The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived – the return of Premiership Women’s Rugby with four cracking fixtures set to light up round one.
Saturday 5 October
2pm – Saracens v Trailfinders Women (StoneX Stadium, Live on YouTube)
SARACENS Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry has made three personnel changes to his starting XV from the PWR Up clash with Trailfinders two weeks ago.
Up front, Akina Gondwe starts at loosehead prop alongside Bryony Field and Carmen Tremelling.
Joia Bennett is set to make her first Premiership Women’s Rugby Appearance in the second row, with Sophie Tansley coming in alongside her.
Isla Alejandro switches to left wing with Lotte Sharp away on international duty, with Chantelle Miell set to make her second debut for the club on the right wing. Jemma-Jo Linkins completes the back three in what will be her first PWR start for Saracens.
“This season is going to vary for players. I’m excited for a short and sharp season as it means you have to be on it all the time. We’ve got enough squad depth to ensure that we’re putting out a strong team each week. We want to build energy throughout the season and keep that going.”
Saracens Women’s squad: 15. Jemma-Jo Linkins; 14. Chantelle Miell, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sarah McKenna (Co-captain), 11. Isla Alejandro; 10. Amelia MacDougall, 9. Tori Sellors; 1. Akina Gondwe, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Carmen Tremelling, 4. Joia Bennett, 5. Sophie Tansley, 6. Sharifa Kasolo, 7. May Campbell (Co-captain) and 8. Poppy Cleall
Replacements: 16. Daisy Fitzgerald, 17. Maya Montiel, 18. Chloe Flanagan, 19. Bryony Cleall, 20. Beth Blacklock, 21. Leanne Infante, 22. Flo Williams, 23. Lucy Biggs
TRAILFINDERS WOMEN name three changes from the starting XV that took on Saracens in the final round of the PWR Up Series. Kat Evans, Emma Taylor, Brooke Bradley, Grace White and Kendra Cousineau will all make their competitive debut at The StoneX. White and Vicky Laflin are joined by GB7s Olympic Captain Emma Uren in the back three.
Trailfinders Women squad: 15. Emma Uren; 14. Vicky Laflin, 13. Jess Cooksey, 12. Kendra Cousineau, 11. Grace White; 10. Ella Amory, 9. Brooke Bradley; 1. Liz Crake, 2. Kat Evans, 3. Kira Leat, 4. Emma Taylor (c), 5. Shya Pinnock, 6. Rowena Burnfield, 7. Abi Burton, 8. Annabel Meta
Replacements: 16. Alicia Watkins , 17. Kie Tamai, 18. Eloise Harris, 19. Meg Barwick, 20. Sally Williams, 21. Sarah Denholm, 22. Ellie Boatman, 23. Rosie Inman
3pm – Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (Twickenham Stoop, Live on YouTube)
HARLEQUINS WOMEN’S Head Coach Ross Chisholm has named his side for Saturday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby season opener against Exeter Chiefs Women at The Stoop.
Jessie Spurrier returns at loosehead alongside Maja Meuller at hooker, with England’s Lizzie Hanlon completing the front row. Vice-captain Harriet Millar-Mills moves to lock, partnering Lauren Brooks in the second row. The back row contains a new face with the addition of Canadian international Sara Svoboda, who makes her debut for the Club at Number 8. Nicole Wythe and Izzy Hannay complete the back-row on the flanks.
Freya Aucken and Ella Cromack are the half-back partnership, with Captain Lagi Tuima (above, top) leading the team from midfield at inside centre with Izzy Mayhew at 13.
Welsh International Lisa Neumann makes her first start of the season having re-signed with the Club last week, and she’s joined by Team GB Sevens starts Lauren Torley and Grace Crompton in the back three.
Emma Swords is back in the squad following her return to the club, as she is named amongst the replacements, as is Heather Cowell who is set to make her first appearance of the season after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game HERE (Adults £12, U18s £6)
Harlequins: 15. Lauren Torley; 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Izzy Mayhew, 12. Lagi Tuima ©, 11. Grace Crompton; 10. Ella Cromack, 9. Freya Aucken; 1. Jessie Spurrier, 2. Maja Meuller, 3. Lizzie Hanlon, 4. Harriet Millar Mills (vc), 5. Lauren Brooks, 6. Nicole Wythe, 7. Izzy Hannay, 8. Sara Svoboda
Replacements: 16. Nicola Haynes, 17. Sheree Cooper, 18. Hannah Duffy, 19. Tyla Shirley, 20. Lucy Heryet, 21. Emma Swords, 22. Sarah Parry, 23. Heather Cowell.
The sibling duo of Emily and Flo Robinson will make their return to Twickenham Stoop tomorrow as EXETER CHIEFS face Harlequins.
Older sister No 8 Emily spent six seasons with the London club while Flo spent 2023/24 with them after starting her professional career with Chiefs.
They are a part of side that will field a plethora of England-qualified and, mostly young, players to kick-start the new season.
Head coach Susie Appleby said: “At the end of last season, we did blood a few young English players that are now quite comfortable to step onto the field tomorrow. It will be a young side this weekend; there will be England U20s in there, which is good.
“We have got Flo Robinson back from Quins and she came with Emily. We have got Liv McGoverne back at first receiver. Then there are younger players too. We have played a couple of pre-season games, and they went pretty well, but we just need to manage people’s expectations.
“Tomorrow’s going to be quite fun, I think! Quins team was totally different last season, our team is totally different too. We have got a couple of theirs; they have got a couple of ours who have gone up the road. We just have to look at it as a continuation of our pre-season and of those friendly games.”
Chiefs will see two Canadian stars hoping to make their club debuts with prop Mikiela Nelson and winger Sabrina Poulin named on the bench.
Hooker Clara Nielson makes a welcome return to the starting line-up after several months rehabbing an ankle injury. The rest of the 23 have been selected on the back of performances in September’s winning PWR Up pre-season friendlies, which saw Exeter Chiefs Women rack up a total of 12 tries against Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol Bears.
The 1st XV features University of Exeter centres Naomi Brennan and Sophie Langford, plus prop Hannah Sams, along with recent graduates Niamh Orchard and Maisy Allen. Additional youth is represented by the University’s Ellie Cunningham and Millie Whitehouse, plus Exeter College’s Zara Feaunati, also on the bench.
Winger Katie Buchanan misses out after suffering a wrist fracture in training. However, there is good news on the injury front with Nancy McGillivray expected to be fit later this month, after a year out of the game with a knee injury, and Claudia MacDonald is expected to return to play before the year is out. These players will make a welcome return as the coaching staff aim to keep the squad fresh in a very compact season.
Exeter Chiefs Women: 15 Merryn Doidge; 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Naomi Brennan, 12 Sophie Langford, 11 Georgina Tasker; 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson, 1 Demi Swann, 2 Clara Nielson, 3 Hannah Sams, 4 Poppy Leitch (c), 5 Niamh Orchard, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Emily Robinson
Replacements: 16 Millie Whitehouse, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Flo Long, 19 Zara Feaunati, 20 Taz Bricknell, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Ellie Cunningham, 23 Sabrina Poulin
3pm – Loughborough Lightning v Bristol Bears (cinch stadium at Franklin’s Gardens)
Three of LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING’S summer signings Alicia Maude, Cieron Bell and Grace Deane will make their debuts in this weekend’s opening round Premiership Women’s Rugby fixture against Bristol Bears.
Former GB 7s star Maude vice-captains the side from scrum-half, Scotland Under-20 international Bell features on the left wing and former Cheltenham Tigers back Deane starts on the right wing in the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens encounter on Saturday 5 October (kick-off: 3pm).
Head coach Nathan Smith also hands first PWR starts to hooker Lucy Calladine, flanker Ellie Roberts and second row Becky Boyd while replacements Issy Winter, Freya Greensmith, Keevy Fitzpatrick and Freya MacColl are in-line to play their first PWR minutes – with the latter also set to make her competitive Lightning debut having impressed in the PWR Up Series games against Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers.
The starting line-up has five survivors from the side that ran out for Lightning’s last league game four months ago against Saracens, with Daisy Hibbert-Jones captaining the side from number eight.
Also joining her in the pack from that fixture back in June are props Isla Curphey and Laura Keates as well as Canadian lock Abby Duguid while Meg Davey showcases her half-back versatility by operating from fly-half.
The forward pack is completed by the blindside flanker, Kendall Waudby, who scored two tries in the first PWR Up Series game against Sale Sharks last month.
Lia Green moves from fly-half – where she started against Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers – to full-back while Carmela Morrall and Ellen Scantlebury retain their roles in the Lightning midfield.
Loughborough Lightning: 15 Lia Green; 14 Grace Deane, 13 Ellen Scantlebury
12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Cieron Bell; 10 Meg Davey, 9 Alicia Maude; 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Lucy Calladine , 3 Laura Keates, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Becky Boyd, 6 Kendall Waudby, 7 Ellie Roberts, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c)
Replacements: 16 Katherine Baverstock, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19 Keevy Fitzpatrick, 20 Issy Winter, 21 Lucy Weaver, 22 Freya MacColl,
23 Freya Greensmith
BRISTOL BEARS have announced that Wales U20 centre Jenna De Vera will make her PWR debut in Saturday’s round one clash with Loughborough Lightning at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday (3pm KO).
De Vera partners Meg Webb in the midfield, with Amber Reed captaining the side from fly half and Lucy Burgess named at scrum half. Millie David, Reneeqa Bonner and Ella Lovibond complete the backline.
In the pack, Delaney Burns is named vice-captain and joins Hollie Cunningham in the second row, with Gabriella Nigrelli, Jenny Herring and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn in the back row.
Head Coach, Dave Ward, said: “We’re excited to be kicking off the PWR season following a long summer of hard work from the squad.
“It’s a tough test first up against a Loughborough side who have strengthened on and off the pitch, so we’ll need to be on the money on Saturday afternoon.”
Bristol Bears: 15. Ella Lovibond, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Jenna De Vera, 12. Meg Web, 11. Millie David, 10. Amber Reed (c), 9. Lucy Burgess; 1. Simi Pam, 2. Jess Sprague, 3. Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 4. Hollie Cunningham, 5. Delaney Burns (vc), 6. Gabriella Nigrelli, 7. Jenny Herring, 8. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.
Replacements: 16. Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun, 17. Issy Jaques, 18. Nicola Beet, 19. Christiana Balogun , 20. Helene Caux, 21. Ellie Lewis, 22. Natalee Evans, 23. Amy Coles.
Sunday 6 October
12.45pm – Gloucester-Hartpury v Leicester Tigers (Kingsholm, live on TNT Sports)
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY have selected their first squad of the 2024/25 season as The Circus prepare to take on Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.
In the backs, Emma Sing lines up at full-back alongside Gloucester-Hartpury veteran Rachel Lund, and new signing, Charlie Woodman.
Pip Hendy returns in the centres for her first appearance of the seasonnhaving trained with the Red Roses over the Summer. Millie Hyett starts alongside Hendy at 12.
Ellie Green gets her second start in a Gloucester-Hartpury jersey, having made her debut back in September. Bianca Blackburn gets the nod at number nine.
Steph Else is once again given the Captain’s armband after leading the side in this season’s PWR UP friendly series. She goes at blindside flanker with Tabitha Copson at seven, and Gwennan Hopkins at number eight.
Lynn has named an experienced tight five, with El Perry, Amy Dale, and Ranni Samuda packing down in the front row. New signing Beth Stafford is selected in the locks with Gwen Crabb joining her.
Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing; 14 Charlie Woodman, 13 Pip Hendy , 12 Millie Hyett, 11 Rachel Lund; 10 Ellie Green, 9 Bianca Blackburn; 1 El Perry, 2 Amy Dale , 3 Ranni Samuda, 4 Beth Stafford, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Steph Else (C), 7 Tabitha Copson
8 Gwennan Hopkins
Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 Alisha Smith, 18 Megan Lewis, 19 Robyn Davies, 20 Gemma Bell, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Charlie-Mai Manns, 23 Jade Shekells
LEICESTER TIGERS have selected Roisin McBrien, who captained the club in the PWR Up Series to kick off the 24/25 campaign, to lead the team out at Kingsholm Stadium for the first league fixture of the season under new Head Coach Tom Hudson.
Hooker Nikki Simpson is named to start for the first time after appearing twice off the bench in the PWR Up Series.
The side features eight players making their Premiership Women’s Rugby debuts, including Rowann Sinclair – who is named among the replacements – who, if used, will make her Leicester Tigers debut. Sinclair, who has represented Army Rugby Union, has joined on a short-term contract.
Simpson and Sinclair are joined by Evie Wills, Elin Beaver, Zainab Alema, Leah Heath, Ellie Smith and Nadine Vincent as the eight league debutants included for Sunday’s game.
Speaking ahead of the game, Hudson said: “We have had two weeks now to build on the excellent performance against Loughborough and the level of commitment and the desire to improve the squad have demonstrated in that time has been exemplary.”
“The real challenge starts now. The Gloucester-Hartpury record speaks for itself and we know it will be a proper battle.”
Leicester Tigers: 15 Amanda Swartz; 14 Charlotte Daley, 13 Evie Wills, 12 Katie Childs; 11 Elin Beaver; 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf [38], 1 Zainab Alema, 2 Nikki Simpson, 3 Jade Jones, 4 Leah Heath, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Roisin McBrien (c) [37]
Replacemenrts: 16 Rowann Sinclair, 17 Ellie Smith, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Eeva Pohjanheimo, 20 Tiana Gordon, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Sarah Nicholas, 23 Emma Mundy
With thanks to the PWR
