Source: Harlequins

Harlequins side to face Leicester Tigers

Harlequins Head Coach Amy Turner has made three changes to her side to face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, as two of English rugby’s most historic clubs face each other for the first time in the Women’s game. One change to the front-row sees Silvia Turani return to the Starting XV at prop alongside the

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Source: @AshSportsPhotos

PWR – Round 7 Preview

Compare the fixtures with the table below, and the first weekend of the new year looks like four foregone conclusions. The only doubt is whether Quins can at last get their motor running properly. Never before this season has a trip north been as chancy as now. Sale shocked them in Round Two, but Tigers

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Source: Loughborough Lightning

Wells to make Lightning debut against Gloucester-Hartpury

Catherine Wells will make her Loughborough Lightning debut in this weekend’s Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby clash with Gloucester-Hartpury. Head coach Nathan Smith has selected the England Under-20s prop to start at loosehead for Saturday’s showdown with the reigning Allianz PWR champions at the Alpas Arena (kick-off: 2pm). The 21-year-old joined Lightning in December as she

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Source: FERUGBY

Spain to host a Tier of WXV?

Reports from Madrid (www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/rugby/2024-01-03/espana-world-series-juegos-olimpicos-copa-mundo-seleccion_3802457/) suggest that the federation (RFER) has full confidence in Las Leonas in regaining their place in WXV2 this year. One possibility is that the tournament might take place in the Spanish capital. As with every other rugby nation, they have twin aims in view: the 2024 WXV and the 2025 World

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Source: Harlequins

PWR – The Case for the Prosecution

An Inquiry Here is a digest of evidence provided. In her interview on TNT before Big Match 15 at Twickenham PWR’s CEO, Belinda Moore, painted a rosy picture of the league and women’s rugby in general.  Here is an alternative view. 1. Professionalism Where is the money to come from? There is little or none

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Source: WRU

The Welsh Derby

Gwalia Lightning v Brython Thunder New Year’s Day 2024 Rodney Parade, Newport The third and last match of the Round One of the Celtic Challenge showed each nation was choosing its own path. The Welsh version formed part of a double-header, with the Dragons and Scarlets performing later on the same pitch. Team Selections: Gwalia

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Source: @AshSportsPhotos

Kicking the Habit

There’s no doubt about it, a strong boot is a sure way to control a game. It has been at the heart of England’s game for quite a while. While other nations looked to alternative methods of gaining ground and adding points, the Red Roses’ policy has been to play the game – as far

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Source: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

December Rugby Diary

That was 2023, that was 1 December 6 Nations: Ireland vs Scotland to be played at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast 1 December The RFU made a profit of £4m in 2022-23 1 December The 58,000 crowd attending England’s victory over France contributed c. £1m of revenue from hospitality and catering 1 December Ireland to face Wales

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Source: Harlequins

Quins v Gloucester-Hartpury – Big Match

Just a pity that on the biggest day for the PWR (attendance-wise) the Quins side was a distance below its standards of previous seasons. Gloucester-Hartpury can now stand alongside Saracens for all-round squad strength. On parade today: eleven Red Roses, the Welsh captain and four others, two Irish internationals, two Spanish internationals (full teams below).

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Source: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Clovers v Wolfhounds

The first Match in the extended Celtic Challenge 2023-24 Musgrave Park, Cork It was good to see a tight match at the start of the second Celtic Challenge. The IRFU split the four provinces more or less west and east, and this resulted in a neat evening up of historical strengths: Leinster and Munster have

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