Ex-Bear Nigrelli eyes Bristol visit
Former Bristol Bears Women’s player Gabriella Nigrelli is looking forward to the visit of her former teammates as Chiefs return to Sandy Park for round six of the PWR on Saturday (KO 13:00).
New to the squad in the summer, the 22-year-old has swapped life as master’s student-cum-rugby player to become a full-time athlete down in Devon.
She may still have a “little internship” running on the side, but Nigrelli made the change from Bears to Chiefs in search of more game-time and to learn something new.
The back-rower has settled into life in Exeter with the help of housemates Katie Buchanan, Maddie Feaunati and Nancy McGillivray, and has not been off the Chiefs team-sheet ever since her debut against Harlequins in the PWR Cup at her former home club, Cobham RFC.
She said: “I moved with the intention of putting everything into rugby, getting as much action, practice, everything. You can't really get anywhere if you're not playing. To come here, to get the minutes, to just get the contact in, everything, have a shot at all sorts of positions as well, has been really good.”
The former England U20s player and crossword queen made the most of a summer near the beach during pre-season before putting her shoulder to the wheel to join an all-English back row that has included Maisy Allen, Taz Bricknell, Zoë Dare, Feaunati, Emily Robinson, Lola Whitley and Anna Woodman so far this season.
“We're just always building and growing off each other. The competition's so high in that back row position, but all of us, no matter who's starting that week, who's travelling reserve, we're just pushing and looking to grow and get the best out of each other. It's all really friendly competition and I think the future's looking pretty bright in that position.”
While the back row is second nature to Nigrelli, who is also a decent boot off the tee and can throw in at the lineout, she found she had more to learn.
“I've learned a lot of lineout stuff. That was not my forte beforehand, but I'm getting more used to that, so that's really good. Just another area of my game to keep growing.
“But also getting to grips with how different people play, like a new 10 is always kind of a challenge at first when you come into a new role like this. But I feel like I've just learned how to connect with these different players and what they need from me and what I need from them.”
Whether Bristol bring new signing, Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant, into the 10 jersey this weekend remains to be seen but Nigrelli is looking forward to welcoming her old team-mates.
“I’m really excited for this one. I'm still really close with all the girls on that team. Hopefully it'll be a good game.”
Nigrelli added: “I've only ever watched her (Demant) play, so to see how she brings her kind of style and flair from New Zealand over to little old Bristol will be pretty cool; also, to see how Bristol use her in their system. They've always been quite structured and she's obviously going to have a lot of freedom with how she wants to play, so it'll be pretty cool to see how they can merge the two and see what comes of it.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game (KO 13:00) are £11 for adults and £5.50 for children and youths.
Video interview with Nigrelli below