PWR Round 11 - Big Game Preview: Harlequins take on Leicester

The year rounds out with Harlequins taking on Leicester Tigers at Allianz Stadium as part of Big Game 16. 

The doubleheader will see Quins take on Tigers in front of a predicted world record crowd for a women’s club rugby match. 

Saturday 28 December – Harlequins v Leicester Tigers – Allianz Stadium, 3pm 

The final game of the year is a Big Game as Harlequins take on Leicester Tigers in the famous match at HQ. 

Quins head into the match at Allianz Stadium on the back of a strong 40-22 away win over Loughborough Lightning and now take on Lightning’s Midlands rivals Tigers. 

Leicester meanwhile will get their first Big Game experience and will go in search of a second win of the season with a bruising 38-5 loss to Saracens their last match before Christmas. 

Ross Chisholm has named Lucy Packer to start at scrum-half for Quins as she returns from injury while Claudia Pena will get her first taste of Big Game as she partners Lagi Tuima in the centres.

From Barcelona to Twickenham ✈️

Meet the @HarlequinsWomen's star who's ready to make a big impact at #BigGame16 💥 ⤵️#PWR #PoweredDifferently

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) December 26, 2024

Sarah Bonar has been named to start at home for the first time this season as she packs down alongside Kaitlan Leane in the second row.

Leicester are bringing firepower among the backs as Meg Jones and Francesca McGhie have been named to start while Katie Childs has moved from the centres to flanker.

Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele could get her first run out of the season as she has recovered from injury to be named on the bench.

Team News

Harlequins

15 Ellie Kildunne, 14⁠ Beth Wilcock⁠, 13 ⁠Clàudia Peña, 12⁠ ⁠Lagi Tuima, 11 ⁠Lisa Neumann, 10⁠ ⁠Kayleigh Powell, 9. ⁠Lucy Packer; 1⁠ ⁠Silvia Turani, 2⁠ ⁠Connie Powell, 3⁠ ⁠Lizzie Hanlon, 4⁠ ⁠ Kaitlan Leaney, 5 ⁠Sarah Bonar, 6⁠ Abbie Fleming, 7⁠ ⁠Alex Callender, 8⁠ ⁠Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Lauren Brooks, 20 Harriet Millar Mills, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Sarah Parry, 23 Lauren Torley

Francesca McGhie cannot contain her excitement after seeing Santa Clause fly over Oaks Park🎅🏻😱 pic.twitter.com/z2jmNcKv13

— Leicester Tigers Women's (@TigersWomens) December 24, 2024

Leicester Tigers 

15 Claire Gallagher, 14 Emily Henrich, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Evie Wills, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Sophie Benavent, 4 Eva Donaldson, Charlotte Fray, 6 Julia Omokhuale, 7 Katie Childs, 8 Roisin McBrien (c) 

Replacements: 16 Nikki Simpson, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Morgan Richardson, 20 Tiana Gordon, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Tess Feury, 23 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele 

Match Officials: 

Referee: Holly Wood 

Assistant Referees: Calum Howard and James Cornell 

Oval Insights 

Harlequins 

• Jade Konkel-Roberts made as many carries as any other player in Round 10 (21). She scored two tries and made the most dominant collisions (nine). 

• Harlequins have made an average of 161 carries per 80 minutes this season (1st). They have played the most phases per possession (four). 

• Harlequins have scored the most maul tries this season: seven in nine matches. They also have the second-highest scrum success rate (95.2%). 

Leicester Tigers 

• Charlotte Fray has made the most dominant tackles this season (11). Teammate Julia Omokhuale has also made nine. 

• The Tigers have the best scrum success rate in the league (96.3%). They have scored four tries from scrums so far this season. 

• The Tigers have conceded the second-fewest penalties this season, an average of 9.4 per 80 minutes. On average, they concede 2.9 fewer penalties than their opposition.