Balogun signs new Bristol Bears contract

Back-row forward Christiana Balogun has signed a new deal with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears to stay at the club beyond the 2025-26 season.

The 28-year-old was one of seven uncapped players named in the England Red Roses squad for this year’s Six Nations, although she has yet to make her debut ahead of the final two games of the tournament away at Italy and France.

Balogun joined Bristol in 2022 from Wasps and has played in 12 of the Bears’ 14 games so far this season.

“Chris has been outstanding in the way she approaches her game and her commitment to improving,” said head coach Scott Lawson.

“Her attitude around the environment and her ambition to keep pushing herself have been first class, and those qualities are a huge part of why she’s earned recognition with the Red Roses squad during the Six Nations.”

Balogun joins England internationals Delaney Burns and Demelza Short in signing new contracts in recent weeks.

Balogun added that she had “grown massively” during her four years at Bristol.

“The support from the coaches, staff and players has been incredible, and being involved with the Red Roses during this current Six Nations has been such a proud moment that wouldn’t have been possible without the people around me here at Bears,” she said.