Iconic Red Rose hangs up her boots

NEWS: Bristol Bears and Red Roses centre Amber Rose has announced her retirement.

Reed made her Test debut at inside centre and spent most of her 67-cap England career there, but has also spent time at both club and country playing flyhalf.

Reed, one of the greatest players in the Bears’ history, is regarded as a legend with a career spanning 16 seasons and hundreds of appearances during an illustrious club and international career.

The Bristol-born back has played for her hometown club for 12 years and has won every honour at international level including Women’s Six Nations titles, Grand Slams, WXV 1 and the 2014 Women’s World Cup.

🌹 Congratulations on an iconic career for the @RedRosesRugby, @avreed12 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

All the best in your retirement 💪#GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/I1FFRgBxOX

— Guinness Women’s Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) March 19, 2025

Racking up points

A talented goal-kicker, Reed scored 142 points throughout her England career, including six tries, 38 conversions, and 12 penalties.

Her first Test try came during her fourth cap, as she scored England’s third try of a 76-0 rout of Scotland.

The following year she scored twice during the Women’s Six Nations, coming up with tries against Scotland and Italy.

Asked about her favourite game, Reed replied: “Getting on the pitch in the white shirt for the first time is always special, but I think the semi-final at the 2017 World Cup against France was pretty memorable.

“Everything just seem to click and everything we tried to work on really came together so that was a pretty special moment I’ll remember.”

World Cup glory & heartbreak

During the 2014 Women’s World Cup, Reed played against Spain in a 45-5 victory as the team went on to defeat Canada 21-9 in the Final to claim a first World Cup in 20 years.

She was also part of the Red Roses squad that reached a second successive final in 2017 when the tournament was held in Ireland.

This time round Reed played in every game of the tournament as her side reached their seventh World Cup final, only to miss out at the hands of New Zealand.

Despite the disappointment of the World Cup, the centre went on to win three further Grand Slams to add to her 2017 Grand Slam title.

In 2023 she was included in interim head coach Louis Deacon’s squad for WXV 1 and played in the 45-12 win over Canada before the Red Roses lifted the inaugural trophy with a win over the Black Ferns.

“You’ve just got to appreciate every time you’ve got the opportunity to step out with some incredibly talented people in a white shirt.”