Ben Jaycock looks forward to the new season where Gloucester-Hartpury will be team to beat
PREMIERSHIP Women’s Rugby returns next weekend with champions Gloucester-Hartpury aiming to secure an unprecedented three-peat of titles.
Sean Lynn’s side have ruled the roost during the past two campaigns, storming to consecutive triumphs and have shown no signs of slowing down with a star-studded squad led superbly by talismanic scrum-half Natasha Hunt alongside last season’s top points scorer on 156, full-back Emma Sing.
Before the Cherry and Whites’ dominance of the domestic women’s game, finals were contested purely between London rivals Saracens and Harlequins between 2017-21.
However, both those sides have flattered to deceive in recent years, with the division now having a West Country stronghold with finalists Bristol Bears, who are boosted by the signing of Scotland fly-half Emma Orr and possess last season’s top try scorer in England hooker Lark Atkin-Davies (14), and the always improving Exeter Chiefs, looking to challenge Gloucester-Hartpury’s crown.
Saracens and England winger Jess Breach is still not over her side’s 29-21 semi-final loss at home to Bristol, making it clear her move from Harlequins in 2022 isn’t justified until she returns to another showpiece final.
Breach told The Rugby Paper: “It’s a huge motivator. We don’t want to be in that position as a squad and as a team again, we’ve learnt a lot from that semi-final and the season as a whole because we weren’t good enough for the whole year. We let some teams back into games when we didn’t need to and it’s only going to drive us going forward.
“It’s a big year for club and country. There isn’t a lot of rest time, the league is pretty back-to-back which will be challenging for a lot of teams and depth will be tested from the off with the league starting whilst internationals are away. It’s been two years since we last reached a final and I didn’t move to Saracens to not reach a final.”
Harlequins missed out on the top four for the first time in 2022/23 before enduring a nightmare campaign last term, finishing seventh after picking up just four victories but have signed 66-cap England back row Harriet Millar Mills from Exeter.
The south-west Londonders were without their star player Ellie Kildunne for the second half of the season due to her Olympics sevens preparations with Team GB and the free-scoring full-back is desperate to make amends this time around.
Kildunne, who joined Harlequins from Wasps in 2021, told The Rugby Paper: “You wouldn’t move to any team if you weren’t going to be fighting for top positions. There’s been a lot of changes before this season. It’s been a while since I was last in a Harlequins shirt having left after the Six Nations to jump into the GB Sevens group. I’m really excited to see what change has happened and where we’ve developed. It’s easy to say last year was a building year, using that as an excuse but the fact is, we weren’t good enough last year. We know where we want to be and it’s about taking each step as it comes, putting ourselves in the best possible position.”
Saracens captain Marlie Packer has taken a different approach to her team-mate Breach in regards to reacting to their semi-final shortcomings and has put last season behind her.
The competitive nature across the board, alongside added exposure on TNT Sport means the England skipper is chomping at the bit to return to club rugby once she has returned from WXV.
She said: “It’s the best league in the world to be involved in.
The infrastructure, the money pumped in from the clubs themselves really shows where the women’s game is going. You don’t just have Saracens and Harlequins as the finalists these days, it’s a competitive league. It’s gone very West Country at the top with Gloucester-Hartpury winning it back-to-back which is fantastic for them but also Exeter and Bristol putting forward really good teams. Then you’ve still got the London clubs up there. The calibre of players may mean we’ll see more internationals coming into the league to get more fifteen’s minutes in a high quality division ahead of the World Cup.”
This season’s PWR is relentless from the off with 18 rounds and the play-offs all taking place before the Six Nations in March. Packer feels it’s the perfect chance for players to put themselves in the shop window for international selection, with the extra carrot of a home World Cup on the horizon. She points to recent call ups to the Red Roses squad as an example of how players can use their club form to transform themselves onto the international stage and has issued a warning to contracted England players that no one is safe.
Packer said: “It’s going to finish right on the horizon of the Six Nations, so players will want to put in good performances to make sure they are selected. You don’t have to be in the contracted group to get into an England training camp or matchday squad, just look at Phoebe Murray. Lilli Ives Campion is a transition player coming from U20s and then there’s Bo Westcombe-Evans and Georgia Brock who are all players that haven’t got contracts with England that have come into the environment and shone. You’re not safe because you’ve got a contract, you must perform in the PWR to get selected.”
Loughborough Lightning finished fifth last season and will look to break into the playoff positions this year. Nathan Smith’s side possesses a potent attack which includes Kathryn Treder and Westcombe-Evans, who scored 11 and nine tries respectively last season.
Packer sees Loughborough as a potential dark horse amongst the usual suspects in the league. She added: “A lot of teams have signed good players. I think you’ll see a different Loughborough Lightning. You can’t always tell what the teams are going to be like until you see the first couple of games in the PWR. In the pre-season cup, a lot of internationals were playing away, so it’s hard to call. Gloucester-Hartpury’s game against Exeter the other day featured eight new BUCS players who have come through their programme which shows its value. Exeter are playing really well, Bristol will be up there with Gloucester. My outside bet is Loughborough but of course, I’m going to back Saracens.”
Last season’s newcomers Trailfinders made their presence known in their first PWR campaign, winning five of their 16 games to finish sixth.
Director of rugby Giselle Mather left the club in the summer and new head coach Barney Maddison has brought in 11 new recruits including 61-capped Scotland star Chloe Rollie, who will bring even more experience to a star studded back three that includes GB 7s flyer Ellie Boatman and Red Roses superstar Abby Dow.
Sale endured a dismal 2023/24 failing to get going with just three wins registered due to their lack of firepower in attack seeing the northerners average just 15 points per game in a high scoring league. Prop Gwenllian Pyrs provides international experience with her 19 caps for Wales and brings some much needed steel up front, while 57-time Wales versatile back Robyn Wilkins may be the spark to ignite their attack.
Back-to-back champions Gloucester-Hartpury have largely kept the same squad as last year which comes as no surprise given their dominance of the league, with former Worcester Warriors outside centre Jade Shekells joining an exciting backline from GB Sevens.
PWR newcomers Leicester Tigers finished at the foot of the table last term but after picking up just two victories, they then lost Ofure Ugiagbe and tackle machine Becky Noon to retirement. The signing of scrum-half Jenny Maxwell is a statement acquisition though given her 32 Scotland caps.
Exeter have been busy in recruiting players, attempting to secure a first-ever crown after reaching the final in 2023. England international Robinson sisters (Emily and Flo) join alongside USA prop Charli Jacoby, who has won 28 caps and played at the last World Cup.
Bristol Bears
Keira Bevan, Lucy Burgess, Megan Davies, Ellie Lewis, Holly Aitchison, Lucie Skuse, Meryl Smith, Phoebe Murray, Amber Reed, Megan Varley, Megan Webb, Mollie Wilkinson, Reneeqa Bonner, Grace Crompton, Millie David, Jasmine Joyce, Courtney Keight, Tilly Smale, Grace White, Deborah Wills, Amy Coles, Jenny Hesketh, Ella Lovibond, Kayleigh Powell, Hannah Botterman, Simi Pam, Gwenllian Pyrs, Sarah Bern, Elliann Clarke, Ellie Mulhearn, Lark Atkin-Davies, Holly Phillips, Jess Sprague, Christiana Balogun, Nicola Beet, Delaney Burns, Hollie Cunningham, Abbie Ward, Alisha Butchers, Helene Caux, Jenny Herring, Manon Johnes, Bryonie King, Rownita Marston, Claire Molloy, Gabriella Nigrelli, Bo Osborn-Clarke
Exeter Chiefs
Clara Nielson, Daisy French, Emily Tuttosi, Laura Delgado, Hope Rogers, Georgia Grimes, Sachiko Kato, Lauren Leatherland,
Abby Middlebrooke, Jess Thomas, Michaella Roberts, Kayleigh Armstrong, Poppy Leitch, McKinley Hunt, Alia McCarthy, Abbie Fleming, Charlie Willett, Nichola Fryday, Ebony Jefferies, Rachel Johnson, Maisy Allen, Eilidh Sinclair, Linde van der Velden, Kate Zackary, Megan Davies, Patricia García, Brooke Bradley, Flo Robinson, Megan Foster, Gabby Cantorna, Zintle Mpupha, Lottie Holland, Louise Burgess, Charlotte Woodman, Jennine Detiveaux, Gabby Gower, Garnet Mackinder, Laura Sheehan, Chloe Rollie, Niamh Terry, Merryn Doidge
Gloucester-Hartpury
Bianca Blackburn, Natasha Hunt, Caity Mattinson, Lleucu George, Lizzie Goulden, Charlie Mai-Manns, Tatyana Heard, Hannah Jones, Kerin Lake, Rachel Lund, Abbie Priestnall, Nel Metcalfe, Cath Richards, Ellie Rugman, Kelly Smith, Sophie Tandy, Lucia Scott, Emma Sing, Mia Venner, Pip Hendy, Amy Dale, Kelsey Jones, Neve Jones, Kathryn Buggy, Mackenzie Carson, Abbey
Constable, Oliva Constable, Laura Delgado, Ellie Gilbert, Cerys Hale, Maud Muir, Evie Roach, Ranni Samuda, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Zoe Aldcroft, Carmen Castelucci, Trudy Cowan, Gwen Crabb, Steph Else, Sam Monaghan, Lola Whitley, Sarah Beckett, Georgia Brock, Tabitha Copson, Bethan Lewis, Alex Matthews, Jordan Russell, Kate Williams
Harlequins
Bobbie Haywood, Lucy Packer, Leanne Riley, Ellie Green, Victoria Petersson, Emily Scott, Rachael Burford, Laura Dowsett, Izzy Mayhew, Jade Mullen, Beth Wilcock, Lagi Tuima, Samantha White, Jessica Breach, Megan Brown, Laura Venclova, Charlotte Wellbelove, Ella Amory, Heather Cowell, Chloe Rollie, Emogene Sutton, Ellie Miles, Gillian Bourke, Lauren Brooks, Davinia Catlin, Amy Cokayne, Chloe Edwards, Leah Lyons, Shaunagh Brown, Sheree Cooper, Vickii Cornborough, Tove Viksten, Rosie Dobson, Megan Brodie, Courtney Dobson, Jenny Eyre, Fiona Fletcher, Katy
Mew, Rebecca Piddlesden, Abbie Ward, Alice Sheffield, Sarah Beckett, Jade Konkel, Anna Caplice, Kiri Lose, Samantha McCarthy, Bethan Dainton, Emily Robinson, Kate Jenkins
Leicester Tigers
Lucy Nye, Amy Relf, Claire Gallagher, Meg Jones, Ellie Turner, Holly Williams, Katie Childs, Rebecca De Filippo, Abi Gordon, Natasha Jones, Francesca McGhie, Linzi Taylor, Evie Wills, Tami Agboola, Lottie Bozon, Louisa Burgham, Bryany Chalk, Caz Collie, Charlotte Daley, Molly Draycott, Zoë Evans, Tess Feury, Lucrezia Iavarone, Celia Quansah, Harriet Roberts, Amanda Swartz, Amelia Tutt, Leah Bartlett, Caitlin Clark, Lisa Cockburn, Georgie Grimes, Jade Jones, Churchy Knight, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Ofure Ugiagbe, Alana Bainbridge, Amy Cokayne, Elis Martin, Samantha Williams, Eva Donaldson, Ella-Mae Fereday, Charlotte Fray, Ali Gale, Catha Jacobs, Maddie Massey, Georgia Westwood, Tanya Bird, Tahlia Brody, Roisin McBrien, Sydney Mead, Leilah Mills, Becky Noon, Julia Omokhuale, Amy Orrow, Morgan Richardson, Kat Turner, Zoe Warrington
Loughborough Lightning
Lizzie Adam, Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, Danni Allen, Phoebe Andrews, Alex Baker, Kath Baverstock, Christine Belisle, Lauren Bolger, Gillian Bourke, Georgia Bradley, Abigail Brown, Lucy Calladine, Grace Clifford, Isla Curphey, Meg Davey, Abby Duguid, Bethany Foster, Beyonce Fowler, Megan Gaffney, Fran Goldthorp, Molly Green, Lia Green, Freya Greensmith, Emma Hardy, Lauren Hart, Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Courtney Holtkamp, Lilli Ives Campion, Charli Jacoby, Sadia Kabeya, Laura Keates, George Lingham, Lucia Linn, Molly Luthayi, Rachel Malcolm, Bulou Mataitoga, Jenny Maxwell, Maja Meuller, Carmela Morrall, Helen Nelson, Cath O’Donnell, Amy Pyle, Anya Richmond, Chloe Rollie, Helena Rowland, Ellen
Scantlebury, Emily Scarratt, Sarah Smart, Sally Stott, Sara Svoboda, Georgina Tasker, Hallie Taufoou, Kathryn Treder, Katie Trevarthen, Emma Wassell, Kendall Waudby, Lucy Weaver, Jessica Weaver, Catherine Wells, Bo Westcombe Evans, Amelia Williams, Sally Williams, Carys Williams-Morris
Sale Sharks
Willow Bell, Olivia Ortiz, India Perris-Redding, Sofia Stefan, Jess Taylor-Roberts, Cara Cookland, Lizzie Duffy, Grace White, Robyn Wilkins, Hollie Bawden, Alicia Calton, Katana Howard, Vicky A Irwin, Laura Perrin, Rachel Phillips, Beatrice Rigoni, Lauren Bolger, Frankie Harvey, Sophie Hopkins, April Ishida, Nikita Prothero, Ellen Ramsbottom, Holly Thorpe, Eva Wood, Lauren Delany (cc), Isobel McGuire-Evans, Rachel Woosey, Scarlett Fielding, Molly Kelly, Marion Ridegway, Niamh Swailes, Molly Wright, Catie Benson, Detysha Harper, Elsbeth Innes, Alice Iwanejko, Nick James, Erica Jarrell, Sophie
Lewis, Jessica Panayiotou, Gwenllian Pyrs, Evie Roach, Amber Schonert, Niamh Williams, Iona Antwis, Trudy Cowan, Vicky E Irwin, Molly Morrissey, Elizabeth Shermer, Morwenna Talling, Jo Brown, Alba Capell, Jasmine Hazell, Katie Moore, Sara Moreira, Georgie Perris-Redding (cc), Lucie Sams, Kay Searcy
Saracens
Chloe Broom, May Goulding, Leanne Infante, Tori Sellors, Ella Wyrwas, Zoe Harrison, Katie Johnson, Amelia MacDougall, Flo Williams, Beth Blacklock, Sophie Bridger, Hannah Casey, Alysha Corrigan, Sydney Gregson, Emma Hardy, Cara Wardle, Isla Alejandro, Fancy Bermudez, Lucy Biggs, Jess Breach, Lotte Clapp (cc), Paige Farries, Coreen Grant, Chantelle Miell, Jemma-Jo Linkins, Sarah McKenna, May Campbell, Bryony Field, Daisy Fitzgerald, Chloe Flanagan, Bryony Cleall, Kelsey Clifford, Mica Evans, Akina Gondwe, Mica Gooding, McKinley Hunt, Jeanina Loyola, Maya Montiel, Keira Muir,
Donna Rose, Carmen Tremelling, Rosie Galligan, Natalia John, Madison Lawrence, Fiona McIntosh, Louise McMillan, Sophie Tansley, Joia Bennett, Poppy Cleall, Sophie de Goede, Georgia Evans, Emily Eves, Sharifa Kasolo, Lucy Lawford-Wilby, Marlie Packer (cc), Gabrielle Senft, Charlotte Wright-Haley
Trailfinders
Emma Swords, Sophie Molton, Julia Schell, Lauren Knowler, Ellie Lennon, Sophie Ragg, Sophie Shams, Ella Amory, Ellie Boatman, Jess Cooksey, Abby Dow, Amy Wilson Hardy, Courtney Pursglove, Emma Uren, Liz Musgrove, Rosie Inman, Meya Bizer, Megan Brodie, Jo Bucknall, Liz Crake, Sara Seye, Andrea Stock, Alex Zdunek, Élisa Riffonneau, Amanda McQuade, Lindelwa Gwala, Megan Barwick, Tyson Beukeboom, Rowena Burnfield, Shya Pinnock, Charlie Willett, Cristina Blanco, Lauren Brooks, Abi Burton, Charlotte Cheshire, Fiona Cooper, Shannon Ikahihifo, Annabel Meta, Kie Tamai,Kate Zackary
