Scotland's Emma Orr preparing for 'dream' Bristol debut after ban delay

Scotland international Emma Orr says it will be a “dream come true” to make her debut for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Women’s Rugby on Friday.

Orr’s signing was announced back in May. The 21-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best current centres in the world, was not with the club at the start of the season because she was away on WXV 2 duty. She then received a red card in the final game of the tournament against Australia for a dangerous tackle.

Orr was subsequently handed a two-week ban. This meant her debut for Bristol was delayed but she is set to run out in the west country side’s colours on Friday night against Harlequins.

She told Rugby Dump on the thought of her first Bristol game: “It would be amazing, it would be a dream come true. I am so excited, it is almost the next chapter in my rugby journey so I’m excited to get started with the girls and see how it goes.

“I was absolutely gutted [about the red card], it wasn’t how I wanted my WXV tournament to end. However, after taking time to reflect I think hindsight is a wonderful thing.

“The ban has given me time to come to terms with it and help the team prepare. It has taken the pressure off of me a little bit as well. The fact I’m training and I know I don’t have the pressure of playing, so I feel a lot more comfortable with the calls and plays. I think every cloud has a silver lining, that’s how I have been looking at it. I really miss rugby, it has only been two weeks but I can’t wait to get started.”

Orr’s move to Bristol came after she finished her degree in Agriculture. She grew up on a sheep farm in Biggar and hopes to work in the industry after her time playing rugby is over.

Orr, who says she has researched local farms in the Bristol area to visit, has moved away from home for the first time. She says her Scotland teammates who also play for Bristol are like a second family and they played a part in her signing for the club.

“I spoke to some other [PWR] clubs but it was mainly just through my Scotland teammates, to speak to what their experience were at different clubs,” Orr says.

“I also love the style of rugby that is played here and I thought it would suit my skillset and areas I want to develop as well. After speaking to the girls and hearing how great it was I was like ‘Bristol is where I want to go’.”

It was the PWR itself which made Orr want to move to England. The high standard of rugby in the league caught her eye before she researched which club to join.

Orr adds: “I think it’s got good strong teams. I think the level of rugby here, it is probably the best women’s rugby league in the world. I thought it would be silly to not come and give it a try, I was drawn to it after hearing about what the Scotland girls said about playing in the league.

“Playing week-in week-out at such a high level is hopefully going to be good for my rugby and develop me as a player and a person. Moving from home, it is going to bring challenges on and off the rugby pitch in terms of being away from home for the first time. I’m really excited.”