Premiership Women's Rugby announces new partnership with Oval Insights

Exeter Chiefs centre Alex Tessier has today welcomed a new partnership between Premiership Women's Rugby and rugby's leading data and analytics provider, Oval Insights.

Tessier who was named on World Rugby's shortlist for World Player of the Year, was the leading points-scorer at WXV, and in the PWR, she has helped take Exeter Chiefs eight points clear at the top of the table.

As part of the partnership, Oval has developed analytics products bespoke to women's rugby, the first use of machine learning on performance data in the sport. The new deal will also provide cutting-edge live data for our matches on TNT Sports, as well as supplying the PWR clubs with statistical information to improve their analysis of games.

Tessier said: "Data has never been more important in elite sport than it is today. Oval Insights will be feeding the analysts at every club but also using advanced analytics as a tool to highlight the rich depth of talent throughout the league and simplify the game: fewer numbers, maximum impact, and richer stories.

"Women's rugby is on the verge of huge growth in popularity, with the Women's World Cup next year, and it's crucial the player stories are at the heart of this. Rugby can be a complicated sport, so Oval Analytics will help media, our clubs, and PWR tell those stories and make the players and clubs more accessible to fans, new and old."

Amy Kimber-Roberts, Strategy and Operations Director at Premiership Women's Rugby added: "This is a crucial partnership for PWR as we move towards one of the most important periods in the history of women's rugby in England.

"There will be dozens of PWR players at next year's Women's Rugby World Cup, and we want to be in a position where we can tell their stories to a wider audience as those players go from the world stage to our stage.

Ben Mackriell, managing director at Oval Insights added: "This season, Oval will become the official data provider for PWR. We share the common goal of promoting the league to new audiences - and enriching the experience of current fans - through innovative analytics. We want to use data to celebrate individual and team successes, bringing fans closer to the action and developing an understanding of the game.

"We can't wait to bring more insight, more entertainment, and more ways to engage with PWR this season."

A powerhouse performance 🔋

Holly Thorpe is Round 7's Player of the Week, with an incredible 10 defenders beaten 💪#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/JdY067VbZa

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) November 25, 2024

Amy Kimber-Roberts, Strategy and Operations Director at Premiership Women's Rugby added: "This is a crucial partnership for PWR as we move towards one of the most important periods in the history of women's rugby in England.

"There will be dozens of PWR players at next year's Women's Rugby World Cup, and we want to be in a position where we can tell their stories to a wider audience as those players go from the world stage to our stage.

Ben Mackriell, managing director at Oval Insights added: "This season, Oval will become the official data provider for PWR. We share the common goal of promoting the league to new audiences - and enriching the experience of current fans - through innovative analytics. We want to use data to celebrate individual and team successes, bringing fans closer to the action and developing an understanding of the game.

"We can't wait to bring more insight, more entertainment, and more ways to engage with PWR this season."