THE PWR Up Series kicked off with a bang last week with more than 200 points scored across the three games.
Moving on to Round 2 we have another three cracking fixtures hosted by Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop (before England take on New Zealand at Allianz Stadium), Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs.
As part of our partnership with Oval Insights we now have full statistical support from every match so to follow any of three games by clicking here.
For match reports following the matches head to www.thepwr.com
The games this weekend are:
Saturday 14 September
Noon – Harlequins v Saracens – Twickenham Stoop
Harlequins will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat to Trailfinders Women last Sunday, as they target a result at home against London rivals Saracens on Saturday.
Having represented Team GB at the Paris Olympics last month, Lauren Torley and Grace Crompton return to club colours and will line up alongside Katie Shillaker in the back three. Crompton will make her Quins debut on the right wing,
Harlequins Head Coach Ross Chisholm said “We were disappointed to not come away with the win last weekend. We felt like we had lots of positive moments, but the margins are so small and when we made errors Trailfinders capitalised. It’s important we keep striving to get better.
“Players making their debuts is always a proud moment, and we’re excited to have another three debutants in action this weekend.
“Saracens bring a new challenge this weekend, but our attitude remains the same and we’re excited to run out at The Stoop for the first time this season.”
Harlequins
15. Lauren Torley; 14. Grace Crompton, 13. Sarah Parry, 12. Lagi Tuima ©, 11. Katie Shillaker; 10. Ella Cromack, 9. Freya Aucken; 1. Jessie Spurrier, 2. Maja Meuller, 3. Lizzie Hanlon, 4. Tyla Shirley, 5. Lauren Brooks, 6. Nicole Wythe, 7. Izzy Hannay, 8. Harriet Millar-Mills. Impact Players: 16. Nicola Haynes, 17. Sheree Cooper, 18. Hannah Duffy, 19. Lucy Heryet, 20. Maddy Page, 21. Tess Braunerova, 22. Orla Proctor, 23. Kirsty Hillier
Fly-half Amelia MacDougall (above) wants her Saracens side to set the tone from the off when they face Harlequins in their opening PWR Up game of the season.
The PWR Up fixtures are giving clubs a chance to get some valuable minutes in the legs before Premiership Women’s Rugby gets underway in October and MacDougall has insisted that a London Derby is the perfect opportunity to hit the ground running.
“There’s always a bit of extra energy when we face Quins. We want to beat them, and they want to beat us. It’s the first match of the season and it’s a real chance for us to make an impact.”
With a number of players away in international camps, the PWR Up fixture allows Saracens to give some fresh faces a chance to shine.
The front-row sees 23/24 Players’ Player of the Season Akina Gondwe start alongside Bryony Field and Carmen Tremelling.
Sophie Tansley is joined by Joia Bennett in the second-row, whilst co-captain May Campbell, Lucy Lawford-Wilby and Sharifa Kasolo make up the back-row.
Tori Sellors partners MacDougall at halfback, with Sarah McKenna joined by debutant Emma Hardy in the centres.
The back three sees co-captain Lotte Sharp (nee Clapp,) joined by Isla Alejandro and Jemma-Jo Linkins.
Amongst the replacements, Daisy Fitzgerald, Chloe Flanagan and Bryony Cleall will provide front-row impact, with Poppy Cleall returning to the side, having featured for the Red Roses last weekend against France.
Saracens Women
15. Jemma-Jo Linkins; 14. Isla Alejandro, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sarah McKenna, 11. Lotte Clapp; 10. Amelia MacDougall, 9. Tori Sellors; 1. Akina Gondwe, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Carmen Tremelling, 4. Joia Bennett, 5. Sophie Tansley, 6. Lucy Lawford-Wilby, 7. May Campbell, 8. Sharifa Kasolo. Replacements: 16. Daisy Fitzgerald, 17. Chloe Flanagan, 18. Bryony Cleall, 19. Poppy Cleall, 20. Cara Wardle, 21. May Goulding, 22. Flo Williams, 23. Lucy Biggs
12.30 – Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks – Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Twelve players are in line to make their Leicester Tigers debut, against Sale Sharks, whilst Roisin McBrien will captain the side for the first time in the top flight.
The starting XV sees five debutants, with three in the pack and two in the backs.
The front row sees Ellie Smith make her first start for the club, the prop the first player to come through the pathway with Lichfield. Opposite Smith, USA international Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele is in action before jetting off to Canada to compete in WXV 1, the two props either side of hooker Alana Bainbridge.
In the second row there’s another debut, as Finland international Eeva Pohjanheimo partners Charlotte Fray. The back row sees former Gloucester-Hartpury forward Jordan Russell debut at flanker, opposite Morgan Richardson, whilst captain McBrien is at No. 8.
The half-backs need no introduction as Amy Relf and Natasha Jones partner up again, while the centres see another USA international, Emily Henrich, make her maiden Tigers appearance before leaving for WXV 1.
Finally, in the back three, debuting wing Elin Beaver is partnered by Amanda Swartz and Amelia Tutt.
The bench sees seven players in line for their debut. Six of these (Nikki Simpson, Zainab Alema, Leah Heath, Tiana Gordon, Jenny Maxwell and Emma Mundy) signed for the club over the summer, while centre Evie Wills will finally see pitch time having recovered from a season-ending ACL injury suffered in August 2023.
Leicester Tigers
15 Amanda Swartz; 14 Amelia Tutt, 13 Emily Henrich *, 12 Katie Childs, 11 Elin Beaver *; 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Ellie Smith *, 2 Alana Bainbridge, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, 4 Eeva Pohjanheimo * 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Jordan Russell *, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Roisin McBrien (C). Replacements: 16 Nikki Simpson *, 17 Zainab Alema *, 18 Jade Jones [23], 19 Leah Heath *, 20 Tiana Gordon *, 21 Jenny Maxwell * 22 Evie Wills *, 23 Emma Mundy *
*denotes Leicester Tigers debut
Sunday 15 September
2pm – Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears – Sandy Park
Exeter Chiefs Women coaching team have made seven changes for this Sunday’s PWR Up series friendly against Bristol Bears at Sandy Park. Seven players will also get their first opportunity to run out at Sandy Park in a Chiefs jersey. Centre Sophie Langford has come in for Gabby Cantorna, who is about to report for WXV duty with the USA Eagles. Katie Buchanan will start on the wing while Lucy Nye has come in at scrum-half and Millie Whitehouse at hooker. In the pack, flanker Taz Bricknell gets a chance to start while former Bristol Bears prop Stef Evans will be hoping to make an impact from the bench along with fly-half Ellie Cunningham.
Exeter Chiefs Women
15 Merryn Doidge; 14 Georgina Tasker, 13 Naomi Brennan, 12 Sophie Langford, 11 Katie Buchanan; 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Lucy Nye, 1 Demi Swann, 2 Millie Whitehouse, 3 Hannah Sams, 4 Poppy Leitch (c), 5 Niamh Orchard, 6 Taz Bricknell, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Emily Robinson. Replacements: 16 Kayleigh Priest, 17 Stef Evan, 18 Flo Long, 19 Ebony Jefferies, 20 Zara Feaunati, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Ellie Cunningham, 23 Eilidh Sinclair
Reneeqa Bonner will captain Bears Women for the first time in Sunday’s season-opening PWR UP Series clash against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (2pm KO).
The winger will lead a strong line-up into the contest as Bears look to make an early statement against Chiefs, who defeated Gloucester-Hartpury 47-14 in Round 1.
Bonner takes her place in a backline that includes Millie David at full-back and Amy Coles on the left wing, with Ella Lovibond and Jenna De Vera linking up in midfield.
Exciting U18s star Natalee Evans will make her senior debut at fly-half alongside Ellie Lewis in the half-back pairing for last season’s league and Allianz Cup runners-up.
An experienced front three features Simi Pam, Jess Sprague and Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, with the latter vice-captain. Nicola Beet and Christiana Balogun are in the engine room ahead of Jenny Herring, Helene Caux and Gabriella Nigrelli in the back row.
Fresh from scoring twice for a star-studded Barbarians team in Saturday’s defeat to South Africa in Cape Town, Red Roses try-scoring sensation Lydia Thompson joins the Bears and will provide additional international pedigree from the bench.
She is joined by fellow Red Roses star Amber Reed among the replacements along with Centre of Excellence graduates Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun and Darcy Reed. Former CoE player Tilly Ryall, Delaney Burns and Danyelle Dinapoli complete the matchday squad.
Bristol Bears
15. Millie David; 14. Reneeqa Bonner (c), 13. Ella Lovibond, 12. Jenna De Vera, 11. Amy Coles; 10. Natalee Evans, 9. Ellie Lewis; 1. Simi Pam, 2. Jess Sprague, 3. Ellie Marston-Mulhearn (vc), 4. Nicola Beet, 5. Christiana Balogun, 6. Jenny Herring, 7. Helene Caux, 8. Gabriella Nigrelli
Replacements: 16. Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun, 17. Danyelle Dinapoli, 18. Darcy Reed, 19. Delaney Burns, 20. Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21. Tilly Ryall, 22. Amber Reed, 23. Lydia Thompson
With thanks to the PWR
