England rugby international Abbie Ward has shared the joyful news that she is expecting her second child. The announcement means the 32-year-old lock will be absent from the upcoming 2026 Women's Six Nations tournament.
A Champion's Journey Continues
The Bristol Bears forward, who has earned 81 caps for her country, made the announcement through a joint Instagram post with her husband Dave Ward, the former Harlequins hooker. "Some amazing news to share. Another wild preseason incoming," wrote the celebrated athlete.
This development comes just months after Ward celebrated England's historic Rugby World Cup victory on home soil in September. Remarkably, she had only recently returned to the sport following the birth of her first child, daughter Hallie, before the tournament began.
Maternity Policy Supporting Players
Since 2023, England women's rugby players have benefited from a groundbreaking maternity policy negotiated by the Rugby Players' Association with the Rugby Football Union. The agreement provides 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, along with travel funds for children to accompany their mothers to games.
Ward's situation highlights how this progressive policy supports elite athletes balancing professional careers with family life. Her rapid return to international rugby after having Hallie demonstrated both her dedication and the effectiveness of these support structures.
Motherhood Changing Perspectives
Before England's World Cup final victory over Canada, Ward spoke candidly about how becoming a mother transformed her approach to rugby. "Hallie is my motivation," she explained. "I think I can be quite a serious individual, very process driven. I'm probably one of the players that is like, 'we need to make sure we do this, this, this and have meetings'."
She continued: "I think coming back after [having Hallie] has made me think, 'get everything you can out of these moments and this squad'. Just enjoy it. The time that I am away that I'm sacrificing not with her, I want to make it worth it."
Ward described how motherhood helped her find better balance: "I'm always going to take it seriously, but it's also helped me like when I need to switch off and not take it so seriously."
Teammate Also Expecting
Ward is not the only England player preparing for motherhood. Hooker Lark Atkin-Davies, who plays alongside Ward for both Bristol Bears and the national team, is expecting her first child and will also miss the Six Nations tournament.
This means England will be without two key forwards during the championship, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the squad as they build on their World Cup success.
Ward has established herself as one of England's most consistent performers in the second row, with her physicality and leadership proving invaluable to the Red Roses' recent dominance in women's rugby.
