FOUR rounds to go… Marlie Packer is back… Abby Dow returns, in a new position… Scarratt and Kabeya in for Lightning…Mo Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft captain Gloucester-Hartpury… Bea Rigoni slots in at 13 for Sharks…Olympian Celia Quansah makes her Tigers debut.. Harlequins match doubles up as Harlequins’ annual Access Day
After a Six Nations Grand Slam it’s time for Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby to return to centre stage with many of the tournament stars back in club action.
We have a packed weekend ahead with three matches on Saturday and the TNT Sports cameras heading to the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday asLoughborough Lightning host our reigning champions, Gloucester-Hartpury.Sean Lynn’s Gloucester-Hartpury side have enjoyed a simply remarkable season so far only dropping one point in their pursuit of back-to-back titles – they have already sealed a home semi-final.
Our weekend kicks off in north London as Saracens continue their campaign for a home semi-final, at home to Sale Sharks to kick off a jam-packed Saturday as we have matches at the Twickenham Stoop and Trailfinders Sports Park at 3pm, before the weekend ends in grand style in Northampton.
This weekend’s fixtures:
Saturday 11 May
2.30pm – Saracens v Sale Sharks
StoneX Stadium and Live on YouTube
Saracens Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry has welcomed back a number of players from international duty. Akina Gondwe, May Campbell and Kelsey Clifford form the front row, whilst newly capped Scotland international Fi McIntosh is joined by Emma Taylor in the second row.
Georgia Evans and Sharifa Kasolo are joined by captain Marlie Packer in the back row, with Wyrwas and Zoe Harrison forming an all-Red Rose half-back pair.
Sophie Bridger and Sydney Gregson resume their centre pairing from before the Six Nations, with Jess Breach, Coreen Grant and Sarah McKenna in the back three.
The return of Allianz PWR means the return of a host of players who were away on Six Nations duties for Rachel Taylor’s Sale Sharks.
Molly Wright comes into the front row, while fellow Scot Rachel McLachlan also returns. Sara Tounesi and Grand Slam champion Morwenna Talling also bolster the forward pack.
In the backs Sian Law is at scrum half, Bea Rigoni slots in at thirteen and Lauren Delany starts at full-back.
3pm – Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop and Live on YouTube
Saturday’s game doubles up as Harlequins’ annual Access Day, providing a steppingstone for disabled people to attend live sporting events and delivers a range of important initiatives to support and educate visitors of The Stoop.
The all-international front-row of Italy’s Silvia Turani, England’s Connie Powell and Springbok Women’s Babalwa Latsha line-up for the first time for Quins following the completion of the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Abbie Fleming and Danelle Lochner partner up in the second row, with Emily Robinson and centurion Shaunagh Brown on the flanks. Jade Konkel completes a powerful forward pack, making her return from injury in the PWR, captaining the side from No 8.
Natasha Jones captains the Tigers for the trip to London, while Jade Jones, if used from the bench, will reach the 20-game milestone for the club.
The match will also see Celia Quansah make her first appearance for Leicester Tigers, the Olympian and Team GB 7s star having signed for the club over the summer.
Having returned from the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, Scotland internationals Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin and Lisa Cockburn make up the ABC club, whilst international compatriot Eva Donaldson starts at lock.
Meanwhile, in the backs, Francesca McGhie also returns from Six Nations duty to start on one wing, while the aforementioned Quansah comes straight into the starting XV to line up on the opposite flank.
3pm – Trailfinders Women v Exeter Chiefs
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Trailfinders Women have selected England wing Abby Dow starts at outside centre on her return from the Grand Slam campaign, with Abi Burton partnering her.
They welcome back Shannon Ikahihifo from Ireland duty, a key player who will be starting alongside Shya Pinnock in the second row, while Emma Swords and Ellie Green both return in the half-backs.
Exeter Chiefs’ newest Red Rose Lizzie Hanlon has been selected in the front row alongside Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney, with England’s Maddie Feaunati on the bench. Flanker Maisy Allen and centre Kanako Kobayashi are also back in the team having not be able to play in the final stages of the Allianz Cup as they were away with England and Japan respectively for the WXV competition at the start of the season. Chiefs are also giving opportunities to less experienced players with University of Exeter prop Lucy Ward hoping to make her debut tomorrow off the bench, while wing Connie Clarke and centre Naomi Brennan will be aiming for their first league appearance.
Sunday 12 May
3pm – Loughborough Lightning v Gloucester-Hartpury
cinch Stadiums at Franklin’s Gardens – live on TNT Sports
Loughborough Lightning welcome back five of their Guinness Women’s Six Nations stars to their starting side for their return to Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby action this weekend.
Fresh from helping the Red Roses to a sixth successive title, Sadia Kabeya packs down at openside flanker and Emily Scarratt features at outside centre for Sunday’s showdown with unbeaten league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury (kick-off: 3pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Three of Lightning’s Scotland contingent are also included from the first whistle as Rachel Malcolm captains from blindside flanker, Emma Wassell features in the second row and Helen Nelson operates from fly-half.
The big guns are also back for Gloucester-Hartpury as Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt shares the captaincy duties with Zoe Aldcroft as she partners Lleucu George at half back.
In the front row, Mackenzie Carson starts at loosehead prop alongside her Grand Slam-winning Red Roses teammate, Maud Muir. They are joined by Wales’ Kelsey Jones to make up an all-international front row.
There are returns to Gloucester-Hartpury action in the backs too, with Tatyana Heard and Mia Venner set to make their first appearances this year.
