'Galvanising' Christmas bash sparks Gloucester-Hartpury's revival

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Dinner ended run of poor form and was catalyst for Sean Lynn's side's surge to Premiership final against Saracens

A Christmas dinner was to prove the catalyst that turned around Gloucester-Hartpury's season. The defending Premiership Women's Rugby champions' defeat by Bristol Bears in November was their third of the campaign, the most losses in a season since the 2021-22 season, and led senior players to tell head coach Sean Lynn: "We are not us."

After hearing those comments, Lynn's wife, Vicki, had the idea to invite the players for Christmas dinner. Some 25 turned up with the food served in the children's playroom and the team cobbled around two tables.