Harlequins Head Coach Amy Turner has named her side to face Trailfinders Women in the opening game of the 2023/24 Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby. Five players will travel to Trailfinders Sports Club set to make their debuts, as internationals return to club action following WXV.
Two Harlequins debutants line up in the front row, as Italian prop Silvia Turani and Red Roses hooker Connie Powell are set to make their first appearances in the quarters. Shaunagh Brown shifts to tighthead having started all four Allianz Cup games in at number 8.
The familiar all-international second-row partnership of Scotland’s Sarah Bonar and Wallaroo Kaitlan Leaney are deployed once again for Harlequins, as Bonar makes her return to Quins action for the first time since Big Game 14 in March.
Welsh international Abbie Fleming is set to make her Harlequins debut having been named at blindside, with Emily Robinson at openside. Jade Konkel makes her return from injury and will captain the side for the first time since being named Club Captain over the summer.
In the backs, Flo Robinson will make her first Harlequins appearance at scrum-half, playing alongside her sister Emily for the first time since junior level. Emily Scott wears 10, with the experienced centre partnership of Rachael Burford and Lagi Tuima outside her.
Ellie Kildunne makes her first start of the season for Quins, having been named in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year earlier this month.
Springbok Women’s Danelle Lochner is named amongst the impact players having arrived at the Club earlier this week, and is set to make her debut off the bench.
Harlequins Head Coach Amy Turner said: “The opening weekend of any competition is always exciting, there’s been a long build up to this one and the girls can’t wait to get going on Saturday. Having already faced Trailfinders in the Allianz Cup, we know they’re a side who like to play with ball-in-hand and we need to work hard to nullify their threats in the back line and impose our game on them early.
“We welcomed back our WXV players over the past week and celebrated their achievements, but now our focus turns to Saturday, the whole squad have really bought into our vision for this season and we’re excited to get it underway with another London derby.”
Harlequins Starting XV
1.Silvia Turani
2. Connie Powell
3. Shaunagh Brown
4. Sarah Bonar
5. Kaitlan Leaney
6. Abbie Fleming
7. Emily Robinson
8. Jade Konkel ©
9. Flo Robinson
10. Emily Scott
11. Beth Wilcock
12. Rachael Burford (vc)
13. Lagi Tuima
14. Izzy Mayhew
15. Ellie Kildunne
Impact Players
16. Rosie Dobson
17. Hannah Sims
18. Babalwa Latsha
19. Danelle Lochner
20. Nicole Wythe
21. Freya Aucken
22. Ella Cromack
23. Amy Layzell
With thanks to Harlequins and the PWR
