Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby: SuperPWR Weekend Preview

SuperPWR Weekend is finally here and there are four mouthwatering match-ups to look forward to.

With all matches due to be broadcast live on TNT Sports, Discovery+, BBC iPlayer, YouTube and TikTok, there is much to look forward to in every clash.

First on Saturday afternoon is a repeat of last season’s final, as Gloucester-Hartpury meet Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm Stadium as first meet third.

Trailfinders Women will then host Bristol Bears at the Trailfinders Sports Ground as both teams look to continue building on recent performances.

Sunday afternoon gets underway as Saracens host Leicester Tigers at StoneX Stadium and to finish off SuperPWR Weekend, Loughborough Lightning have a visit from Sale Sharks.

SATURDAY 2 MARCH

Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs (Kingsholm Stadium) - 3:05pm

To kick-start SuperPWR weekend, Gloucester-Hartpury have named a strong squad for the visit of Exeter Chiefs to Kingsholm.

England duo Emma Sing and Alex Matthews are handed starting berths once again after being rested in recent weeks.

Millie Hyett continues at inside centre, where she partners Hannah Jones. The team continue to be captained by scrum-half Mo Hunt, who was Player of the Match in their outing against Sale Sharks a week ago.

For their trip to the West Country, Exeter Chiefs have made minimal changes to their team. One change is enforced, with Claudia MacDonald forced out of this clash with injury and replaced by Eilidh Sinclair.

The only other change sees Netherlands international Linde van der Velden restored at lock after returning from international duty.

Elsewhere Susie Appleby’s team is unchanged, with the likes of Rachel Johnson, Alex Tessier and Merryn Doidge hoping to maintain their good form for this top of table encounter.

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Nel Metcalfe, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Millie Hyett, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha 'Mo' Hunt (C); 1 El Perry, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Georgia Brock, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews.

Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Laura Delgado, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Siobhan McCarthy, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Lizzie Goulden, 23 Cath Richards.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Kanako Kobayashi, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Katie Buchanan, 10 Alex Tessier, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Linde van der Velden, 5 Poppy Leitch (C), 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Rachel Johnson.

Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Abby Middlebrooke, 18 Lizzie Hanlon, 19 Nichola Fryday, 20 Harriet Millar-Mills, 21 Taz Bricknell, 22 Olivia Ortiz, 23 Robyn Wilkins

How to Watch

Watch live on TNT Sports and Discovery+. Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Trailfinders Women v Bristol Bears (Trailfinders Sports Club) - 5pm

Giselle Mather has made five changes the Trailfinders Women side that were victorious against Leicester Tigers in Round 12.

One of these changes sees academy product Cassandra Tuffnail installed at tighthead prop, while Shya Pinnock gets the nod in the back row.

Canada international Julia Schell starts at fly-half, with Jess Cooksey and Kate Zackary forming a new-look midfield partnership and Carys Cox comes in on the left wing.

After victory over Loughborough Lightning at Ashton Gate, Dave Ward has made eight changes to his Bristol Bears team.

Hollie Cunningham’s inclusion at lock sees the forward bring up her 100th appearance for the club, while scrum-half Keira Bevan will be celebrating her 50th in West London.

Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Gwenllian Pyrs complete an entirely new front row, Jenny Hesketh starts at full-back, Deborah Wills returns on the wing and Phoebe Murray retakes the outside centre jersey.

Team news

Trailfinders Women: 15 Abby Dow, 14 Vicky Laflin, 13 Kate Zackary, 12 Jess Cooksey, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Julia Schell, 9 Emma Swords; 1 Liz Crake, 2 Cristina Blanco, 3 Cassandra Tuffnail, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (C), 5 Amelia Buckland-Hurry, 6 Shya Pinnock, 7 Rowena Burnfield, 8 Shannon Ikahihifo.

Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Kie Tamai, 18 Andrea Stock, 19 Megan Barwick, 20 Annabel Meta, 21 Amanda McQuade, 22 Ella Amory, 23 Ellie Lennon.

Bristol Bears: 15 ⁠Jenny Hesketh, 14 ⁠Reneeqa Bonner, 13 ⁠Phoebe Murray, 12 ⁠Amber Reed (CC), 11 ⁠Deborah Wills, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Keira Bevan; 1 ⁠Hannah Botterman, 2 ⁠Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 ⁠Gwenllian Pyrs, 4 ⁠Hollie Cunningham 5 ⁠Abbie Ward (CC), 6 ⁠Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 ⁠Evie Gallagher, 8 ⁠Row Marston-Mulhearn.

Replacements: 16 ⁠Lana Skeldon, 17 ⁠Simi Pam, 18 ⁠Elliann Clarke, 19 ⁠Delaney Burns, 20 ⁠Christiana Balogun, 21 ⁠Lucy Burgess, 22 ⁠Meryl Smith, 23 ⁠Ella Lovibond.

How to watch

Watch live on YouTube and TikTok. Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

SUNDAY 3 MARCH

Saracens v Leicester Tigers (Mattioli Woods Welford Road) - 1pm

With an ever-improving Leicester Tigers coming to StoneX Stadium, Alex Austerberry has handed a second start of the season to Zoe Harrison at fly-half.

There are also starting places for Akina Gondwe and Sophie Bridger, as Fi Macintosh joins Louise McMillan in the second row.

Paige Farries’ inclusion at full-back sees Red Roses flyer Jess Breach move to the replacements. It is a stacked bench for Saracens, who are also able to call upon reigning World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Marlie Packer. 

Following their loss to Trailfinders Women, Leicester Tigers boss Vicky Macqueen has made six changes to her starting side.

This includes a first start in Tigers colours for England international Amy Cokayne, who is part of an entirely new front row with Churchy Knight and Ofure Ugiagbe.

Eva Donaldson is included at lock to partner Catha Jacobs, Lucy Nye returns at scrum-half, while Sweden international Amanda Swartz gets the nod at full-back.

Team News

Saracens: 15 Paige Farries, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Clapp (C), 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Leanne Infante; 1 ⁠Akina Gondwe, 2 ⁠⁠May Campbell, 3 ⁠⁠Donna Rose, 4 ⁠⁠Fi McIntosh, 5 ⁠⁠Louise McMillan, 6 ⁠⁠Georgia Evans, 7 ⁠⁠Sharifa Kasolo, 8 ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall.

Replacements: 16 ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 17 ⁠⁠Carmen Tremelling, 18 ⁠⁠Kelsey Clifford, 19 ⁠⁠Emma Taylor, 20 ⁠⁠Marlie Packer, 21 ⁠⁠Tori Sellors, 22 ⁠⁠Beth Blacklock, 23 ⁠⁠Jess Breach.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Amanda Swartz, 14 Amelia Tutt, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Claire Gallagher, 11 Tess Feury, 10 Natasha Jones (C), 9 Lucy Nye; 1 Churchy Knight, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Ofure Ugiagbe, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Catha Jacobs, 6 Morgan Richardson, 7 Roisin McBrien, 8 Tahlia Brody.

Replacements: 16 Alana Bainbridge, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Jade Jones, 20 Julia Omokhuale, 21 Becky Noon, 22 Amy Relf, 23 Sarah Nicholas.

How to Watch

Watch live on YouTube and TikTok. Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks (cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens) - 3pm

Loughborough Lightning have made just two changes to their starting side to face Sale Sharks at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

One of these changes is at scrum-half, where Lucy Weaver is due to make her first appearance for the club in almost a year, with Megan Davey moving to the replacements.

Nathan Smith has also named Abby Duguid at lock to partner Hallie Taufoou, while Emily Scarratt maintains her spot at inside centre having recently returned to the pitch after 13 months out with injury.

Sale Sharks scrum-half Jess Taylor-Roberts is making her 50th appearance as the club look for their second win of the PWR season in the East Midlands.

It is an unchanged backline for Sale, while in the pack Erica Jarrell is included in the second row to partner Iona Antwis, while Jo Brown is named at No.8.

Mhairi Grieve and Niamh Swailes are each named among the replacements for Rachel Taylor’s side.

Team News

Loughborough Lightning: 15 Helen Nelson, 14 Ellen Scantlebury, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 12 Emily Scarratt, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lucy Weaver; 1 Katie Trevarthen, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Hallie Taufoou, 6 Rachel Malcolm (C), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones.

Replacements: 16 Maja Meuller, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Catherine Wells, 19 Lilli Ives Campion, 20 Sara Svoboda, 21 Megan Davey, 22 Carmela Morrall, 23 Carys Williams-Morris. 

Sale Sharks:  15 Laura Perrin, 14 Holly Thorpe, 13 Eti Haungatau, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Hollie Bawden, 10 Vicky A Irwin, 9 Jess Taylor-Roberts; 1 Detysha Harper, 2 Molly Wright, 3 Nick James, 4 Erica Jarrell, 5 Iona Antwis, 6 Vicky E Irwin, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (C), 8 Jo Brown.

Replacements: 16 Niamh Swailes, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Amber Schonert, 19 Polly Bowman, 20 Jasmine Hazell, 21 Mhairi Grieve, 22 Katana Howard, 23 Nikita Prothero.

How to Watch

Watch live on TNT Sports and Discovery+. Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.