Fixtures this weekend
Saturday 21 September
2pm – Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury (Shaftsbury Park)
Meg Varley makes her long-awaited return from injury when Bristol Bears take on Gloucester-Hartpury at Shaftesbury Park in the PWR UP Series.
The versatile back, who missed eight months with a foot injury, is named in the midfield alongside Wales international Meg Webb, while Amber Reed starts at fly half with Lucy Burgess at scrum half.
England U20 duo Millie David and Reneeqa Bonner start on the wings, with Ella Lovibond switching to full back.
Up front, Simi Pam and Ellie Marston-Mulhearn are the starting props, either side of Jess Sprague, with Christiana Balogun and Delaney Burns in the engine room. Gabriella Nigrelli, Jenny Herring and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn complete the back row.
Bristol Bears: 15. Ella Lovibond, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Meg Varley, 12. Meg Webb, 11. Millie David, 10. Amber Reed (c), 9. Lucy Burgess; 1. Simi Pam, 2. Jess Sprague, 3. Ellie Marston-Mulhearn (vs.), 4. Nicola Beet, 5. Delaney Burns, 6. Christiana Balogun, 7. Jenny Herring, 8. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn. Replacements: 16. Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun, 17. Issy Jaques, 18. Danyelle Dinapoli, 19. Helene Caux, 20. Tilly Ryall, 21. Seren Singleton, 22. Natalee Evans, 23. Jenna De Vera.
The Circus will be looking to bounce back from their loss in their season opener against Exeter a fortnight ago and have been bolstered by the return of senior players, Rachel Lund and Emma Sing.
In the back three, Sing is joined by Lund and Charlotte Woodman. Woodman moves to the wing after an impressive outing at fullback against Exeter. Millie Hyett shifts to number 12 and will go alongside Carys Williams-Morris who is set to make her first appearance for Gloucester-Hartpury. Charlie-Mai Manns gets the nod at ten in a half-back pairing of Manns and Bianca Blackburn.
Tabitha Copson will look to build on her Player of the Match performance against Exeter with another strong showing this weekend. She shifts to the blindside with Sophie McQueen on the open side. Welsh International, Gwennan Hopkins starts at number eight.
In the tight five, Gwen Crabb returns for her first appearance for The Circus this season. Captain, Steph Else lines up alongside the Welsh lock.
Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing; 14 Charlotte Woodman, 13 Carys Williams-Morris, 12 Millie Hyett, 11 Rachel Lund; 10 Charlie-Mai Manns, 9 Bianca Blackburn; 1 El Perry, 2 Lucy Simpson, 3 Ranni Samuda, 4 Steph Else (C), 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Tabitha Copson, 7 Sophie McQueen, 8 Gwennan Hopkins. Replacements: Amy Dale, Alisha Smith, Niamh Williams, Robyn Davies, Lily Terry, Daisy Aspinall, Ellie Green and Abileigh Priestnall
2pm – Saracens v Trailfinders Women (StoneX Stadium)
Tori Sellors (above, left) has challenged Saracens to continue building momentum as they entertain Trailfinders Women at StoneX Stadium tomorrow in their final PWR Up pre-season fixture.
Sellors made a try-scoring start to the season in last weekend’s victory over Harlequins Women and the scrum-half was pleased with how her side upped the tempo after a tight and tense first half.
“It was a great start last week. Quins gave us a lot to think about in the first half, but the way we kicked on in that second period was really pleasing. There’s still things to work on, but we’ve given ourselves a strong platform to build from.
Ahead of the first home match of the season, DoR Alex Austerberry has made two changes to his starting line-up, from last weekend’s win over Harlequins.
Pathway graduate Chloe Flanagan comes in to start at loosehead prop, alongside Bryony Field and Carmen Tremelling in the front-row.
Joia Bennet continues in the second-row, alongside Bryony Cleall, who comes in for her first start of the season.
Sharifa Kasolo moves to blindside flanker from number 8, with co-captain May Campbell continuing at openside flanker and Poppy Cleall coming in from the start at No 8. Sellors and Amelia MacDougall will continue to pull the strings at half-back, in an unchanged backline.
Saracens: 15. Jemma- Jo Linkins; 14. Isla Alejandro, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sarah McKenna, 11. Lotte Sharp (Co-captain); 10. Amelia MacDougall, 9. Tori Sellors; 1. Chloe Flanagan, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Carmen Tremelling, 4. Joia Bennett, 5. Bryony Cleall, 6. Sharifa Kasolo, 7. May Campbell (Co-captain), 8. Poppy Cleall. Replacements: 16. Daisy Fitzgerald, 17. Akina Gondwe, 18. Sophie Tansley, 19. Chloe Broom, 20. Cara Wardle, 21. May Goulding, 22. Flo Williams, 23. Lucy Biggs
3pm: Loughborough Lightning v Leicester Tigers (cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens)
Loughborough Lightning welcome back England international Laura Keates in their side to face Leicester Tigers this weekend.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup winner has returned from Barbarians duty in South Africa to pack down at tighthead prop in the PWR Up Series encounter at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday (kick-off: 3pm).
Isla Curphey, who started at number three in the victory over Sale Sharks a fortnight ago, showcases her versatility with a switch to play loosehead prop, with Lucy Calladine retaining her place at hooker.
Daisy Hibbert-Jones captains the side once more in a back row that contains two-try star from the CorpAcq Stadium win, Kendall Waudby, while Lucy Finch is promoted from the replacements to start at blindside flanker and Issy Winter comes into the squad to partner Keevy Fitzpatrick in the second row.
Rotation at scrum-half sees Meg Davey start as vice captain, with Lia Green retaining her place at fly-half.
Freya Greensmith takes the place of Bo Westcombe-Evans after she was names as one of four players the Red Roses are taking to Canada for the defence of their WXV 1 title – alongside club mates Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt and Lilli Ives Campion.
Another try-scorer in the Sale success, Evelyn Clarke, retains her spot on the right wing while Freya MacColl is rewarded for her sparkling display from the bench with a start at fullback in the East Midlands Derby.
Carmela Morrall keeps her place at inside centre and this week will be partnered by Ellen Scantlebury in midfield.
“We were really pleased by the performance away at Sale a fortnight ago against a more experienced Sale side,” said head coach Nathan Smith. “We expressed ourselves in attack and were physical in defence. But we cannot stand still and we’ve got to keep on improving.
“It’s going to be another exciting challenge for us as more players are being asked to step forward and fill the boots of players who have been called up to international duty.
“It’s a big opportunity for us to again show how hard we have worked all preseason and we’re really looking forward to getting back out there at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in front of our home supporters.”
Loughborough Lightning: 15. Freya MacColl; 14. Evelyn Clarke, 13. Ellen Scantlebury, 12. Carmela Morrall, 11. Freya Greensmith; 10. Lia Green, 9. Megan Davey (vc); 1. Isla Curphey, 2. Lucy Calladine, 3. Laura Keates, 4. Keevy Fitzpatrick, 5. Issy Winter, 6. Lucy Finch, 7. Kendall Waudby, 8. Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c). Replacements: 16. Katherine Baverstock, 17. Amelia Williams, 18. Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19. Becky Boyd, 20. Ellie Roberts, 21. Lucy Weaver, 22. Molly Luthayi, 23. Amelie Anstead
Tom Hudson has made five changes to his Leicester Tigers for the trip to cinch Stadium in Franklin’s Gardens, which includes a trio of players included for their first Leicester Tigers starting appearances.
The three players are Zainab Alema (prop), Leah Heath (lock) and Evie Wills (centre), who came off the bench in last weekend’s defeat to Sale Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Meanwhile, after debuting a dozen players in Round 1, Hudson has included Nadine Vincent among the replacements for a potential senior club debut.
Vincent has joined the club on a short-term loan contract from Cheltenham Tigers.
Natasha Jones (fly-half) and Morgan Richardson (flanker), who are foundation members of the club’s women’s programme, will become the first players to reach the milestone of 40 appearances for Leicester Tigers after being named in the starting side.
In the pack, the changes include Alema and Jade Jones as the starting props and Heath in the second row. While, in the backs, Charlotte Daley will make her first start of the new season and Scotland international Wills partners Katie Childs in the midfield.
On the bench, Sarah Nicholas is also included for what will be her first appearance if used by Hudson.
Roisin McBrien captains the side for a second successive match after leading the team at home last weekend.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Amanda Swartz; 14 Charlotte Daley, 13 Evie Wills, 12 Katie Childs, 11 Elin Beaver; 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Zainab Alema, 2 Alana Bainbridge, 3 Jade Jones, 4 Leah Heath, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Roisin McBrien (c). Replacements: 16 Nikki Simpson, 17 Ellie Smith, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Eeva Pohjanheimo, 20 Tiana Gordon, Jenny Maxwell, 22 Sarah Nicholas, 23 Emma Mundy
With thanks to the PWR
