IVYBRIDGE women’s rugby team are hoping they can build on a stunning first half of the season when their Championship South West 2 campaign continues next weekend.

The Bridgers are starting the new year at the top of the table, with seven wins out of seven to their name.

They are currently four points ahead of second-placed Newbury and eight in front of third-placed Guildford, with all the other teams 15 or more points behind.

Ivybridge hope this season might just be the one when they can claim promotion to Championship South One – the highest level apart from the professional Premiership – after three times finishing as runners-up in South West 2 in the past four seasons.

Former England scrum-half Georgina Gulliver, who is Ivybridge’s head coach, admits they would love to win the title and go up after coming so close last season.

“Definitely,” she said. “We have been flying this season, and I don’t think promotion is an unrealistic goal for us.”

She added: “This is me and my husband Ben’s fifth season now and we asked at the start what did the girls want, where did they want to be and what did they want to achieve, and they said they wanted to achieve promotion within the next five years.

“We were so close last season and also came second previously, so we have always been right at the top of this league.

“We did put a few things in place at the end of last season. We did a big push on pre-season, with a big focus on strength and conditioning, and got ourselves really fit and strong.

“Every year we have been involved we have had a pre-season fixture against Bath, who are in the league we want to be in.

“The first couple of seasons we got royally beaten and last season we nearly beat them at home, but this season we beat them away at their place.

“I appreciate it is very much a development game, but we came out of that with loads of confidence and it has just propelled us into the season.

“We have won seven from seven and picked up try bonus points in six of those seven games. The only one we didn’t was the other weekend when we went up to Newbury, which was top versus second and that has been our tightest game so far.”

Gulliver continued: “We know we have some really tough fixtures in the second half of the season. We have to go to Guildford, we’ve got to go to Havant and Oxford and have Launceston at their place, which will be really tough.

“But we are not disillusioned by the fact that we have a tough finish to the season. We’ve had the perfect start to the first half, so why not be ambitious?”

Ivybridge used to be Plymouth Albion’s women’s team before renaming and moving to Cross-in-Hand in 2020.

Gulliver did play for the Albion women’s side before going on to star at the top level for Saracens and England.

The Bridgers approached her after their rebrand and after she had retired from playing with 37 England caps to her name.

“It was after the team had already moved to Ivybridge that they approached me and said they were having a fresh start and would I come on board,” she said.

“I hadn’t even considered coaching. I was not long retired and we’d only just moved back to the South West.

“I’ve got to admit, it (coaching) wasn’t really on my radar, but I just felt a pull to go back and give a little bit back, and I have loved it.

“It has been challenging as myself and Ben had twins. They are amazing, but leaving for coaching on Tuesday and Thursday night is challenging.

“For the first season or two, they came up on the bus trips. They have been part of the team as well and it’s been awesome.”

She added: “I have always thought about me and my career, and everyone starts at grassroots clubs, and it just takes one coach to believe in you and put a bit of passion and effort into what you are doing and give you that first opportunity. That’s what I’m hopefully giving back.”

A few years ago, there were just a few clubs offering women’s rugby in the region, but now they are many and there is a lot of competition for the best players.

“I think what sets us (Ivybridge) apart is that Ben and I are there, two former players that have played a high level, which isn’t usual and I think that is a big pull,” said Gulliver. “Also, the facilities at Ivybridge are outstanding and they really look after you; they are a really good club, which is what you need to attract players.”

The club are always keen to welcome new players and are keen to increase their squad, even though they do have around 40 players.

“This season we have entered the cups and are using them as almost development games for our fringe players,” said Gulliver.

“Unfortunately, we have been given two walkovers, so it’s not really panned out as we hoped, but we are hoping to get a game with the Royal Navy soon.”

Ivybridge will kick-off 2026 next Sunday when they travel to winless bottom side Oxford Harlequins.

Their first home league game on the new year will not come until January 25 when they host Reading Abbey.