26-27 JAECOO PWR FIXTURE ANNOUNCEMENT

Ellie Kildunne will return to the Stoop in the very first week of the JAECOO PWR season while Sale Sharks’ incoming Gloucester Hartpury contingent welcome their former team in Round 1.

The fixture release has thrown up a host of familiar faces doing battle with their former clubs in the opening round of the 2026/27 season, with games played over the weekend of November 20-22.

Now a Bristol Bear, Kildunne will be off to Harlequins in Round 1 for a meeting with her former teammates, as well as Red Roses colleague Marlie Packer, who has swapped London clubs over the summer.

Meanwhile, the influx of Gloucester Hartpury players at Sale Sharks will get an immediate chance to catch up with former teammates when The Circus head to the Morson Arena.

The quartet of Tatyana Heard, Zoe Stratford, Sarah Beckett and Kelsey Jones have all swapped Queensholm for the North-West.

And after regular battles at international level, usually in Grand Slam deciders, Heard could potentially face off with her successor in the Gloucester Hartpury midfield, France centre Gabrielle Vernier who has arrived in England this season.

There are also some intriguing face-offs in the very first game of the season at Franklin’s Gardens, where Loughborough Lightning will host Trailfinders Women.

The London club made their first appearance in the semi-finals last season, getting all the way to the final before losing to Saracens.

And they will start the new season with two significant arrivals from Loughborough, as Scotland playmaker Helen Nelson and prolific winger Bo Westcombe-Evans have both made the move south.

Last but not least, reigning champions Saracens will kick off their campaign at home to Leicester Tigers.

While Packer has moved on after playing a leading role for Saracens over so many years, they still have a host of star performers to call upon as they defend their title.

Fixtures have been announced over the first eight rounds of the season, through to the weekend of January 15-17.

After a bye on the opening weekend, Exeter Chiefs will be the final team to get their season underway, starting out at Shaftesbury Park against Bristol Bears in Round 2.

Meanwhile, the New Year will bring one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season, when last season’s finalists, Trailfinders, get their first shot at revenge when they host Saracens on January 2 at Trailfinders Sports Club.

See the full fixtures HERE.