Jade Konkel ready to chase fairy-tale ending in final PWR season

Sport does not often hand out fairy-tale endings, but Jade Konkel can’t help but dream of ending her career in the Premiership Women’s Rugby final at The Stoop.

The 32-year-old Harlequins captain announced her intention to retire from professional rugby at the end of the season on 11 February, after eight years in west London.

The Quins stalwart will lead her side in a challenging encounter with Gloucester Hartpury this weekend, and as they sit poised in third, the dream ending remains on the cards.

“I’m fantasising right now about us lifting that trophy at the Stoop,” Konkel said.

“There’s obviously still a lot of time to go, but that's a strong aim for us to go after that. That really would be the fairy-tale ending.”

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But after joining Quins in 2018 and being named captain in 2023, seeing her make over 60 appearances in the Quarters, Konkel has already achieved a send-off few are granted.

In fact, choosing to go out on her own terms was one of the key factors in her decision to call time on her career.

“I've always said since the start of my journey, that as much as I can control, I will. If that means finishing on my terms, then I'll do everything I can to do that,” shared Konkel.

“That's because I've seen a lot of people before me that never got this opportunity.

“My body is sore, my body is tired, and I need a few things fixed up which will take me out for x number of months at the end of the season. You never know how that return would be and how you'd come back as well.

“I don't want to get to the point where I drop my standard and I'm disappointed with my performances. You want to make sure that you're finishing good, you're finishing strong and you're finishing for you. For me, that time feels like now.”

Konkel retired from international rugby after the World Cup last summer having racked up 74 caps for Scotland.

They came as part of a career that started in 2017 at Lille and has taken in vast changes in both the PWR and wider interest in women’s rugby.

“The support that's come in has been absolutely incredible with the media around it, how much it's grown, how many fans are now in the stands and how much support there is now,” Konkel reflected.

“Back in the day people had kind of heard of the English league and now it's renowned for being one of, if not the best, in the world.

“And then the competitive nature of the teams as well. The table is so close, you go into each fixture not knowing how it's going to pan out and that's what makes it a really exciting league.

“It raises your heart rate every single week, probably an unhealthy amount, but that’s sport and that’s what makes it enjoyable.”

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Not only has her career included winning the PWR with Quins in 2021, it has also seen her line up all over the field. Most well-known in the no. 8 role, Konkel appeared in the front row in her early years while more recently she has been used as a lock.

And having remained playing at the very top level throughout such change, picking a highlight does not come easily for Konkel.

“There's been so much reflection over the last couple months but it's hard to pinpoint it to one point,” she said.

“The amount of people that I've met at Quins, like past and present players, staff etc, the people have genuinely made Quins this incredible experience for me.

“They have made journey special. There are not really many words for it to be honest.”

But while her announcement has given Konkel a brief pause for reflection, the majority of that will come when the final whistle blows.

Hopefully for Konkel that will come in the PWR final but that will only come if Quins can deliver in the main part of the season.

That will start on Saturday where attention now turns for a trip to reigning champions Gloucester Hartpury, a team they will likely have to overcome if she is to achieve that fairy-tale ending.

“Credit where credit's due, Gloucester are a fantastic side. We know that they're going to come out absolutely firing at the weekend but I also really have faith in us as a squad as well,” she said.

“We're going to turn up on Saturday and make it a really good fight. Player-wise they're absolutely phenomenal, and collectively they're even better but nobody's completely unbeatable.

“It’s what can you do to make the point of difference. Were under no illusions