Cieron Bell spent the 2024/25 season and the start of this one learning from some of the best players around at Loughborough Lightning and now she has her sights set on helping Watsonians win the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership title.
Still just 23, Cumnock, Ayr and Edinburgh University product Bell has packed a lot into her career so far and previously earned Scotland Futures and under-20 honours.
She was also an unused sub for the full Scotland squad when they took on Ireland in Belfast in 2024 and hopefully we will see her on the pitch for her country at some stage in the future.
Between August 2024 and a few months ago the winger who can also play 13 was on the books with Loughborough Lightning in England’s top flight PWR and gained invaluable experience especially in the PWR Cup.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the year I spent at Loughborough, as a back training alongside world class players like Emily Scarratt, Helen Nelson and Helena Rowland,” Bell, who this week was named in the Edinburgh Rugby squad for the upcoming Celtic Challenge, explained.
“It was a completely invaluable opportunity and to watch them and learn from them and the rest of the players within the team was something I am so grateful for. To be a small part of the professional environment and training at a higher quality was a big step up for me, but something that taught me a lot and challenged me to be a better player.
“The girls in the team there are amazing and culture within the team is so good, from BUCs players to international players it really feels like one team. I only spent just over a year there, but it feels like I’ve known some of them a lifetime, I have definitely made friendships for life within the team.
“It was great to get a good PWR Cup run this summer and score some tries in a Lightning shirt. Getting that opportunity and challenge is something I’m really grateful for and was beneficial for my development and confidence and is something I hope to carry forward.
So, how did Bell end up at Myreside as Watsonians get set for the top flight final away to Stirling County at Bridgehaugh on Saturday (4.10pm, live on BBC ALBA).
“Although I enjoyed my time down south, Scotland is home for me so when I was offered a training opportunity up here I felt it was right for my development,” she stated.
“Watsonians are such a well-known club within the Premiership and having watched them play over the seasons it was somewhere I wanted to try out. After going down at training and seeing a few familiar faces I knew it was the right fit for me.
“Being part of the club is a lot of fun, the girls there are great and have been nothing but welcoming so I felt at home pretty much instantly. Having Sarah Law there as a one of the coaches has been great, her knowledge and the way she sees the game is incredible so there’s so much to be learnt from her.
“I joined the club about halfway through the league season, but from my time being there we’ve had a good run of performances and wins. I think we’ve played about eight or nine games in a row recently so to be consistently performing and getting results is something we can be proud of. It’s not been easy, we’ve really had to dig in as team to come away with the results we have which is testament the character and drive we have within the team.
“I think it’s the want and desire to get better each week that has been so pleasing to see. I think one of the most exciting parts about us as a team is that we feel our potential is huge and we haven’t quite reached the level we know we are capable of playing at which gives us a lot of confidence going into the final as there’s real belief that we’ve got another level in us.”
County have been the team to beat this season so far, in fact no one has in 13 games in stage one and two of the regular campaign and, in that run, they have seen off Watsonians three times.
So, in a one-off game, what do Watsonians have to try and do to turn the tables?
Bell said: “We know that Stirling are tough opponents after facing them a few times this season so it’s not going to be an easy match.
“I think our main focus is to play our game as what we know we are good at. Training this week has been about sharpening our accuracy and detail to ensure the foundations are there to put us in the best spot we can be going into the weekend.
“With the final being a one-off game we know it’s all to play for, we need to be able to take our chances when they come and stay disciplined under pressure for the full 80 minutes.
“If we play our game and trust the preparations we’ve put in then I’ve got no doubt we can reach that level we are striving for and know we are capable of and that will give us the best shot at getting the result we want.”
Cieron Bell is pictured – thanks to N50 Photography
From November 14 to December 14, GH Media will be featuring on all aspects of women’s rugby in Scotland including the exciting conclusion to the domestic Premiership, news on Scots playing down south and lots more during a busy month.