FORMER Dorchester Girls star Delaney Burns grabbed her opportunity for Bristol Bears Women by making her professional debut against Wasps Ladies.

Following on from the recent debut of Alice Lockwood for Bristol Bears, Burns also made her bow in the Allianz Premier 15s.

With Burns starting the game at number six as blindside flanker, unfortunately the Bears lost 64-10 on an artificial surface at Shaftesbury Park.

Bears currently sit seventh in the table with 23 points from 11 games.

Burns came to Dorchester from Oakmeadians and played three seasons within the Dorchester youth girls setup.

Her coaches described her as being a very competitive and hard-working player with outstanding athletic ability.

Burns predominantly played at number eight for the club but could perform equally as well in any of the back row positions.

Described as a dominant personality on the pitch with excellent tactical awareness, she was pivotal at line-outs and contributed strongly in team talks.

Always a very encouraging and motivational player, Burns is well respected off the pitch and was a role model at the club for many younger players.

Burns was also an integral part of the Dorset & Wilts girls setup where she captained the side on a number of occasions.

She was nominated to the Bristol Bears Academy by the coaching team at Dorchester and rose quickly through the group earning call-ups to both England Under-18s and Under-20s squads along the way.

Her coaches always believed in her ability to make it to the top level of women’s rugby and are delighted to see her progress along with Lockwood in the same top flight professional team.

Both girls have now been in the match day side for three out of the four games played in the 2020-21 season and this is a fantastic testament to the youth setup at Dorchester Rugby Club along with all concerned with the girls’ and ladies’ sides at the club.