The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has today announced the inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s final will be held at west London club, Ealing Trailfinders, K.O. 3pm on 29th April 2018 (Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix).
The top four teams in the competition will progress to semi-final play-offs, played over two legs on the weekends of the 7th/8th April and 14th/15th April with the finalists competing for the title on the 29th April.
In addition to the Tyrrells Premier 15s final, it has been confirmed that the National Girls U15 and U18 Cup finals will also be played earlier in the day with K.O. scheduled for 11am and 12:45pm respectively.
Tickets are on sale now with a limited early bird offer available at £5 adult while kids under 16 go free. For more information visit Englandrugby.com/tickets.
Tyrrells Premier 15s kicked off on 16th September 2017, with 10 teams competing to take home the inaugural title. The competition operated in a league format with home and away fixtures.
Clubs involved in the competition will benefit directly over the next three years from the RFU’s £2.4m investment. Each club will be required to deliver against agreed minimum standards and provide high-quality coaching, facilities, training environments and community engagement plans.
RFU Head of Womens Performance, Nicky Ponsford today said: “The Tyrrells Premier 15s inaugural season has been an overwhelming success for the development of the women’s game in England. We are committed to building a sustainable future for women’s rugby and to do this it was vital that we invested in the foundations of the game at club level.
“Through the Tyrrells Premier 15s we are now closing the gap between club level and international level and growing the pool of players available for international selection. We have seen a number of success stories this season with new players being identified through the competition and going onto represent their country at elite level.”
Ponsford added: “The Tyrrells Premier 15s final will be a landmark day not only for the competition but for women’s rugby in England, as the first club takes home the inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s title.”
Tyrrells’ Marketing Director, Adam Draper, said: “We’re incredibly proud to sponsor the inaugural elite women’s rugby competition, Tyrrells Premier 15s. The partnership between Tyrrells and the RFU is a union of two much loved and iconic English brands, working together to inspire more women to take part in rugby.
“It’s been a very successful first year and we hope that, with our support, the Tyrrells Premier 15s will continue to help the RFU increase participation and interest in the women’s game, as well as continue to strengthen and grow the England Women’s rugby team. We’re looking forward to seeing who takes home the trophy at the final in April.”
Tyrrells Premier 15s:
The first season of the Tyrrells Premier 15s (the RFU women’s domestic competition) commenced in September 2017, and is the first tier of the women’s English rugby union league system run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by 10 English clubs.
The 10 teams that feature in the Tyrrells Premier 15s:
- Bristol Ladies
- Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
- Firwood Waterloo Ladies
- Harlequins Ladies
- Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
- Loughborough Lightning
- Richmond FC
- Saracens Women
- Wasps FC Ladies
- Worcester Valkyries
Report courtesy of the RFU
