Bristol Harlequins RFC

Bristol Harlequins has been the foundation of many young players’ rugby journeys, and Chloe Morgan is no exception. From her first hesitant steps onto the pitch to thriving in women’s rugby at Avonmouth, Chloe’s story is one of determination, passion, and the ever-growing opportunities for women in the sport.

Starting at Quins

"My rugby journey started at Quins. I remember my first team, my coaches, and of course, my dad, who was one of them. He was the first person to encourage me onto the pitch," Chloe recalls.

Like many young girls in a mixed rugby team, Chloe faced early doubts. "One of my strongest memories was my second game. I cried to my dad because the other team was all boys, and I didn’t want to be tackled by them. That was a moment where I felt I didn’t belong on the pitch. But it became the reason I got into women’s rugby—to prove to myself and others (mainly the boys!) that I could be just as good as them."

Moving to Avonmouth and Beyond

As Chloe progressed through the age groups, her rugby journey took her to Avonmouth U15s, a transition that wasn’t easy. "Even though I hadn’t played for Quins for a while before moving, it felt a bit rubbish not playing for my club, the one my family was such a big part of."

Despite the challenge, Chloe embraced new opportunities. "After my second season, I felt proud to be playing again. I was also lucky that Quins’ Touch Rugby started up during this time, and I began coaching the U10s with Garry Newman, which kept me connected to the club."

Her performances for Avonmouth opened the door to representative rugby, leading her to play for Gloucester County U15s, Gloucester Centre of Excellence, and Bristol Bears Centre of Excellence before stepping up to senior rugby.

"Now, I play for Avonmouth Ladies, and I absolutely love it. I’ve made friends for life there, and it’s given me some incredible experiences—including playing at Twickenham in a final! I also plan to continue playing at university next year."

The Spirit of Avonmouth

The support and camaraderie at Avonmouth have been a driving force in Chloe’s development. "The team spirit is what I love the most. My first game, my captain told the opposition off for kicking me in the head—that’s when I knew everyone had each other’s backs!"

Chloe credits her coaches for her growth as a player. "Lucy Souch, my coach, has been with me since my first game and has encouraged me throughout. My backs coach, Stu, has had a massive impact too—he’s always pushing me out of my comfort zone, staying after training to help me with my kicking, which is slowly improving!"

Rugby has also given Chloe more than just teammates—it’s where she met her partner, who now plays for Quins. "He’s another person who helps me grow as a player. He finds spare moments to help me practice kicking, and he’s always supporting me from the sideline."

The Future of Women’s Rugby at Quins

Chloe is excited about the growing opportunities for women’s rugby at Quins and hopes to see the club develop its own Ladies' team.

"Women’s rugby is growing fast, and it would be amazing to see more girls' teams at Quins, leading to the club's first-ever Ladies' team. Quins are doing a great job supporting the women’s game, and as long as they continue to show girls that they are just as welcome as anyone else to pull on a Quins jersey, we’ll see even more players coming through."

Her biggest motivation to continue in the sport? Seeing women’s rugby in action. "Whether it was watching Avonmouth Ladies after my own games or seeing Bristol Bears play, witnessing women’s rugby firsthand made me want to keep playing after I turned 18."

Always a Quin

No matter where her journey takes her, Quins will always be home.

"Quins will always be my club. I grew up there, and my family is still a big part of it—my dad is chairperson, my mum runs Touch Rugby, and my brothers play there. I love coming down to watch them, and when my partner is back from uni, I watch him too."

But perhaps the best part? "I love reversing the roles and dragging the boys down to watch my games instead! I can’t wait to come and watch the girls’ team when their games don’t clash with mine. It’s great to see more girls up there loving the game, and I’m excited to see where they take the club next!"

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