PWR Round 1 Preview: London derby gets 2024/25 season underway

Premiership Women’s Rugby is back with a bang this weekend as the 2024/25 season gets underway.

The Premiership Women's Rugby season kicks off with a London derby on Saturday as Saracens host Trailfinders Women with an eye to regaining their throne after semi-final heartache last term.

Elsewhere in the capital, Harlequins take on Exeter Chiefs at the Stoop, while last year’s losing finalists Bristol Bears travel to Loughborough Lightning hoping to prove their worth as a regular contender at the top.

And on Sunday, reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury will look to kickstart their campaign against Leicester Tigers as they go for the three-peat.

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER

Saracens vs Trailfinders Women (StoneX Stadium) - 2pm

Three-time champions Saracens start their season with a tantalising London derby as they welcome Trailfinders Women to the StoneX.

Sarries are the most successful team in PWR history but have gone two seasons without a title, with Gloucester-Hartpury emerging as the dominant force in recent times.

Their first league outing on home turf since suffering a semi-final exit to Bristol Bears in June, Saracens will look to return to action with a vengeance against Trailfinders, who finished an admirable sixth in their first ever PWR season last year.

Both teams have made three personnel changes respectively to their starting XVs from their PWR Up clash two weeks ago, which saw Saracens come out on top.

For Sarries, Joia Bennett is set to make her first PWR appearance in the second row having helped Saracens to the Allianz Cup title last season, and Sophie Tansley comes in alongside her with Chantelle Miell the only change in the backs.

There are a number of league debutants for Trailfinders as Kat Evans, Emma Taylor, Brooke Bradley, Grace White and Kendra Cousineau are all named in the starting XV.

Liz Crake starts at loosehead, joining Evans and Kira Leat in the front row, while Shya Pinnock lines up in the second row.

Match Officials

Referee: George Selwood

Assistant Referees: Neil Chivers and Simon Adams

Fourth Official: Katherine Gent

Team News

Saracens: 15⁠ ⁠⁠Jemma-Jo Linkins, 14⁠ ⁠⁠Chantelle Miell, 13⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Hardy, 12⁠ ⁠⁠Sarah McKenna (CC), 11⁠ ⁠⁠Isla Alejandro, 10⁠ ⁠⁠Amelia MacDougall, 9⁠ ⁠⁠Tori Sellors, 1⁠ ⁠Akina Gondwe, 2 ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 3⁠ ⁠⁠Carmen Tremelling, 4⁠ ⁠⁠Joia Bennett, 5⁠ ⁠⁠Sophie Tansley, 6⁠ ⁠⁠Sharifa Kasolo, 7⁠ ⁠⁠May Campbell (CC), 8⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall

Replacements: 16 ⁠Daisy Fitzgerald, 17⁠ ⁠⁠Maya Montiel, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Chloe Flanagan, 19⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Cleall, 20⁠ ⁠⁠Beth Blacklock, 21⁠ ⁠Leanne Infante, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Flo Williams, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Lucy Biggs

Trailfinders Women: 15 Emma Uren, 14 Vicky Laflin, 13 Jess Cooksey 12 Kendra Cousineau, 11 Grace White, 10 Ella Amory, 9 Brooke Bradley, 1 Liz Crake, 2 Kat Evans, 3 Kira Leat, 4 Emma Taylor (C), 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Rowena Burnfield, 7 Abi Burton, 8 Annabel Meta

Replacements: 16 Alicia Watkins, 17 Kie Tamai, 18 Eloise Harris, 19 Meg Barwick, 20 Sally Williams, 21 Sarah Denholm, 22 Ellie Boatman, 23 Rosie Inman

How to Watch

The match is live on PWR YouTube channel.

Oval Insights

Saracens

• Saracens scored the joint-most tries in PWR Up (12). Three of these started with a tap penalty (joint-1st).

• Saracens made the second-most offloads in PWR Up, a total of 31. Amelia MacDougall made more than any other Saracens (five).

• Over two matches, Saracens played a total of 84 minutes of ball in play time – more than any other team.

Trailfinders Women

• Abi Burton’s impact rating in PWR Up was 99 – more than any other forward and third overall. She beat more defenders than any other player in the series (12).

• Trailfinders made an average of 14.7 metres per possession in PWR Up (1st). A higher percentage of their carries were made out wide than any other team (50.2%).

• Trailfinders made ten more clean breaks than any other team in PWR Up, a total of 32.

More of this to come at 🏡 on Saturday. 😍

🎟️: https://t.co/FIkXJrkJrN#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/wXLwHWCQdC

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) October 3, 2024

Harlequins vs Exeter Chiefs (Twickenham Stoop) - 3pm

Harlequins will look to kick-off the PWR season with a strong performance against last year’s semi-finalists as they take on Exeter Chiefs at home.

The 2021 champions have slightly fallen away from the title picture in recent seasons but will be eager to prove they belong at the top against Chiefs, who were denied a place in the 2023/24 final by eventual champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

For Harlequins, the back-row contains a new face with the addition of Canada's Sara Svoboda, who makes her debut for the club at Number 8.

Welsh international Lisa Neumann makes her first start of the season having re-signed with Quins last week, and she is joined by Team GB rugby sevens stars Lauren Torley and Grace Crompton in the back three.

Sibling duo Emily and Flo Robinson will pay their former club a visit in Exeter colours, returning to familiar territory at the Stoop.

Hooker Clara Nielson returns to the starting line-up after several months rehabbing an ankle injury while Mikiela Nelson and Sabrina Poulin could make their debuts from the bench.

Match Officials

Referee: Nikki O'Donnell

Assistant Referees: Jonathan Cook & Darryl Chapman

Fourth Official: Emma Sly

Team News

Harlequins: 15 Lauren Torley, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Izzy Mayhew, 12 Lagi Tuima (C), 1. Grace Crompton, 10 Ella Cromack, 9 Freya Aucken, 1 Jessie Spurrier, 2 Maja Meuller, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Harriet Millar Mills, 5 Lauren Brooks, 6 Nicole Wythe, 7 Izzy Hannay, 8 Sara Svoboda

Replacements: 16 Nicola Haynes, 17 Sheree Cooper, 18 Hannah Duffy, 19 Tyla Shirley, 20 Lucy Heryet, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Sarah Parry, 23 Heather Cowell

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Naomi Brennan, 12 Sophie Langford, 11 Georgina Tasker, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson, 1 Demi Swann, 2 Clara Nielson, 3 Hannah Sams, 4 Poppy Leitch (C), 5 Niamh Orchard, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Emily Robinson

Replacements: 16 Millie Whitehouse, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Flo Long, 19 Zara Feaunati. 20 Taz Bricknell, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Ellie Cunningham, 23 Sabrina Poulin

How to Watch

The match is live on the Harlequins YouTube channel.

Oval Insights

Harlequins

• 32.4% of Harlequins’ possessions ended with a kick in the PWR Up series – more than any other team. Individually, Ella Cromack made the most kick in play metres (795).

• On average, Harlequins played the second-fewest phases in PWR Up: 2.7 per possession.

• Harlequins made an average of 4.5 metres per carry in PWR Up – more than any other team – and a total of 22 clean breaks (2nd).

Exeter Chiefs

• Liv McGoverne’ impact rating in PWR Up was 100: she was the top performing player in the series. She scored a total of 29 points – more than any other player.

• Chiefs had the highest tackle success rate in PWR Up (83%) despite also making the most tackles (365).

• Maisy Allen made more tackles than any other player in PWR Up (42). Teammates Emily Robinson (30) and Niamh Orchard (29) were also among the top seven tacklers.

Back at their old stomping ground this Saturday 👀#HARvEXE | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/g1DkNRctIz

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) October 3, 2024

Loughborough Lightning vs Bristol Bears (cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens) - 3pm

Bristol Bears will look to regroup after suffering inaugural PWR Final agony as they start their season away to Loughborough Lightning.

Wales U20 centre Jenna De Vera makes her PWR debut for Bears, partnering Meg Webb in the midfield, with Amber Reed captaining the side from fly half and Lucy Burgess named at scrum half.

Millie David, Reneeqa Bonner and Ella Lovibond complete the backline, while in the pack, Delaney Burns is named vice-captain and joins Hollie Cunningham in the second row. Gabriella Nigrelli, Jenny Herring and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn are in the back row.

Three of Loughborough Lightning’s summer signings will make their debuts as Alicia Maude, Cieron Bell and Grace Deane all start.

Lightning’s starting line-up also has five survivors from the side that ran out for the last league game four months ago against Saracens, which includes Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Isla Curphey and Laura Keates.

Match Officials

Referee: Charlie Gayther

Assistant Referees: James Cornell & Fiona Brunt

Fourth Official: Adam White

Team News

Loughborough Lightning: 15 Lia Green, 14 Grace Deane, 13 Ellen Scantlebury, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Cieron Bell, 10 Meg Davey, 9 Alicia Maude, 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Lucy Calladine, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Becky Boyd, 6 Kendall Waudby, 7 Ellie Roberts, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (C)

Replacements: 16 Katherine Baverstock, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19 Keevy Fitzpatrick, 20 Issy Winter, 21 Lucy Weaver, 22 Freya MacColl, 23 Freya Greensmith

Bristol Bears: 15. ⁠Ella Lovibond, 14⁠ ⁠Reneeqa Bonner, 13.⁠⁠Jenna De Vera, 12⁠ ⁠Meg Web, 11⁠ ⁠Millie David, 10⁠ ⁠Amber Reed (C), 9 ⁠Lucy Burgess, 1⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 2 ⁠Jess Sprague, 3 ⁠Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 4 ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5⁠ ⁠Delaney Burns, 6⁠ ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 7 ⁠Jenny Herring, 8 ⁠Rownita Marston-Mulhearn

Replacements: 16 ⁠Heidi Pashaei-Tarighoun, 17⁠ ⁠Issy Jaques, 18 ⁠Nicola Beet, 19 ⁠Christiana Balogun, 20 ⁠Helene Caux, 21⁠ ⁠Ellie Lewis, 22⁠ ⁠Natalee Evans, 23⁠ ⁠Amy Coles

How to Watch

Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Oval Insights

Loughborough Lightning

• Lightning made more dominant tackles than any other team in PWR Up (21). Carmela Morrall, Lucy Calladine, and Issy Winter made three each.

• 7.8% of Lightning’s touches were kicks – a higher percentage than any other team. They made an average of 27 kick metres per kick (2nd longest).

• A competition-high 40% of Lightning’s 22 entries ended with a try in the PWR Up series.

Bristol Bears

• Millie David scored the joint-most tries in the PWR Up series (three). She also made more carry metres than any other player (199).

• The Bears’ forwards made more passes than any other pack in the PWR Up series, a total of 105. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn made 21, Jenny Herring 18, and Nicola Beet 12.

• 140 of the Bears’ carries were made in the wide channels in the PWR Up series – 11.4% more than any other team.

Gameday 1⃣ incoming! ⌛️

Our @ThePWR team news is out at 1⃣1⃣am 📰 pic.twitter.com/VLQlrY7e4L

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) October 4, 2024

SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Leicester Tigers (Kingsholm Stadium) - 12:45pm

Gloucester-Hartpury are looking imperious and will be hellbent on a three-peat of PWR titles this season as they kick things off against Leicester Tigers.

The Circus secured their second consecutive championship last term, beating Bristol Bears 36-24 in a hard-fought final at Sandy Park.

With over 20 players away on international duty, Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn has named a relatively new-look Premiership side, with Emma Sing lining up at the back alongside veteran Rachel Lund and new signing Charlie Woodman.

Pip Hendy returns in the centres for her first appearance of the season having trained with the Red Roses over the summer.

Ellie Green makes her PWR debut for Gloucester-Hartpury, having made played in the PWR UP series back in September, and Steph Else continues her captaincy duties.

For Leicester, Roisin McBrien will lead Tigers out at Kingsholm Stadium after captaining the side throughout the PWR Up Series.

Meanwhile, hooker Nikki Simpson is named to start for the first time after appearing twice off the bench in the PWR Up Series.

Match Officials

Referee: Mike Hudson

Assistant Referees: Neil Chivers & Veryan Boscawen

Fourth Official: Emily Hope

TMO: Anthony Woodthorpe

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Charlie Woodman, 13 Pip Hendy, 12 Millie Hyett, 11 Rachel Lund, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Bianca Blackburn, 1 El Perry, 2 Amy Dale, 3 Ranni Samuda, 4 Beth Stafford, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Steph Else (C), 7 Tabitha Copson, 8 Gwennan Hopkins

Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 Alisha Smith, 18 Megan Lewis, 19 Robyn Davies, 20 Gemma Bell, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Charlie-Mai Manns, 23 Jade Shekells

Leicester Tigers: 15 Amanda Swartz, 14 Charlotte Daley, 13 Evie Wills, 12 Katie Childs, 11 Elin Beaver, 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf, 1 Zainab Alema, 2 Nikki Simpson, 3 Jade Jones, 4 Leah Heath, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Roisin McBrien (C)

Replacements: 16 Rowann Sinclair, 17 Ellie Smith, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Eeva Pohjanheimo, 20 Tiana Gordon, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Sarah Nicholas, 23 Emma Mundy

How to Watch

The match is live on TNT Sports.

Oval Insights

Gloucester-Hartpury

• Emma Sing beat more defenders than any other Gloucester-Hartpury player in the PWR Up series, a total of five.

• 62% of Gloucester-Hartpury’s touches in the PWR Up series were passes – the second-highest percentage in the competition. 76% of these passes were long (1st).

• Gloucester-Hartpury played an average of 3.4 phases per possession in PWR Up – the second-most in the competition.

Leicester Tigers

• The Tigers won more turnovers than any other team in the PWR Up series, a total of 29. Individually, Roisin McBrien won as many as any other player (four).

• 35.6% of the Tigers’ attacks in the PWR Up series began with them winning a turnover; the competition average was 24%.

• The Tigers win rate at attacking rucks was the highest in PWR Up (95.7%).