Akina Gondwe ready to represent at PWR final

The Premiership Women's Rugby final represents a very personal accomplishment for Akina Gondwe, but when she walks out on that pitch on Sunday she won’t just be doing it for herself.

The Saracens prop describes her career as 'turbulent' having suffered two long-term injuries and experienced Worcester Warriors folding twice during her spell in the west midlands.

As such, a date with Gloucester Hartpury at StoneX Stadium with a league title on the line represents a huge deal to Gondwe, but she is well aware her presence on the pitch can provide so much more than silverware.

“I'm a big believer in you have to see it to be it," she explained. "If other young girls who look like me can see me in front of them, they have something to work towards or go towards or be inspired by. “I’m showing little young girls of colour that they can be comfortable in their skin. They don't have to hide themselves; they can stand out. They are able to see me and then have that belief that they can be it.”

Join Akina Gondwe and Gabby Senft for a very special Final episode of the Plait Room 💈#PWRFinal #PoweredDifferently @SaracensWomen pic.twitter.com/tedeySaqDM

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 13, 2025

Gondwe first started playing rugby at 15 years old when a friend at her athletics club asked her to try a rugby session.

It was a game she instantly enjoyed and from then on never stopped playing, though it was often with people who did not necessarily look like her.

“I was hyper aware that there were some experiences that I have culturally and with my family that I wouldn't have within rugby,” she said.

“When it comes to the on-field stuff, I relate to all of my teammates. It's the off-field stuff, making people aware of the differences that I have with other people. 

“It's nothing major, it just might be the way we do our hair is different. My hair versus my teammates' hair is completely different.”

While rugby still grapples with ensuring greater diversity at all levels of the game, it is all too often expected that players of colour at the top of the game should speak out about their experiences.

But for Gondwe, it is an issue that she wants to face head on.

“Some might see it as a burden to keep talking about race, but for me, I am in a privileged position to be able to spread awareness and spread a message,” she added.

“When you say there are people that have the opportunity to just exist as a rugby player, when it comes to being a person of colour in rugby, it's always going to be so much more than that. 

“It's always going to be that you're existing in a space that not many of us are [in]. I take that head on, and I want to have those conversations. 

“I want to push it further because at the end of the day, the more people we get into rugby, the better. 

“Participation increase can never be seen as a bad thing. Whether it's black, white, Asian, no matter who's participating in rugby, that can only be seen as a good thing.”

The #PWRFinal will be a clash of titans 🤜💥🤛@gloshartpury 🆚 @SaracensWomen

🏟️ StoneX Stadium
🗓️ 16 March
⌚️ 3pm Kick-Off
📺 @rugbyontnt and @BBCSport #PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/EggYQm3pZR

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 14, 2025

Throughout her career, Gondwe has focussed on not losing sight of the joy she first found on the rugby pitch, though such an attitude has all too frequently been put to the test.

While at Worcester, she faced two long-term injuries which kept her out for 14 and nine months at a time.

“It was tough. I found it lonely. Not that I was left by myself - I wasn't - but for a long time I was the only person injured,” said the 26-year-old prop.

“Sometimes, when you're in rehab club by yourself, it's lonely in the sense that when everyone's training you've got to get on with your rehab.

“Especially in the first couple of weeks after surgery, I wasn't allowed to do anything, I wasn't even allowed to sweat.”

Even her return, a moment you would expect to be filled with excitement at getting back on the pitch, was not smooth-sailing.

“When I came back from that second injury, there had been such a massive transition period from one season to the next that it felt like I was out of my depth when I returned,” said Gondwe.

“Physically, I was fine but emotionally and mentally I was out of my depth because the game felt different.”

It’s time to get to know the secrets of the @SaracensWomen team, courtesy of Alysha Corrigan & Akina Gondwe 🤫 pic.twitter.com/h2bn8OifJl

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 13, 2025

Since joining Saracens at the end of last season, Gondwe has found her groove again and picked up Players’ Player of the Season last year.

Her experiences have made her all the more hungry for success in the final on Sunday.

“It would mean a hell of a lot to win the league just because emotionally the sport has been turmoil,” she said.

“I've enjoyed the season and I've finally found my groove with rugby again. So to finish the season with a trophy, finish the season as the winners of the league, it'd be amazing.”