fourth in the PWR table, a defeat to Saracens coming in between wins against Loughborough Lightning and Sale.
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This headline is clickbait nonsense - sure the Aussies can have a laugh at the weekend’s results - when you’ve been as bad as they have for the last 20 years, all you can do is laugh.
If Aussie teams win the next 20 Super Rugby titles and don’t have half of their players from NZ, then we can revisit this.
Go to comments2027 is the target year for England to have transitioned for the RWC. You highlight an systemic blight of the heart of the game in England, consistent failure to give youth its spurs in a meaningful sense. Sure it comes through in dribs and drabs but no wonder France is where they are now, they have brought through the U20s players en masse over the past 4-5 years. Bielle-Biarey, 21, France debut 2023, 18 caps and 17 tries. England did have similar with Arundell (untrusted at RWC 23 despite being top try scorer for England) and aware that Kpoku (like J Willis) is ineligible due to ridiculous, artificial rules.
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