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PWR Round 5 Preview: Sunday double header as Leicester host Trailfinders live on TNT Sports

Round 5 of Premiership Women's Rugby sees a blockbuster four games across three days.

Action kicks off as Bristol Bears host Harlequins in a Friday Night Lights showdown at Shaftesbury Park before a top of the table clash sees Exeter Chiefs face Saracens on Saturday.

The weekend wraps up with a mouth-watering double header as Gloucester-Hartpury take on Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers welcome Trailfinders Women to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, live on TNT Sports.

FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Bristol Bears v Harlequins - Shaftesbury Park - 7pm

Bristol Bears and Harlequins will both be chasing their third win of the season in a mid-table battle on Friday.

The two sides sit on the same number of points, with Bears a game in hand as they head into a Friday night lights clash.

Hosts Bristol will be led out by co-captains Abbie Ward and Amber Reed.

Reed will be joined by Kiera Bevan in the half back partnership with a strong back three of Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Reneeqa Bonner and Millie David.

Bears will also boast a powerful forward row of Lark Atkin-Davies, Hannah Botterman and Delaney Burns as they chase a second consecutive win.

Silvia Turani starts at loosehead for Harlequins after a strong performance on both sides of the ball last time out against Loughborough.

Abbie Fleming moves into the second-row with  Scotland’s Sarah Bonar accompanying her at lock whilst Alex Callender features again at openside.

England’s Lucy Packer and Wales' Kayleigh Powell make up the half back partnership, with Powell returning to face her former club for the first time since joining Quins over the summer.

Match Officials

Referee: Dan Jones

Assistant Referees: Darryl Chapman & Jonathan Healy

Team News

Bristol Bears

15 ⁠Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13⁠ Emma Orr, 12⁠ ⁠Phoebe Murray, 11⁠ ⁠Millie David, 10 ⁠Amber Reed (CC), 9⁠ Keira Bevan; 1⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 2⁠ Lark Atkin-Davies, 3⁠ Hannah Botterman, 4 ⁠Delaney Burns, 5 ⁠Abbie Ward (CC), 6⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 7⁠ Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 8⁠ Row Marston-Mulhearn

Replacements

16 Lana Skeldon, 17 Issy Jaques, 18 Danyelle Dinapoli, 19 Hollie Cunningham, 20 Christina Balogun, 21 Lucy Burgess, 22 Jenna de Vera, 23 Courtney Keight

Harlequins

15 ⁠Ellie Kildunne, 14 ⁠Lauren Torley, 13⁠ ⁠Sarah Parry, 12⁠ ⁠Lagi Tuima, 11⁠ ⁠Lisa Neumann, 10 ⁠Kayleigh Powell, 9⁠ ⁠Lucy Packer (vc); 1⁠ ⁠Silvia Turani, 2⁠ ⁠Connie Powell, 3⁠ ⁠Lizzie Hanlon, 4 ⁠Abbie Fleming, 5 ⁠Sarah Bonar, 6⁠ ⁠Nicole Wythe, 7⁠ ⁠Alex Callender, 8⁠ ⁠Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements

16 Carys Phillips, 17 Laura Delgado, 18 Babalwa Latsha, 19 Kaitlan Leaney, 20 Danelle Lochner, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Izzy Mayhew, 23 Harriet Millar-Mills

SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens - Sandy Park - 1pm

A tasty top of the table battle heads up Saturday's action as second place Exeter Chiefs take on leaders Saracens at Sandy Park.

Clara Nielson is due to make her 50th appearance for the club as she starts on the bench at home.

Eilidh Sinclair is back on the wing, Hope Rogers and DaLeaka are in the front-row, and Dorothy Wall will get her first start in a Chiefs jersey.

Emily Robinson has moved to open-side flanker following Maisy Allen’s ankle injury with Rachel Johnson at number eight.

A shuffled Saracens side sees Akina Gondwe come in at loosehead prop alongside Bryony Field and Kelsey Clifford.

Rosie Galligan continues in the second-row with Poppy Cleall shifting in from number 8 to join her as May Campbell moves to six, with co-captain Marlie Packer coming in for her first start of the season at openside flanker.

Ella Wyrwas will make her first start of the season at scrum-half, alongside Zoe Harrison.

The centres see Sarah McKenna link up with Sydney Gregson, whilst co-captain Lotte Sharp starts on the left wing, with Alysha Corrigan shifting to the right wing and Jemma-Jo Linkins at fullback.

Match officials

Referee: Charlie Gayther

Assistant Referees: Ian Kiy & Veryan Boscawen

Team News

Exeter Chiefs

15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Sabrina Poulin, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson (vc); 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Poppy Leitch (c), 5 Linde van der Velden, 6 Dorothy Wall, 7 Emily Robinson, 8 Rachel Johnson

Replacements

16 Clara Nielson, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Niamh Orchard, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Lori Cramer

Saracens

15⁠ ⁠⁠Jemma-Jo Linkins, 14 ⁠⁠Alysha Corrigan, 13 ⁠Sydney Gregson, 12⁠ ⁠⁠Sarah McKenna, 11⁠ ⁠⁠Lotte Sharp (CC), 10⁠ ⁠⁠Zoe Harrison, 9 ⁠⁠Ella Wyrwas; 1⁠ ⁠Akina Gondwe, 2⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 3⁠ ⁠⁠Kelsey Clifford, 4⁠ ⁠⁠Rosie Galligan, 5⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall, 6⁠ ⁠⁠May Campbell, 7⁠ ⁠⁠Marlie Packer (CC), 8⁠ ⁠⁠Gabby Senft

Replacements

16 ⁠⁠Bryony Cleall, 17⁠ ⁠⁠McKinley Hunt, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Donna Rose, 19⁠ ⁠⁠Georgia Evans, 20⁠ ⁠⁠Sharifa Kasolo, 21⁠ ⁠⁠Tori Sellors, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Beth Blacklock, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Isla Alejandro

SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Gloucester-Hartpury v Sale Sharks - 4ED Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone - 2pm

Gloucester-Hartpury will be looking to secure their third win of the season with victory over Sale Sharks.

Ellie Rugman makes her long-awaited return to the matchday 23, in over a year for Gloucester-Hartpury.

Emma Sing makes her fifth consecutive start at fullback, with Nel Metcalfe on the right wing and Charlotte Woodman back in for her first appearance since Round 2.

A new halfback combination of Sian Jones and Ellie Green are named, with Welsh International Jones set for her first start.

Mackenzie Carson, Neve Jones, and Sisilia Tuipulotu are selected in an all-international front row.

Sharks started strongly against Leciester Tigers last week but are still searching for their maiden win of the 2024 season.

The northern side have made just one change from last week's loss, with Detysha Harper returning to the side to join Catie Benson and Niamh Swailes in the front row.

Captain Morwenna Talling stays at number eight with Robyn Wilkins and Sofia Stefan working in the half back partnership.

Match officials

Referee: Andy Wigley

Assistant Referees: James Cornell & Ben Simpson

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury

15 Emma Sing, 14 Nel Metcalfe, 13 Pip Hendy, 12 Tatyana Heard (CC), 11 Charlotte Woodman, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Sian Jones; 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4 Beth Stafford, 5 Kate Williams, 6 Steph Else (CC), 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Carmen Castellucci

Replacements

16 Gillian Boag, 17 Lisa Cockburn, 18 Ranni Samuda, 19 Bethan Lewis, 20 Tabitha Copson, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Millie Hyett, 23 Ellie Rugman

Sale Sharks

15 Nikita Prothero, 14 Sophie Hopkins, 13 Vicky A Irwin, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Holly Thorpe, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Sofia Stefan; 1 Catie Benson, 2 Niamh Swailes, 3 Detysha Harper, 4 Iona Antwis, 5 Erica Jarrell, 6 Lucie Sams, 7 Alba Capell, 8 Morwenna Talling (C)

Replacements

16 Scarlett Fielding, 17 Amber Schonert, 18 Nick James, 19 Trudy Cowan, 20 Kay Searcy, 21 India Perris-Redding, 22 Laura Perrin, 23 Rachel Philipps

Leicester Tigers v Trailfinders - Mattioli Woods Welford Road - 3pm

Leicester Tigers take on Trailfinders Women live on TNT Sports to round off the weekend.

Internationals Amy Cokayne, Claire Gallagher and Emily Henrich start in their returns to action for the club, while fellow internationals Eva Donaldson, Francesca McGhie and Tess Feury are included in the starting side after appearing off the bench a fortnight ago at home against Harlequins.

Charlotte Fray captains the team in the back-row and summer signing Abbey Constable is in line for her Leicester Tigers debut from the bench.

There are eight changes to the starting XV for Trailfinders Women, as Kie Tamai and Sara Seye join Cristina Blanco in the front row.

Tyson Beukeboom makes her first start of the season alongside Shya Pinnock in the second row.

Emma Taylor swaps the engine room for blindside flanker, joining Captain Kate Zackary and Grace Moore,  who is making her first start for Trailfinders, in the back row.

Lisa Thomson and Chloe Rollie will also make their first start in the midfield and back three respectively.

Match officials

Referee: Holly Wood

Assistant Referees: Neil Chivers & Simon Park

Team News

Leicester Tigers

15 ⁠Tess Feury, 14 Emily Henrich, 13⁠ Evie Wills, 12⁠ ⁠Katie Childs , 11⁠ ⁠Francesca McGhie, 10 Claire Gallagher, 9⁠ Amy Relf; 1⁠ ⁠Leah Bartlett, 2⁠ Amy Cokayne, 3⁠ Sophie Benavent, 4 Julia Omokhuale, 5 ⁠Catha Jacobs, 6⁠ Eva Donaldson, 7⁠ Morgan Richardson, 8⁠ Charlotte Fray (C)

Replacements

16 Nikki Simpson, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Leah Heath, 20 Jordan Russell, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Natasha Jones, 23 Elin Beaver

Trailfinders Women

15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rosie Inman, 13 Jess Cooksey, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Grace White, 10 Julia Schell, 9 Caity Mattinson; 1 Kie Tamai, 2 Cristina Blanco, 3 Sara Seye, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Emma Taylor, 7 Grace Moore, 8 Kate Zackary (C)

Replacements

16 Kat Evans, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Megan Barwick, 20 Annabel Meta,  21 Ella Amory,  22 Vicky Laflin, 23 Niamh Gallagher


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