ALLIANZ PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY: ROUND 9 PREVIEW

Round 9 of the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby sees the two remaining unbeaten records clash, as Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens go head-to-head on Saturday.

Both sides are yet to blink this term and will hope to land the first blow of the season on their opponent as the battle at the top hots up.

The TV cameras will be in attendance for what should be a cracker at Kingsholm, with the action live on TNT Sports and Discovery+.

Elsewhere, the action on Saturday starts first at Ashton Gate as Bristol Bears welcome Harlequins to the West Country.

Bears will hope to notch another win as they try and keep pace at the top, while Quins are looking for a second away in on the bounce.

Saturday also sees Loughborough Lightning host Trailfinders Women, while the lone game on Sunday is Sale Sharks versus Leicester Tigers.

Saturday 20 January

Bristol Bears v Harlequins (Shaftesbury Park) – 1pm

Holly Aitchison and Gabriella Nigrelli both return to the starting XV for Bristol Bears, fresh from their inclusion in the first Red Roses training camp of the year.

Uncapped Nigrelli starts at number eight in a pack boasting a wealth of international talent, with international colleagues Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward also set to start. Hannah Botterman is amongst the replacements but Sarah Bern is out with injury.

Harlequins make just one change, with Hannah Sims packing down alongside Connie Powell and Bryony Cleall in the front row. 

Team News

Bristol Bears: 15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Meg Varley, 13 Meryl Smith, 12 Amber Reed, 11 Deborah Wills, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Lucy Burgess; 1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Elliann Clarke, 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Gabriella Nigrelli

Replacements: 16 Lana Skeldon, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Holly Phillips, 19 Hollie Cunningham, 20 Rownita Marston-Mulhearn, 21 Christiana Balogun, 22 Keira Bevan, 23 Grace Crompton

Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Freya Aucken, 13 Lagi Tuima, 12 Rachael Burford (c), 11 Beth Wilcock, 10 Emily Scott, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Hannah Sims, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Bryony Cleall, 4 Danelle Lochner, 5 Kaitlan Leaney, 6 Ciara Cooney, 7 Abbie Fleming, 8 Shaunagh Brown

Replacements: 16 Silvia Turani, 17 Sheree Cooper, 18 Babalwa Latsha, 19 Lucy Hereto, 20 Aseza Hele, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Ella Cromack, 23 Izzy Mayhew

How to Watch

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

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens (Kingsholm) – 2pm

Natasha 'Mo' Hunt returns to captain Gloucester-Hartpury as one of six changes for their top-of-the-table clash with Saracens.

Hunt is one of two changes in the backs, with Emma Sing returning at full-back while El Perry and Kelsey Jones come into the front row, as Alex Matthews also returns.

Saracens also make a number of changes, with Kelsey Clifford, Emma Taylor and Georgia Evans all coming into the pack.

Sophie Bridger is set to start against her former side with Leanne Infante the only new face in the backs at scrum-half.

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Cath Richards, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Rachel Lund, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt (c); 1 El Perry, 2. Kelsey Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Sam Monaghan, 6 Georgia Brock, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews

Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Kathyn Buggy, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Steph Else, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Pip Hendy, 23 Nel Metcalfe

Saracens: 15 ⁠⁠Jess Breach, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Clapp (cc), 10 ⁠⁠Amelia MacDougall, 9⁠ ⁠⁠Leanne Infante; 1 McKinley Hunt, 2 ⁠⁠May Campbell, 3⁠ ⁠⁠Kelsey Clifford, 4⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Taylor, 5⁠ ⁠⁠Rosie Galligan, 6⁠ ⁠⁠Georgia Evans, 7⁠ ⁠⁠Marlie Packer (cc), 8⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall

Replacements: 16⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 17 ⁠⁠Akina Gondwe, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Donna Rose, 19⁠ ⁠⁠Louise McMillan, 20⁠ ⁠⁠Grace Moore, 21⁠ ⁠⁠Ella Wyrwas, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Beth Blacklock, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Coreen Grant

How to Watch

Watch live on TNT Sports and Discovery+. Highlights will be available on the PWR YouTube channel on Monday.

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Loughborough Lightning v Trailfinders Women (Loughborough University) – 2pm

Helen Nelson returns to the midfield for Loughborough Lightning as they welcome Trailfinders Women to Epinal Way.

Nelson is one of three changes that also sees Catherine O'Donnell and Katie Trevarthen return to the pack.

Trailfinders make seven changes, with captain Tyson Beukeboom coming into the second row alongside Rowena Burnfield, who moves from number eight.

Kate Zackary takes her place at the back of the scrum, with Julia Schell moving into the centres to make room for the new half-back pairing of Emma Swords and Ellie Green.

Team News

Loughborough Lightning: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Georgina Tasker, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 12 Helen Nelson, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Megan Davey; 1 Katie Trevarthen, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Catherine O’Donnell, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones

Replacements: 16 Maja Meuller, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19 Abby Duguid, 20 Lili Ives Campion, 21 Hallie Taufoou, 22 Jess Weaver, 23 Carys Williams-Morris

Trailfinders Women: 15 Rosie Inman, 14 Vicky Laflin, 13 Julia Schell, 12 Carys Cox, 11 Abby Dow, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Emma Swords; 1 Liz Crake, 2 Elisa Riffonneau, 3 Sara Seye, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (c), 5 Rowena Burnfield, 6 Cristina Blanco, 7 Megan Barwick, 8 Kate Zackary

Replacements: 16 Andrea Stock, 17 Cassandra Tuffnail, 18 Shannon Ikahihifo, 19 Shya Pinnock, 20 Charlie Willett, 21 Amanda McQuade, 22 Sophie Molton, 23 Jess Cooksey

How to Watch

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

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Sunday 21 January

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers (Chester RFC) – 4pm

Erica Jarrell is set for her Sale Sharks debut as she lines up in the second-row for the visit of Leicester Tigers.

Jarrell packs down alongside Iona Antwis in the engine room, with Sara Tounesi and captain Georgie Perris-Redding in the back row.

Tigers make two changes to the pack for their trip to the North West, with Eva Donaldson and Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele returning to the forwards.

In the backs, Claire Gallagher is set for her start for Tigers, as she partners Meg Jones in the centres, while Tess Feury and Amanda Swartz return to the back three.

Team News

Sale Sharks: 15 Vicky A Irwin, 14 Nikita Prothero, 13 Eti Haungatau, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Hollie Bawden, 10 Mino Yamamoto, 9 Sian Jones; 1 Anne Young, 2 Molly Kelly, 3 Nick James, 4 Erica Jarrell, 5 Iona Antwis, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (c), 8 Sara Tounesi

Replacements: 16 Niamh Swailes, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Detysha Harper, 19 Polly Bowman, 20 Kay Searcy, 21 Mhairi Grieve, 22 Katana Howard, 23 Laura Perrin

Leicester Tigers: 15 Amanda Swartz, 14 Tess Feury, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Claire Gallagher, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Natasha Jones (c), 9 Amy Relf; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Elis Martin, 3 Lisa Cockburn, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Becky Noon, 6 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Tahlia Brody

Replacements: 16 Alana Bainbridge, 17 Churchy Knight, 18 Catha Jacobs, 19 Charlotte Fray, 20 Julia Omokhuale, 21 Roisin McBrien, 22 Lucy Nye, 23 Sarah Nicholas

How to Watch

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

Match Stats

Check out all the pre-match stats by clicking here.