Abbie Ward: England Rugby World Cup winner pregnant with second child

[Annoyed An]

Abbie Ward, England's 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup-winning lock, has revealed she is expecting her second child. The 32-year-old Bristol Bears star shared the news on Instagram earlier this week.

Ward recently gave birth to a daughter and was one of the first England players to benefit from the country's new maternity policy. Introduced in 2023, the policy provides players with 26 weeks' fully paid leave as well as funds for children to accompany them to matches.

 

[Drab Dogfi]

so abbie ward is having another kid already? that's pretty quick, doesn't she have a tiny human at home yet? i'm all for the new maternity policy in england tho, 26 weeks of paid leave is decent but what about players who can't take time off? does it cover part-time gigs or just full-time contracts? and btw, how's the player welfare aspect with all this emphasis on having kids? is there support for mums coming back to the sport after maternity leave?

 

[Mystical H]

I'm still waiting for my team's app to get a major update . I mean, it's been like, two years since they introduced that new maternity policy and we're still stuck with the same old features . It'd be awesome if they could just mirror the same benefits for us players who are trying to balance our careers and personal life . I'm not asking for much, just some flexibility in our schedules or even a more user-friendly app that can handle our busy lives . Come on, team, get with the times!

 

[Sil]

I'm like super happy for Abbie Ward ! Becoming a mum is such an amazing thing and I can imagine she's gonna be an awesome one . It's so great that the new maternity policy is helping out players like her, providing them with more time to focus on their family life while still pursuing their sports career . I mean, it's about work-life balance, right? And Abbie's already shown she can balance both, being a pro rugby player and a mum! Those funds for kids to come to matches though... that's just the best . More opportunities for them to support their parents in their sport too . Can't wait to see how she balances everything with her new addition

 

[Excited Ea]

she's so inspiring , i mean who wouldn't want to have a second child? especially after having a daughter first it's amazing that she gets to experience parenthood all over again and i'm glad to see how supportive her team is too, the new maternity policy in england is really stepping up its game it's great for women athletes like abbie who need to balance their careers with family life

 

[Disturbing Desert Tycoon]

‍ gotta love the way Abbie Ward is killing it on and off the pitch - literally just gave birth to a tiny human and now she's got another bun in the oven can't say I'm surprised, though, she did manage to lift that World Cup trophy back in 2017, so I guess this is just her way of proving she's still got it also love how the new maternity policy is helping out players like Ward - 26 weeks paid leave is no joke, especially when you've got a family to provide for and btw, Bristol Bears star? sounds like someone who's got their priorities straight

 

[Spooky Spelling from Pla]

aww that's so exciting ! i'm sure abbie ward is going to be an amazing momma again . it's great to see her taking advantage of the new maternity policy and being a role model for other players too . 26 weeks fully paid leave is a game changer for families with young kids . i hope she gets plenty of rest and support during this time, those first few months can be tough . and of course, her daughter must be so excited to have a new sibling ! i'm curious, what's abbie planning on doing after this pregnancy? is she going to slow down on the rugby pitch or keep playing at a high level?

 

[Mus]

Abbie Ward's second bun in the oven is a win-win for women's rugby and parenting! The new maternity policy has set a great example for sports and work-life balance. Let's give it up for all the moms out there crushing their games while raising tiny humans

 

[Upset Unic]

OMG u guys its amazing news that Abbie Ward is having another baby!!! I mean, she was already a total rockstar on the rugby pitch and now shes going to be an awesome mom too! Its so inspiring to see her taking advantage of Englands new maternity policy - 26 weeks fully paid leave? That's like, totally life-changing for all us mums out there . And I love how she's already a first-time mom and getting back into the game with her second kid - talk about dedication ! Bristol Bears must be so proud of her too, shes definitely an awesome role model for young girls everywhere .

 

[Escape from th]

I mean, I'm happy for Abbie Ward and all, but think about it... what's the deal with these new maternity policies? It's just a bunch of numbers on paper, right? 26 weeks off work, who's gonna pay for that? The taxpayers, probably. And now she's getting to enjoy all this while her daughter gets to come with her to matches? I get it, kids are important, but what about the team's chances of winning? They're basically losing a player on the field...

 

[Maximum Skate Oper]

Abbie Ward just dropped some exciting news and I'm totally stoked for her! Having a second little bundle of joy on the way must be giving her (and her hubby) all sorts of emotions right now, but I've got no doubt she'll nail it like she always does. And can we talk about how amazing it is that England has this awesome maternity policy in place? I mean, 26 weeks' fully paid leave and funds for the kiddos to come along for the ride? Game. Changer. It's so cool to see players like Abbie and others benefiting from this shift towards work-life balance and family support. Bring on the new addition!

 

[Feverish Computer Qu]

Abbie Ward's news is super exciting! Congrats to her on the upcoming arrival . It's amazing how she's already achieved so much in her rugby career and now getting ready for motherhood again . The new maternity policy in England sounds really helpful, it's a win-win for players like Abbie who want to balance their career and family life . I'm curious, will this be an all-female coaching crew on the sidelines again? Either way, I wish Abbie all the best as she prepares for her new adventure .

 

[Creepy]

can you believe it? Abbie Ward is already back at it again ‍! I mean, congrats are in order but also seriously how does one have another kid so soon? didn't they just have a new addition like 6 months ago? still the ladies of rugby always getting it done . btw, love that she's rocking the new maternity policy tho England's got this right for once. full pay and childcare fund? what more could these athletes ask for? anyway, Abbie Ward's back to training no doubt soon, just gotta get those rugby muscles back

 

[Proud Pygmy]

‍ Abbie Ward is a legend on and off the pitch! Congrats to her and her growing fam . I mean, can you even? She's got two tiny humans to care for now, while still being an elite athlete. Talk about balance and priorities . It's amazing how she got to enjoy some of that new maternity policy the England rugby team introduced back in 2023 . Now she gets to be a momma bear (not literally tho ) without sacrificing her career or feeling guilty. I'm rooting for Abbie and her little ones, can't wait to see how this all plays out

 

[Open Orangutan]

Just heard about Abbie Ward expecting another bun ! Congrats to her and hubby , can't wait to meet the new addition ! England's got some amazing female rugby players , and it's awesome that they're getting support for their families . The maternity policy is a game changer , gives them the best of both worlds - playing and parenting . Ward's one of the pioneers who gets to reap the benefits , hope others follow soon ! Can't wait to see her on the pitch again with her little one in tow !

 

[Bored]

can't believe Abbie Ward is having another bun in the oven! she's a total boss on and off the pitch and I'm so proud of her for speaking out about the new maternity policy, it's like they're saying 'congrats you had a baby' instead of 'sorry you got pregnant'. 26 weeks paid leave is still not enough time to be honest, but at least it's a start. And I love how she's been open about her personal life and stuff, really inspiring for the younger generation.

 

[War of the Rainbow]

OMG, this is amazing news ! Abbie Ward is such an inspiration, you know? She's always been a role model on and off the pitch. I mean, can you believe she won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017? That's just incredible!

And now, expecting another little one? That's just the best news ever! Congrats to her and her family! I'm sure it's not easy balancing work and parenthood, but Abbie seems like someone who can totally handle it. She's already a mom and got paid leave for it, so she must be doing something right!

I love that the maternity policy in England is supporting players like Abbie during this time. It's about time we prioritize family and equality in sports, you know? Let's keep cheering on women in sports who are killing it and crushing motherhood too!

 

[Robot Chase Marin]

omg abbie ward is going to be a mom again congrats to her! i remember when she won the rugby world cup in 2017, it was such an amazing moment for english rugby and women's sports in general now she gets to experience motherhood all over again... 26 weeks of fully paid leave sounds like a dream come true btw can't wait to see how she balances her rugby career with parenthood

 

[Custom Skydiving Daredevi]

Abbie Ward is such an inspiration! I mean, she won a world cup and now she's starting a family again? That's amazing! It's so great that the maternity policy in England is supporting her and other new mums in the rugby world. 26 weeks of paid leave is a big deal, you know? It gives players like Abbie Ward a chance to focus on their families without worrying about losing money or missing out on important milestones . I'm also loving that she's being so open about her personal life and sharing it with all of us on social media . Can't wait to meet the new addition to her family!