Here’s the new PWR fixture-list
The first round looks like this:
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
Saracens v Loughborough Lightning
Trailfinders Women* v Harlequins
Warriors Women** v Gloucester-Hartpury
*briefly aka Ealing Trailfinders
** previously Worcester Warriors
Games to be played on the weekend of 17 -19 November
The eye-catchers
Our eye turns inevitably to the two new recruits. Both have been given memorable starts, Trailfinders hosting their nearest neighbours. That should help them to reach their self-imposed target of 2,000 spectators.
Meanwhile Tigers are equally lucky to have a home fixture, and against the team that has reached the final twice running, the Chiefs.
It will be the job of the two head coaches, Giselle Mather and Vicky Macqueen, to remind their squads that this is merely the opening round of an eighteen-round bout. Stamina and perseverance will be vital. Both hoped for a local derby at kick-off: only Trailfinders have proved lucky.
The reverse side of that coin is the unfortunate nearness of clubs to each other. The RFU has tried and failed to spread the game wide across the nation. But now we have Tigers and Lightning a mere nine miles apart as the crow flies. That leaves vast tracts of the North and North Midlands deprived of elite rugby. London’s ration remains at three, ever since the demise of Richmond reduced it from four. Still too many? And the distance from Ealing to the Stoop reduces to about five miles, though London traffic adds a few hours to the trip.
No losses, please
For the most ambitious teams it will be vital to get off to a positive start. They know that losses simply cannot be countenanced near the top of the table.
In past seasons the top club has got away with the minimum of reverses; success becomes a habit. Injuries and other bits of bad luck can throw a side off course, but they need to be redressed as soon as possible.
All ten teams will have past and present Red Roses on call, an indication of the ever increasing standards on show.
A Game to while away the wait
It’s a long time till mid-November, so here’s a challenge to help pass the time: take your favourite team and write down the starting Fifteen your honourable head coach will pin up. As with so many teams great and small, it’s the last few places that provide all the head-scratching.
What’s in a name?
This season only two clubs remain boasting a single name: Quins and Sarries, and they date back to an age where fanciful titles were all the rage. Six of the other eight tell the world where they come from, though at least three, Bears, Glos-Pury and Lightning, all plan to play at two different venues during the season.
