The Premier Women’s Rugby competition (PWR) recently began a new season following an incredibly successful summer for women’s rugby.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup broke viewership records and heralded a new beginning for the Women’s game.
Domestic clubs have developed as a result of the tournament’s momentum, with an influx of international players joining the PWR’s domestic competition.
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Isla Norman-Bell is a Team GB athlete, both in rugby sevens and fifteens. She made her team debut for Ealing Trailfinders last month. Although a Team GB athlete, she grew up in New Zealand amongst other budding rugby stars who have also gone on to play for their countries.
“A lot of the New Zealand and Australian girls I played with or against whilst growing up,” Norman-Bell told RugbyPass.
“When you’re on the field together, you forget who everyone is and you just want to win. We’re all good friends though, after we always talk and catch up on how things are, it’s always really nice”
In the 2024/25 HSBC SVNS series, she acted as vice-captain for Team GB, playing in 19 matches and scoring 20 points across the season.
Although predominantly a rugby sevens athlete, Isla has joined the Ealing Trailfinders 15s team this season in the PWR – the biggest women’s club tournament in rugby.
“It’s been a big change, but at the end of the day it’s still rugby and the skill set is still the same. Sevens has given me a lot and allowed me to really hone in on my skills. So there’s been challenges but at the end of the day it’s just rugby and I love it.”
Earlier this summer, it was announced that Team GB’s Rugby Sevens team would no longer have professional contracts, with its athletes being employed part-time.
But Norman-Bell is focused on the season ahead and the opportunities available to her team.
“It’s quite different at the moment having gone from full-time contracts to being a bit more part-time. We still have the World Series and that will be key in staying in the top eight to remain in the World Series and that will help moving forward.”
Going forward, Isla has her eyes on the PWR and the World Series to hopefully qualify again for her dream tournament: the Olympics.
“Hopefully we keep Team GB in the World Series and then moving forward, there’ll still be a team for the Olympics in 2028.
“Rugby has always been the biggest part of my life since I was really young. I’ve always watched it, it was big in our family. I always played what I could at school and I always really enjoyed it. It’s been a huge part of my life and will always continue to be.”