One of Premiership Women’s Rugby’s showpiece occasions has arrived with the final matches in the Allianz Cup arriving this weekend, when we will crown our 2023-24 champions at Shaftsbury Park on Sunday.

• PWR is delighted to confirm that the final of the Allianz Cup will be broadcast live on YouTube.
• The final will take place on Sunday 28 April, at 2pm at Shaftsbury Park.
• The competition structure puts all nine of our teams in a ranked order so while all eyes will be on the Final, the remaining seven teams have plenty to play for as well.

The full fixture list for this weekend

The Allianz Cup Final – Bristol Bears v Saracens

Sunday 28 April

Shaftsbury Park. Kick off: 2pm

Dave Ward has named an unchanged squad for Sunday’s Allianz Cup final against Saracens at Shaftesbury Park, as the Bears target their first major silverware.

Lucy Burgess captains the side from scrum-half, partnering Lucie Skuse at half back, while Phoebe Murray and Meg Webb continue in the midfield.

Loosehead Simi Pam, whose semi-final double helped fire the Bears towards a home final, joins Jess Sprague and vice-captain Ellie Marston-Mulhearn in the front row, while the experienced Claire Molloy lines up at openside.

Saracens similarly are unchanged with Sonia Green (above, right) ending an incredible career for the club in the Final. She will make her 329th appearance for Saracens Women in the second-row, alongside Emma Taylor.

It’s the second cup final in a row for Saracens Women and, with the Six Nations players to return for the resumption of the league campaign, Akina Gondwe believes that the cup run has put down a marker for what the group want to achieve throughout the rest of the season.

“To get back into the final has set a precedent for the rest of the season. As a squad, we want to be winning things. It’s been really refreshing during this cup block. There’s been young players coming in and chomping at the bit and that has added the extra level of competition and desire. You want players that will give everything, especially in a final and we’ve all been driving each other forward.”

Allianz Cup – Third-Place Play-Off – Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester-Hartpury

Sunday 28 April

Sandy Park. Kick off: 12.30pm

Exeter Chiefs Women will be gunning for third place in this season’s Allianz Cup to set themselves up for the last three regulation games of the league season.

Chiefs’ coaching team have selected a blend of experienced and young players for Sunday’s game that sees them take on Gloucester-Hartpury at Sandy Park (KO 12:30.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Tomorrow’s game is really important to us. We want that bronze medal position and to put on a good performance in front of our ever-loyal home supporters.

“Crucially, will also want to create positive momentum that we can take into the final rounds of the Allianz PWR and into the play-offs. We have three more games to play, with two at home; we want to be focused and competitive for these final games.”

Gloucester-Hartpury welcome back Emma Sing and Mia Venner in the back three, who have been released from England camp ahead of the Red Roses Grand Slam decider. Sing starts at fullback, with Venner on the right wing. They are joined by Lizzie Goulden in the back three. Goulden will co-captain the side.

Millie Hyett returns to the starting XV after missing out against Bristol due to injury. Bianca Blackburn goes alongside her at scrum half.

Fifth-Place Play-Off – Loughborough Lightning (22) v Sale Sharks (12)

Saturday 27 April

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. Kick off: 2.30pm

Former Red Roses international Laura Keates is in line for her Loughborough Lightning debut after being named in the matchday squad to face Sale Sharks this weekend in the second leg of the fifth-place play-off.

The 2014 Rugby World Cup winner joined Lightning last month to restart her career following injury and the Worcester Warriors’ withdrawal from the league.

The tighthead prop has been named among the replacements for the Allianz Cup fifth-place play-off second leg on Saturday (kick-off: 2.30pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. Lightning take a ten-point aggregate lead into the game having won the first leg at Heywood Road 22-12 a fortnight ago.

Sale Sharks hand two debuts this weekend as blindside flanker Lucie Sams and Frankie Harvey come in as they try to overcome a 10-point deficit from the first leg.

Seventh-Place Play-Off Pool – Harlequins v Trailfinders Women

Sunday 28 April

Twickenham Stoop. Kick off: 2pm

Harlequins Head Coach Amy Turner makes just two changes from the side who ran in an impressive five tries against Leicester Tigers a fortnight ago, as Quins look to secure seventh place in the Allianz Cup.

The front five remain unchanged, and in the backs, Katie Shillaker starts on the wing and Amy Layzell shifts to fullback replacing Jade Mullen. Rachael Burford captains the side from 12 with Lagi Tuima at outside centre.

Club Captain Jade Konkel is named amongst the Impact Players, making her return from an injury she sustained against Sale in November.

Trailfinders Women make five changes to the starting XV that beat Leicester Tigers 54-5 last week. Cristina Blanco returns from her victorious European Rugby Championship campaign to start at hooker alongside Liz Crake and Kira Leat in the front row.

Emma Swords replaces Sophie Molton at scrum-half, joining Ellie Green in the half-backs. The centre partnership is Abi Burton and Sofia Rolfi, as the Italian international replaces Immy Wilcox.

Finally, Vicky Laflin is promoted from the bench to start in the back three with Liz Musgrove and Rosie Inman.

With thanks to the PWR

Turner makes just two changes from the side who ran in an impressive five tries against Leicester Tigers a fortnight ago, as Quins look to secure seventh place in the Allianz Cup.

The front five remain unchanged, with vice-captain Katy Mew partnering England U20s lock Tyla Shirley in the second row. Aseza Hele moves into the Starting XV at flanker alongside Amelia harper and Nicole Wythe in the back-row.

In the backs, Katie Shillaker starts on the wing and Amy Layzell shifts to fullback replacing Jade Mullen. Rachael Burford captains the side from 12 with Lagi Tuima at outside centre.

Club Captain Jade Konkel is named amongst the Impact Players, making her return from an injury she sustained against Sale in November.

Harlequins Starting XV
1. Jessie Spurrier
2. Rosie Dobson
3. Hannah Duffy
4. Katy Mew (vc)
5. Tyla Shirley
6. Aseza Hele
7. Amelia Harper
8. Nicole Wythe
9. Flo Robinson
10. Ella Cromack
11. Katie Shillaker
12. Rachael Burford (c)
13. Lagi Tuima
14. Izzy Mayhew
15. Amy Layzell

Impact Players
16. Sheree Cooper
17. Eleanor Trezise
18. Shaunagh Brown
19. Ciara Cooney
20. Jade Konkel
21. Tess Braunerova
22. Emily Scott
23. Lucy Heryet

With thanks to Harlequins

The 2014 Rugby World Cup winner joined Lightning last month to restart her career following injury and the sad demise of her former club, Worcester Warriors.

The tighthead prop has been named among the replacements for the Allianz Cup fifth-place play-off second leg on Saturday (kick-off: 2.30pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. Lightning take a ten-point aggregate lead into the game having won the first leg at Heywood Road 22-12 a fortnight ago.

“Laura has more than 60 caps for the Red Roses so she arrives with a tremendous amount of experience,” said Lightning head coach, Nathan Smith. “I am excited to see her get out there on the pitch and make her Lightning debut.”

Lightning’s matchday squad features 21 English Qualified Players, with the only exceptions being Canadian international lock Abby Duguid and Swedish replacement hooker Maja Meuller.

Five of Lightning’s six England Under-20s players who featured against France last weekend are involved as Amelia Williams, Lucy Calladine and Catherine Wells pack down in a youthful starting front row, while Lia Green and Carmela Morrall are selected at fly-half and inside centre respectively.

Five of the Loughborough University side that was narrowly defeated in the BUCS National Championship final last week all start, as hooker Kendall Waudby switches to the back row, Sally Williams operates from openside flanker while the trio of Bo Westcombe-Evans, Ellen Scantlebury and Georgina Tasker form the back three.

More participants from that StoneX Stadium cup final loss feature among the replacements; Isla Curphey, Lucy Finch, Lucy Weaver and Keevy Fitzpatrick – who is also set to make her Lightning debut.

“Remarkably, Keevy has gone from BUCS 2 to Lightning in the same season,” added Smith. “She is yet another example of the pathway we have at Loughborough Lightning and Loughborough University that is working so well.”

Red Roses international Cath O’Donnell starts in the second row and fellow capped England forward Daisy Hibbert-Jones captains from No.8.

Meg Davey, who started at fly-half in the first leg victory a fortnight ago, switches back to her preferred position of scrum-half and Lucia Linn remains at outside centre, while recent England U20 call-up Evelyn Clarke and experienced Lightning back Emma Hardy complete the bench.

Lightning remain without their England and Scotland internationals ahead of the final round of Guinness Women’s Six Nations games this weekend, as well as four players who are participating in the Pacific Four Series for both USA and Canada.

Smith said: “The girls who play against Sale, I want them to make my life really difficult in terms of when selection comes around and the internationals come back in.

“I want it to be very hard for the internationals to get back into the team. I think the way we have trained this week has shown that the Lightning team wants to do that and make it hard for them. I want to see that continue on Saturday.”

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs SALE SHARKS
Allianz Cup fifth-place play-off, second leg
Saturday 27 April, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2.30pm

15 Georgina Tasker (vice captain)
14 Ellen Scantlebury
13 Lucia Linn
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans
10 Lia Green
9 Megan Davey

1 Amelia Williams
2 Lucy Calladine
3 Catherine Wells
4 Abby Duguid
5 Catherine O’Donnell
6 Kendall Waudby
7 Sally Williams
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (captain)

Replacements
16 Maja Meuller
17 Isla Curphey
18 Laura Keates
19 Keevy Fitzpatrick
20 Lucy Finch
21 Lucy Weaver
22 Emma Hardy
23 Evelyn Clarke

With thanks to Loughborough Lightning

• PWR has confirmed that the final of the Allianz Cup will be broadcast live on YouTube
• The final will take place on Sunday 28 April, at 2pm and will be hosted by the side with the better points difference from the two semi-finals this weekend.
• The competition structure puts all nine of our teams in a ranked order so while four will all be hoping for silverware, the remaining five teams have plenty to play for.

Gladiator Jodie Ounsley returns to the pitch as Saracens v Exeter Chiefs is being broadcast live on YouTube…Lizzie Duffy returns to the Sale Sharks fold this weekend after six months out with an ankle break…Meg Webb makes her first appearance of the season… Jenny Maxwell plays her first Lightning game in more than two years… England international Amelia Harper plays her first game for Quins since 2022

Full list of fixtures:

Saturday 13 April

Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
Mattioli Woods Welford Road – 12.30pm

This seventh-placed pool match sees Natasha Jones captain the Tigers side for the return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, which sees former Warriors Women and England Under-20s lock Jemima Moss get set to make her Tigers debut.

The starting side sees several changes from the last matchday, a tough loss away at Saracens, with just three players retained in the pack.

These changes include Jade Jones and Alana Bainbridge joining Ofure Ugiagbe in the front-row, Becky Noon reunited in the back-row with Morgan Richardson and McBrien and a new-look second row of Charlotte Fray and new signing Moss.

Similarly, in the backs, just two players are retained. Amy Relf returns to partner Jones in the half-backs, there’s a first-time partnership in the centres which sees Katie Childs and Sarah Nicholas start in midfield, while Amanda Swartz is joined in the back three by Zoë Evans and Molly Draycott.

For Harlequins England international Amelia Harper starts at flanker, returning from injury to play her first game for Quins since 2022. Harper is joined by vice-captain Emily Robinson and Nicole Wythe in the back-row.

Flo Robinson and England U20s fly-half Ella Cromack start as half-backs, wit Rachael Burford named as captain at 12. Tuima wears 13, with Mayhew, Layzell and Mullen completing Quins’ back three.

Sale Sharks v Loughborough Lightning
CorpAcq Stadium – 2pm

England Red Roses Lizzie Duffy and Morwenna Talling return to the Sale Sharks starting XV, alongside seven players who will be wearing the Sharks jersey for the first time.

In the Sharks front-row, South African loosehead Amber Schonert lines up alongside Vice Captain (VC) Detysha Harper and hooker Marion Ridgway who earns her first start of the season.

Elizabeth Shermer gets her debut for Sale Sharks in the second row, alongside Bowman with Talling and Brown and Hazell in the back-row.

Jess Taylor-Roberts will partner with Lizzie Duffy who makes her long-awaited return to the Heywood Road turf. Outside them, former lightening player Ellen Ramsbottom lines up with Leah Brough in the centres who will also make her Sharks debut.

England U20s flyer Sophie Hopkins makes her debut with Evie Tonkin on the other wing with debutant Izzy McGuire-Evans lining up at full-back.

This fifth-placed play-off (first leg) sees Jenny Maxwell will play her firstLoughborough Lightning match in more than two years in this Allianz Cup fifth-place play-off away at Sale Sharks.

The Scotland scrum-half last wore an African Violet shirt 25 months ago, before suffering a major knee injury on international duty.

Maxwell, aged 31, made her competitive playing return at the end of 2023 on loan for Edinburgh and returns to Lightning colours this weekend as vice-captain for Saturday’s Cup clash.

Lightning’s first run out in five weeks will see them captained by Daisy Hibbert-Jones while Lilli Ives Campion and Cath O’Donnell – who have been involved in recent Red Roses camps – start together in the second row.

Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
StoneX Stadium, live on YouTube – 2.30pm

Wing Jodie Ounsley is back in the Exeter Chiefs starting XV to take on Saracens Women, seven months after she injured her shoulder in the first game of the 2023-24 Allianz Cup.

In a repeat of last year’s cup final, Ounsley returns to action alongside a whole host of other changes that see hooker Clara Nielson starting Saturday’s game having returned from an ankle injury she picked up against Harlequins in December.

Also in the forwards, prop Demi Swann joins Neilson and Hope Rogers in the front row. Taz Bricknell gets her first Chiefs start in the back row with Harriet Millar-Mills moving to No 8.

In the backs, Brooke Bradley switches to full-back, University of Exeter student Sophie Langford will begin the game at inside centre, and Olivia Ortiz is starting at scrum-half.

Even with several players away on Six Nations duty, Saracens Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry has been able to select a side packed with talent for the semi-final.

In the front row, Akina Gondwe packs down alongside Bryony Field and Carmen Tremelling.

The second-row sees Sonia Green (above, left) start alongside Emma Taylor, with the former having announced her retirement from the game earlier this week.

There’s plenty of power in the back-row too, with co-captain May Campbell starting alongside Sharifa Kasolo and Bryony Cleall.

In the backs, Tori Sellors and Amelia MacDougall form an exciting young half-back pair, whilst Sarah McKenna will look to guide the side from inside centre, with Cara Wardle joining her at outside centre.

The back three sees co-captain Lotte Clapp line up alongside Isla Alejandro and Jemma-Jo Linkins.

Sunday 14 April

>Bristol Bears v Gloucester- Hartpury
Shaftesbury Park – 3pm

Meg Webb will make her first Bristol Bears appearance of the season in Sunday’s Allianz Cup semi-final against Gloucester-Hartpury at Shaftesbury Park.

The Welsh international centre partners Phoebe Murray in the midfield, with Lucie Skuse recalled at fly half alongside skipper Lucy Burgess.

Ellie Marston-Mulhearn is another returnee, with Jess Sprague named at hooker and Simi Pam completing the front row.

Delaney Burns partners Hollie Cunningham in the engine room, while in the back row, Gabriella Nigrelli makes her comeback from injury alongside Claire Molloy and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.

Mia Venner returns to the Gloucester-Hartpury squad. She has been part of the Red Roses training squad for the last two weeks and is back to full fitness. She slots in at fullback. Jordan Russell, normally a back rower, starts on the left wing with the impressive young talent of Lucia Scott on the right.

Pip Hendy will be looking to build on her outstanding run of form in the PWR before the break for the Six Nations. She starts at outside centre, with Charlie-Mai Manns at inside centre.

At half-back, Lizzie Goulden goes at fly-half and co-captains the side, and Bianca Blackburn at nine.

Trailfinders Women play Leicester Tigers next weekend at home (21 April, at 2pm) in the next stage of the seventh-place play-off.

For a full list of fixtures click here.

With thanks to the PWR

Jessie Spurrier lines up at loosehead with Rosie Dobson and the experienced Hannah Duffy alongside her in the front-row.

Having returned from a serious hip injury against Gloucester in the Allianz PWR last month, Katy Mew makes her first start of the season, and will be partnered by Tyla Shirley in the second-row.

England international Amelia Harper starts at flanker, returning from injury to play her first game for Quins since 2022. Harper is joined by vice-captain Emily Robinson and Nicole Wythe in the back-row.

Flo Robinson and England U20s fly-half Ella Cromack start as half-backs, with Rachael Burford named as captain at 12. Tuima wears 13, with Mayhew, Layzell and Mullen completing Quins’ back three.

On loan from London Irish, Eleanor Trezise is set to make her Quins debut as she is named amongst the Impact Players. Florence Neller is also in line to make her debut at scrum half off the bench.

Harlequins Starting XV

1. Jessie Spurrier
2. Rosie Dobson
3. Hannah Duffy
4. Katy Mew
5. Tyla Shirley
6. Emily Robinson (vc)
7. Amelia Harper
8. Nicole Wythe
9. Flo Robinson
10. Ella Cromack
11. Amy Layzell
12. Rachael Burford (c)
13. Lagi Tuima
14. Izzy Mayhew
15. Jade Mullen

Impact Players
16. Sheree Cooper
17. Eleanor Trezise
18. Shaunagh Brown
19. Lucy Heryet
20. Aseza Hele
21. Florence Neller
22. Emily Scott
23. Katie Shillaker

The Scotland scrum-half last wore an African Violet shirt 25 months ago, before suffering a major knee injury on international duty.

Maxwell, aged 31, made her competitive playing return at the end of 2023 on loan for Edinburgh and returns to Lightning colours this weekend as vice-captain for Saturday’s Cup clash at Heywood Road (kick-off: 2pm).

Lightning’s first run out in five weeks will see them captained by Daisy Hibbert-Jones while Lilli Ives Campion and Cath O’Donnell – who have been involved in recent Red Roses camps – start together in the second row.

Starters Lucy Calledine, Evelyn Clarke and Freya Greensmith make their Lightning debuts while Steph Atkinson, Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere and Abba Austin are also in line for their first appearances from the bench.

It has been a busy period for the Lightning programme as the wider squad prepares for two games, starting with Saturday’s trip to Sale Sharks before Loughborough University head to the StoneX Stadium on Wednesday 17 April for the BUCS National Championships final against Hartpury (kick-off: 7pm).

“The main message we had when we all met up to train was that we are not a split camp,” said Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith.

“We are one squad preparing two teams for two really big challenges and two games that we hope to get two positive performances in.

“Both teams are prepping each other is the way we want to look at it, as a University and as Lightning as a whole. Throughout the course of the year, the Lightning team trains consistently with the university side.

“These two games doesn’t really change anything. Each player within the University and Lightning are quite interchangeable between the two as we run fairly similar systems for the Lightning game model.”

Lightning are without six senior players participating in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations encounter between Scotland and England, while Maja Meuller is also away representing Sweden against Spain.

Smith’s side travel to face a Sale outfit they have beaten twice in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby action this season, and will be hoping to put themselves in a strong position ahead of the second leg that is being staged at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 27 April (kick-off: 2.30pm) – tickets are available by clicking HERE.

“It will be a massively competitive game,” added Smith. “It is always is when you travel to Sale. They will be bang up for putting up a tough performance against us, which we are fully preparing for.

“It is really exciting. We have got a bank of players away on international duty and we have to provide support for them when needed. We have a group of international players who want to keep developing and performing who are going to play in the Cup, and I have got a group of players who are preparing for what is essentially the biggest game they have ever played in.

“It is pretty cool the amount of opportunities that we are providing for a wide range of players.”

SALE SHARKS vs LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
Allianz Cup fifth-place play-off, first leg
Saturday 13 April, 2024
Heywood Road
Kick-off: 2pm

15 Lia Green
14 Freya Greensmith
13 Lucia Linn
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Evelyn Clarke
10 Megan Davey
9 Jenny Maxwell (vc)

1 Amelia Williams
2 Lucy Calledine
​3 Catherine Wells
4 Lilli Ives Campion
5 Cath O’Donnell
6 Abby Duguid
7 Sara Svoboda
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c)

Replacements:
16 Phoebe Andrews
17 Steph Atkinson
18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere
19 Hallie Taufoou
20 Abba Austin
21 Ellie Roberts
22 Sarah Smart
23 Kaz Kacirkova

With thanks to Loughborough Lightning

The tough-tackling flanker skippered Lightning in their very first game against Worcester Valkyries back in September 2017, and has gone on to make 57 appearances scoring 12 tries along the way.

Malcolm has been ever-present in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby this season and is currently away on international duty ahead of Scotland’s clash with England this Saturday – where the 32-year-old is set to lead out her country on the occasion of her 45th cap.

“My decision to stay is very much based around how excited I am about what we can achieve with the squad we’ve got, the culture that we have built and also the players that we have got coming through,” said Malcolm. “I still feel that I can add value to that and what we are trying to achieve here. I have really enjoyed this season, but I do not think we have necessarily had the success that our hard work deserves.

“I think we have got the potential next season to push on and get that success and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Lightning currently sit fifth in the table ahead of their return to competitive action this weekend against Sale Sharks in the Allianz Cup first leg at Heywood Road, with the second leg taking place at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 27 April.

Malcolm’s return to an African Violet shirt is likely to come on Sunday 12 May, when Lightning’s league season restarts with table-topping Gloucester-Hartpury’s visit to the Gardens.

“This year I have felt the most challenged as an individual,” Malcolm explained. “I feel Nathan (Smith, head coach) has put me in more uncomfortable positions in terms of training and games that has pushed me to improve my game.

“As one of the more senior players, that isn’t something you always get from a coach but it is something that provides quite a lot of satisfaction to me as an individual, I am very much driven by being the best that I can be personally.“So, I think this is an environment that drives excellence and for me to push my game to the next level, particularly in a Rugby World Cup year, it is definitely a place where I want to be.”

The contract extension will take Malcolm’s association with Loughborough stretch beyond 15 years. She arrived at the university from Glasgow in 2009 as an aspiring hockey player, who represented Scotland at U17, U18 and U21 level.

At 25 years of age, Malcolm transitioned to rugby, initially playing two seasons with Lichfield before becoming a ‘Lightning original’ and has captained the club throughout its existence.

“Lightning and Loughborough has been home now for 15 years,” Malcolm said. “It has given a huge amount to me and I still think that I have got something to give back to it. I have been a part of Loughborough Lightning since the day it started, with that in mind, I am pretty passionate about leaving it in a better place and I think we definitely have the ingredients to do that with the squad we have and Nathan leading it.”

Smith has been in charge at Lightning since last summer and was delighted to get ‘Scotty’, as she is known within the Loughborough camp, signed up on a contract extension.

He said: “First and foremost, it is great for us to retain someone of Rachel’s ability and pedigree at both club and international level. We are extremely fortunate to be able to keep someone who is not only an exceptional player, but also an an exceptional leader within the group. She leads by example and is an invaluable link between coaches’ messages in training or during a game.

“She leads by example and models the behaviours we want at Lightning to present in training and in games. I believe with the people we have signed and re-signed, they all have huge growth areas. I don’t want people in the team that I feel like have hit their ceiling.

“Rachel has shown throughout the course of this season, her game is growing and growing. You only have to look at the performance she put in against France for Scotland last week to know that she is still improving as a player which is really exciting to see over the next 12-month period where she can go with that, even though it is obvious that she is a quality player at the moment.”

With thanks to Loughborough Lightning

The final will take place on Sunday 28 April, at 2pm and will be hosted by the side with the better points difference from the two semi-finals. But before we reach that compelling fixture we move into the
final stages of the competition this weekend.

Saracens host the holders, Exeter Chiefs in the first semi-final on Saturday 13 April. Chiefs are looking to make it a hat-trick of victories in the competition. Winners of the first two editions of the competition, Chiefs are looking to go three from three, but face a tough trip to north London.

Saracens have three league titles to their name, but lost in the final of the Cup last year to Chiefs, so they will be looking for revenge in this last four encounter.

They should come in with plenty of confidence, having topped Pool B with three wins and a defeat from their four games.

The winners of that game will take on West Country opposition in the final, with a derby clash between Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury completing a tantalising semi-final offering, on 14 April.

For a full list of fixtures click here.

Bears finished top of Pool A, winning all their matches, including a 52-21 win away to Chiefs in their first game as they topped 50 points in every one.

The competition structure puts all nine of our teams in a ranked order so while those four will all be hoping for silverware, the remaining five teams have plenty to play for as well.

Sale Sharks will take on Loughborough Lightning over two legs in the battle for fifth place, while Leicester Tigers, Harlequins and Trailfinders Women will all be looking to secure seventh spot.

Tigers have the honour of kicking the weekend off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, entertaining Harlequins at 12.30pm on 13 April, followed by the Sharks clash.

With thanks to the PWR

The tighthead prop is currently away on international duty and earned her 32nd cap in the second round of the Women’s Six Nations when Scotland were narrowly beaten by France.

The Canada-born forward joined Lightning in 2021, making her debut against Worcester Warriors and has moved to 35 appearances for the African Violets.

During that time, she has established herself as an Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby front rower having arrived after making a positional switch from the second/back row into the number three shirt.

“When I first came to Lightning I knew it was time for me to move somewhere I would face more international players, more consistently, because that’s how I knew I would get better in that position,” said Belisle, who has started all 12 of Lightning’s league games so far this season.

“I feel like I have been developing really well, not just with set-piece stuff but also just as a player as a whole. Being able to play alongside my international friends every week is also pretty special.”

“The team as a whole has grown closer, we have got a really good community and it was easy for me to stay. As a 30-year-old in Loughborough it could be tricky as it is a University town, but it is made a lot easier with the girls that were around all the time. We have a really good squad and it doesn’t grow tiring which is quite nice.”

Belisle is one of five Lighting players who have represented Scotland during the Six Nations – alongside Rachel Malcolm, Emma Wassell, Helen Nelson and Chloe Rollie.

“I have signed for another two years because a lot of the girls I enjoy playing with are staying, and that is massive for me,” added Belisle. “When we see where we finished last year to where we have been building this year, we have left a few performances out on pitches but you cannot deny how the squad has been improving.

“You can feel in our training sessions, you can feel in our games that we are getting better and we are building towards something really special, and knowing we are retaining a lot of the players that are a part of that is massive.

“Because that’s everyone buying into knowing something is going to happen. But also, I just enjoy the community. I like the coaches and they have developed me as a player.

“I am not ready to go anywhere else because it has been really special to see how much we’ve grown from last season to now, and then having the results following that is just undeniable. It has been an easy re-sign because we’re only going to continue getting better and I want to be a part of that.”

Head Coach Nathan Smith was pleased to keep the international prop in his squad. He said: “First and foremost, we are really lucky to have CB in the environment, and that she has agreed to extend her stay at Loughborough Lightning. I think she exhibits the professional behaviours that we are chasing here for all our players and there’s still a massive amount of growth within her game.”

With thanks to Loughborough Lightning

The scrum-half, who played her mini and junior rugby at Lichfield RUFC, boarded at Loughborough College upon leaving school and was picked up by Lightning in her second year of studies.

Aged only 17, Davey made her senior Lightning debut in the inaugural season of the Premier 15s, when she came off the bench against Richmond.

She has since gone on to amass 76 appearances for the Club, including 15 in all competitions so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

“I am seven seasons into my time with Loughborough and that just seems really crazy,” said the 23-year-old. I have got to give a lot of kudos to the girls, I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t met so many amazing people along the way, some have stayed on as long as me. Every time someone new comes in, they’re absolutely brilliant.

“The set-up is really good, training out of Loughborough University, the facilities, I found it was a really good environment for me to develop in, so I thought, why change that?”

“I have fun at training, I have fun developing myself but also developing my friendships with everyone and I really enjoy playing our home games at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. There has never been a reason to leave.”

Davey has played a key role in Lightning’s resurgence in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby this season under the guidance of Head Coach, Nathan Smith. With four rounds remaining, they are well placed to finish just outside the top four, which is a significant improvement on last term’s eighth-place finish.

The foundations of that success look set to remain in place with Davey adding her name to list of players who have committed to contract extensions into the 2024/25 season and beyond – with the likes of Sadia Kabeya, Catherine O’Donnell, Lilli Ives Campion and Bo Westcombe-Evans all committing their futures to Lightning.

“Lightning had a few great seasons when we first started and then we dipped off, but I do think that we are top four and potentially Premiership-winning team,” Davey added.

“I would hate for them to do it without me after I’ve been here for so long! But you see the vibe in training, you see the players you are playing with, and you cannot help but think ‘we can do this’.

“Even if we finish the season where we are now, you would think what a season Lightning have had, and we have got so much more to showcase in these last four games. Kudos to the players but also the coaching staff who have brought us to where we are now.”

Head Coach Smith said: “I am extremely happy that Meg has agreed to stay at Loughborough Lightning. Like so many players within the performance squad, I think there’s massive amounts of growth still within her game.

“She has played a lot of rugby this year for us, and we are really excited to see what the future holds for Meg moving forward.”

With thanks to Loughborough Lightning