The women's rugby union teams of Bristol Bears and Saracens faced an unusual situation during their fixture last month. While the men's teams playing at the same Ashton Gate stadium enjoyed full access to the changing facilities, the women's teams had to change in offices and shower at a nearby gym.

The men's teams used the only set of changing rooms at the stadium for the 'double header' event, which included both men's and women's fixtures. In contrast, the women's teams were relegated to offices in a stand at the ground. This scenario highlights one of the challenges the women's game faces as clubs strive to expand the sport.

Bristol Bears issued a statement explaining that the decision to host a double-header at Ashton Gate was aimed at boosting viewership for the women's fixture, both in the stadium and on television via TNT Sports. The club reported that nearly 4,000 supporters attended the women's game alone, with an overall attendance of 18,000. Due to space constraints, the club had to carefully coordinate the use of facilities to minimize the turnaround time between matches and enhance fan engagement.

The club further detailed that they utilized the old dressing room space in the Atyeo Stand to allow the women's teams to prepare separately. Post-match, the women's teams walked to a nearby private gym to use separate shower facilities, as the men's teams had already occupied the Ashton Gate changing rooms. This arrangement allowed both women's teams to return to the stadium in time to watch the men's game. The plan was agreed upon by both clubs in advance of the double-header.

Bristol Bears emphasized their commitment to growing and amplifying the women's game. Their one-club ethos involves having both the women's and men's teams train together at the Bears High Performance Centre. It is understood that the men's teams were not placed in the offices due to the men's Premiership minimum standards. When asked about the women's league's minimum operating standards, Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) stated that it was not a public document.

The women's match attracted 3,534 fans. Bristol has also hosted standalone matches for the women's team at Ashton Gate, with a game against Sale Sharks last season drawing 2,800 spectators. The home stadium of Bristol women's team, Shaftesbury Park, has a capacity of 1,500.

Last season, the defending PWR champions, Gloucester, participated in a double header with the men's teams against Leicester Tigers at their Kingsholm ground. The men's teams played first due to TV scheduling and used the changing rooms, while the women's teams changed in a separate room sealed with fire doors. During the first half of the women's match, staff cleaned the stadium changing rooms, allowing the women's teams to use them from half-time onwards.

The fixture between the two clubs was known as the Slater Cup, honoring former player Ed Slater, who has been diagnosed with MND. Gloucester has no plans to hold future double headers. Leicester Tigers did not respond to multiple requests for information regarding their facilities for double headers. Exeter has never hosted a double header, and Saracens does not have plans to do so. Trailfinders, Sale Sharks, and Loughborough Lightning claim they have sufficient facilities to accommodate all teams on double header days.

Harlequins use Twickenham (now the Allianz Stadium) for their double headers, which has two sets of changing rooms. However, when they moved their annual Big Game double-header to The Stoop due to train strikes in 2022, they placed the Quins men's and women's teams in the home and away changing rooms. Bristol's men's and women's teams then changed in the club's players lounge, separated by a wall. Quins also hired shower units for the away teams. It is believed the game may have been canceled if these measures had not been taken.

A PWR spokesperson stated that one of their key objectives is to grow the game and attract new audiences to watch women's rugby. Double-header fixtures can help achieve this goal, as evidenced this season. The league is continuously exploring innovative ways to attract new fans to women's rugby and reported a record cumulative attendance of over 100,000 supporters last season.

The success of events like Big Game, which set a world record attendance for a women's club match last December, demonstrates that double headers can significantly impact clubs, players, and supporters.

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