Source: Bruce Perkins

Allianz Premier 15s – Round 11 Full Steam Ahead?

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Here’s looking at a full set of fixtures once again

DMPDS v Saracens
Exeter v Harlequins
Loughborough v Bristol
Sale v Gloucester-Hartpury
Wasps v Worcester

The rest of the season opens out like a summer holiday brochure – well, not quite, but under the revised scheduling it reaches right to the end of the merry month of May. It means that the Six Nations, even in its new guise, will again bring a pause to proceedings.

Once the regular testing has become a commonplace, some of the worries that have accompanied the season should dissipate. That will help to safeguard the high standards and excitement we have already experienced.

The Chiefs knew they would have to come down from Cloud Nine pretty promptly. They may have seen off the champions last week, but now Quins come to the south-west fully aware of the challenge they’ll meet. It will be quite fascinating to see how things work out. Chiefs have the advantage of a recent game to warm them up; Quins haven’t tasted competition since a week before Christmas.

The sad news of this week was the departure of Kim Oliver from Bristol. It reduces the number of women coaches to 3½; Amber Reed is sharing duties with Tom Lindsey. The Bears have a tricky trip to Leicestershire where they went down by 48 points last year.

Sale know they have to prove a point pretty quickly. It won’t be easy overcoming Gloucester-Hartpury, even at home, but it’s time to put away the title of ‘promising newcomer’. Their game is earmarked for livestreaming.

DMP Durham Sharks could have wished for an easier tie than hosting Sarries, who aren’t terribly good at showing mercy. They were stung by last week’s result, so sadly this looks like being another trip down a one-way street.

Worcester have flattered to deceive thus far. They have been missing important components of their first-choice side for a while, but they will want to ensure a far better finish to the season than the previous three. They went down 44-10 at Twyford Avenue last year, and the current Wasps outfit might have put 44 points on last year’s version of the Black and Golds.

Other news

The IRFU was pained to announce the cancellation of the remaining games in the AIL. So Ireland’s women will be desperately short of game-time; the Scots and Welsh are no better off. The imbalance of activity across the British Isles is most unwelcome.

Rugby Afrique announces that the Women’s 15s international series will kick off in July. Competing nations include Kenya, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. November is set aside as a fall-back option. Maha Zaoui, the Women’s Rugby Manager, hopes that 2022 will see a return to full action after an abbreviated season.