Discover which stars return as PWR Round 3 kicks off with a blockbuster fixture at Ashton Gate, live on TNT Sports

• Rigoni, Murray, Westcombe-Evans, Rose, Powell, Leaney, Konkel, Hannah Jones, Campion, Treder, Cantorna, Moloney, Tuipulotu, McGhie, Feury, Cramer among those returning to club colours

Gloucester-Hartpury and Exeter Chiefs will face off in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday as the reigning champions welcome the Devonians to Kingsholm in Round 3.

Saracens start the weekend action off by making the trip to Bristol to take on Bears, with the London side looking to extend their lead at the top of the standings.

Elsewhere, four sides remain in search of a first win of the season with Loughborough Lightning hosting Sale Sharks and Harlequins on the road to Leicester Tigers.

Saturday 19 October

Bristol Bears vs Saracens - Ashton Gate - 12pm

Saracens and Bristol Bears both enjoyed a winning start to their Premiership Women's Rugby campaigns.

Saracens were victorious against Sale Sharks to make it two wins from two while Bristol got the better of Loughborough Lightning in their Premiership Women's Rugby season opener.

Ellie Marston-Mulhearn will make her 100th appearance for Bristol when she starts alongside Jess Sprague and Simi Pam in the front row, with Alisha Joyce-Butchers and Phoebe Murray back from WXV action.

The fleet-footed duo of Millie David and Reneeqa Bonner keep their starting places on the wings after notching hat-tricks in round one, while Amber Reed starts at fly-half.

For Saracens, Akina Gondwe, Bryony Field and Donna Rose make up the front-row while the second-row sees the return of Scotland's Fi McIntosh and Wales' Georgia Evans from WXV duty, with Joia Bennett reshuffled to the back-row alongside co-captain May Campbell and Poppy Cleall.

Leanne Infante and Amelia MacDougall are partnered at half-back while Emma Hardy is accompanied by co-captain Sarah McKenna at centre. In the back three, Alysha Corrigan makes her second debut for the London side on the left wing, joined by Sydney Gregson and Jemma-Jo Linkins.

Match Officials

Referee: Holly Wood

Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and Darryl Chapman

Fourth Official: Rebecca Piddlesden

Team News

Bristol Bears: 15. Ella Lovibond, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Phoebe Murray, 12. Meg Webb, 11. Millie David, 10. Amber Reed, 9. Lucy Burgess; 1. Simi Pam, 2. Jess Sprague, 3. Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 4. Hollie Cunningham, 5. Delaney Burns, 6. Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7. Gabriella Nigrelli, 8. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Lana Skeldon, 17.⁠ ⁠Issy Jaques, 18.⁠ ⁠Nicola Beet, 19.⁠ ⁠Christiana Balogun, 20.⁠ ⁠Jenny Herring, 21.⁠ ⁠Keira Bevan, 22.⁠ ⁠Jenna De Vera, 23.⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight.

Saracens: 15. Jemma-Jo Linkins, 14. Sydney Gregson, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sarah McKenna, 11. Alysha Corrigan, 10. Amelia MacDougall, 9. Leanne Infante, 1. Akina Gondwe, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Donna Rose, 4. Fiona McIntosh, 5. Georgia Evans, 6. Joia Bennett, 7. May Campbell, 8. Poppy Campbell

Replacements: 16. Carmen Tremelling, 17. Kelsey Clifford, 18. Bryony Cleall, 19. Sophie Tansley, 20. Louise McMillan, 21. Ella Wyrwas, 22. Beth Blacklock, 23. Isla Alejandro

Oval Insights

Bristol Bears

• Both Raneeqa Bonner and Millie David scored hattricks in Round 1. They also made 161 and 206 metres respectivel - the highest totals of the round.
• Rownita Marston-Mulhearn made 44 post-contact metres on the opening weekend - more than any other player in a match so far this season.
• Ella Lovibond assisted four tries in Round 1 and remains one of just two players to have assisted as many this season.

Saracens

• Saracens have the best gainline success rate in the league (67%). They have also made a league-high average of 8.5 dominant tackles per 80 minutes.
• Saracens have won the most scrum penalties in the opening two rounds (six) and the most lineout steals (six).
• Saracens have made an average of 19.5 entries to the opposition 22 per 80 minutes this season - more than any other team.

Loughborough Lightning vs Sale Sharks - cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens - 2pm

Loughborough Lightning and Sale Sharks face off at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens with both sides looking for a first win of the 2024/25 Premiership Women's Rugby campaign.

Though they picked up a try bonus point in Round 2, Lightning will be eager for a return to winning ways after consecutive losses to Bristol Bears and Trailfinders Women.

Sale, meanwhile, lost out to Saracens 52-14 in their belated season opener after a bye week in Round 1.

Red Roses winger Bo Westcombe-Evans returns to the starting line-up and USA internationals Bulou Mataitoga, Kathry Treder and Hallie Taufoou are back at outside centre, hooker and blindside flanker respectively.

Alicia Maude is absent due to her GB7s involvement, with Meg Davey taking her place against Sale.

Sharks will field Scarlett Fielding at hooker, while Erica Jarrell, Alba Capell, Sofia Stefan, Robyn Wilins and Beatrice Rigoni all return from WXV duty to start.

Sale have reshuffled their back three with Nikita Prothero moved to the left wing and Vicky Irwin making the switch to full back from centre.

Lightning currently enjoy a six-game win-streak over Sale, with the hosts having not lost to Sharks since December 2022.

Match Officials

Referee: Andy Wigley

Assistant Referees: Nikki O'Donnell and Simon Park

Fourth Official: Emma Sly

Team News

Loughborough Lightning: 15. Fran Goldthorp (vc), 14. Evelyn Clarke, 13. Bulou Mataitoga, 12. Camela Morrall, 11. Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10. Lia Green, 9. Megan Davey, 1. Amelia Williams, 2. Kathryn Treder, 3. Laura Keates, 4. Becky Boyd, 5. Issy Winter, 6. Hallie Taufoou, 7. Kendall Waudby, 8. Daisy Hibbert-Jones

Replacements: 16. Elis Martin, 17. Anne Young, 18. Isla Curphey, 19. Keevy Fitzpatrick, 20. Lilli Ives Campion, 21. Lucy Finch, 22. Leia Brebner-Holden, 23. Ellie Tromans

Sale Sharks

15. Vicky A Irwin, 14. Sophie Hopkins, 13. Beatrice Rigoni, 12. Laura Perrin, 11. Nikita Prothero, 10. Robyn Wilkins, 9. Sofia Stefan; 1. Sophie Lewis, 2. Scarlett Fielding, 3. Detysha Harper, 4. Iona Antwis, 5. Erica Jarrell, 6. Trudy Cowan, 7. Alba Capell, 8. Jo Brown

Replacements 16. Amelia Hyndman, 17. Catie Benson, 18. Nick James, 19. Lucie Sams, 20. Kay Searcy, 21. India Perris-Redding, 22. Alicia Calton

Oval Insights

Loughborough Lightning

• Becky Boyd made the most tackles in Round 2, a total of 25. She also won two turnovers.
• Carmela Morrall was the only back to win three turnovers last weekend. On the other side of the ball, she made six dominant carries and scored a try.
• Lightning have conceded an average of just eight penalties per 80 minutes so far this season - the fewest in the league.

Sale Sharks

• In their opening match of the season, the Sharks had the lowest gainline success rate (40%); they made jus six dominant carries.
• Last weekend, Jo Brown made more carries than any other Sharks player (11) and the third-most tackles (13).
• The Sharks won as many scrum penalties as any other team in Round 2, a total of three.

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Exeter Chiefs - Kingsholm - 3pm

Reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury will host Exeter Chiefs in an eagerly-awaited Round 3 clash and a re-run of the final from two seasons ago.

Chiefs enter the match in high spirits, having won their opening two Premiership games against Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, with the latter defeated 52-10 at Sandy Park.

Gloucester-Hartpury have also enjoyed a successful start to the season, having registered wins of their own against Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, and will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Premiership Women's Rugby campaign.

The hosts welcome back Wales' Kate Williams in the backrow and compatriot Hannah Jones in midfield following their return from WXV duty.

The tight five remains unchanged from last weekend's bonus point win over Harlequins while the back three sees Carys William-Morris make her first Premiership start for the club on the right wing.

Chiefs make three changes to their starting line-up with the Canadian pair of Mikiela Nelson and Sabrina Poulin set to make their first starts for the club and USA Eagle centre Gabby Cantorna taking to the field after her return from WXV1 duty.

The visitors' bench also sees the return of four other WXV returnees in Cliodhna Moloney, Charli Jacoby, Linde van der Velden and Lori Cramer.

Match Officials

Referee: George Selwood

Assistant Referees: Simon Adams and Kevin Williams

Fourth Official: Lucy Smith / Peter Brunt.

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15. Emma Sing, 14. Carys Williams-Morris, 13. Hannah Jones, 12. Pip Hendy, 11. Rachel Lund, 10. Millie Hyett, 9. Bianca Blackburn, 1. El Perry, 2. Amy Dale, 3. Ranni Samuda, 4. Beth Stafford, 5. Gwen Crabb, 6. Steph Else (C), 7. Kate Williams, 8. Tabitha Copson

Replacements: 16. Lucy Simpson, 17. Lisa Cockburn, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Robyn Davies, 20. Gwennan Hopkins, 21. Gemma Bell, 22. Ellie Green, 23. Charlie-Mai Manns

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Merryn Doidge, 14. Eilidh Sinclair, 13. Nancy McGillivray, 12. Gabby Cantorna, 11. Sabrina Poulin, 10. Liv McGoverne, 9. Flo Robinson (vc), 1. Mikiela Nelson, 2. Clara Nielson, 3. Flo Long, 4. Poppy Leitch (c), 5. Niamh Orchard, 6. Ebony Jefferies, 7. Maisy Allen, 8. Emily Robinson

Replacements: 16. Cliodhna Moloney, 17. Demi Swann, 18. Charli Jacoby, 19. Linde van der Velden, 20. Taz Bricknell, 21. Lucy Nye, 22. Naomi Brennan, 23. Lori Cramer

Oval Insights

Gloucester-Hartpury

• Emma Sing made 225 metres last weekend - more than any other player. She beat seven defenders (2nd) and two clean breaks.
• Ellena Perry was the only player last weekend who made three dominant tackles. In total, she made 24 successful tackles, joint-second with teammate Steph Else.
• On average, Gloucester-Hartpury have made the most carry metres (768) and kick in play metres (516) per 80 minutes.

Exeter Chiefs

• Liv McGoverne scored a round-high 17 points in Round 2, including five from a try. She also beat six defenders.
• Four of the five top tacklers in the league herald from the Exeter Chiefs: Niamh Orchard (47), Maisy Allen (40), Poppy Leitch (38), and Flo Long (35).
• The Chiefs have the highest tackle success rate in the league (84.7%) and the second-highest gainline success rate (59.7%).

Sunday 20 October

Leicester Tigers - Harlequins - Mattioli Woods Welford Road - 5:45pm

Harlequins make their first away trip of the season as they visit Leicester Tigers in the final match of Round 3.

The visitors have yet to register a win so far this season, slipping to narrow defeats against Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester-Hartpury in their opening two fixtures of the 2024/25 campaign.

Leicester Tigers have also lost their first two games but are boosted by the return of six Test stars, with Leah Bartlett, Catha Jacobs and Julia Omokhuale named starters and Eva Donaldson, Tess Feury and Francesca McGhie among the replacements.

No.8 Charlotte Fray will captains the side for the first time.

Harlequins have slightly reshuffled their line-up from the one that narrowly lost out to defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury last time out, with Sarah Parry and Katie Shillaker making their first PWR starts; the former at outside centre.

In the backrow, Shillaker is joined by Lisa Neumann, moved back to the wing and Amy Layzell.

Jessie Spurrier starts at loosehead alongside Maja Meuller at hooker and Lizzie Hanlon at tighthead, while vice-captain Harriet Millar-Mills returns at second-row, joined by Lauren Brooks.

Izzy Hannary and Sara Svoboda retain their places in the back-row alongside Nicole Wythe, with half-backs Freya Aucken and Ella Cromack renewing their partnership once more and captain Lagi Tuima at inside centre.

Match Officials

Referee: Nikki O'Donnell

Assistant Referees: Darryl Chapman and James Cornell

Fourth Official: Nia Sterenborg

Team News

Leicester Tigers: 15. Amanda Swartz, 14. Charlotte Daley, 13. Evie Wills, 12. Katie Childs, 11. Elin Beaver, 10. Sarah Nicholas, 9. Amy Relf, 1. Leah Bartlett, 2. Alana Bainbridge, 3. Nadine Vincent, 4. Julia Omokhuale, 5. Catha Jacobs, 6. Jordan Russell, 7. Morgan Richardson, 8. Charlotte Fray

Replacements: 16. Nikki Simpson, 17. Ellie Smith, 18. Sophie Benavent,19. Eva Donaldson, 20. Tiana Gordon, 21. Jenny Maxwell, 22. Tess Feury, 23. Francesca McGhie

Harlequins: 15. Amy Layzell, 14. Katie Shillaker, 13. Sarah Parry, 12. Lagi Tuima, 11. Lisa Neumann, 10. Ella Cromack, 9. Freya Aucken, 1. Jessie Spurrier, 2. Maja Meuller, 3. Lizzie Hanlon, 4. Harriet Millar-Mills (vc), 5. Lauren Brooks, 6. Nicole Wythe, 7. Izzy Hannay, 8. Sara Svoboda

Replacements: 16. Connie Powell, 17. Sheree Cooper, 18. Hannah Duffy, 19. Kaitlan Leaney, 20. Jade Konkel, 21. Emma Swords, 22. Kayleigh Powell, 23. Izzy Mayhew

Oval Insights

Leicester Tigers

• After two rounds, Jordan Russell leads the Tigers for try assists (two), defenders beaten (four), and turnovers won (four).
• Morgan Richardson has made the most tackles for the Tigers (26) and the third-most carries (24).
• The Tigers have the lowest tackle success rate in the league (72.1%), having missed an average of 27.5 tackles per 80 minutes.

Harlequins

• Nicole Whythe made more post-contact metres in Round 2 than any other player (43). She also made the second-most dominant carries (eight).
• In Round 2, Sara Svoboda made 18 carries and a round-high five offloads. She also made two clean breaks.
• Harlequins have made an average of 186 carries per 80 minutes this season - more than any other team.