Ruahei Demant: New Zealander says it is ‘breath of fresh air’ to join Bristol in PWR

Conversations to bring the fly-half to Bristol started before the World Cup, with the Bears seeking cover at 10 following the retirement of Amber Reed and Holly Aitchison’s departure to Sale.

Demant, meanwhile, was searching for game time with the New Zealand rugby calendar now empty until the Pacific Four series in April and with the Super Rugby Aupiki league rescheduled to June.

The fact Bristol’s identity of free-flowing, running rugby suits the versatile back – who can also play at centre – makes the pairing all the better.

“The way the team likes to run the ball, the bravery the girls show, that was right up my alley,” Demant said.

“I’m excited to learn new things, play a different style, grow and evolve as a player and make new friends and make memories with people that I’d have never meet if I didn’t have this opportunity.”

Visiting the facilities at Bristol’s High Performance Centre, where the men’s and women’s Bears teams work together side by side, since she has arrived has also been a revelation.

“There’s no real separation with the boys. It really surprised me because we don’t really have that at home, things are different. That was a really cool surprise for me,” she said.