PWR Round 14 Preview

A final rematch headlines Round 14 of Premiership Women’s Rugby as the league’s top two sides face off on Sunday.

Elsewhere, the weekend kicks off with Loughborough Lightning hosting Harlequins in a must-win match for their top four ambitions.

On Saturday, Exeter Chiefs host Trailfinders in another game with big ramifications in the play-off race, before Sale Sharks look to extend their winning run away to Leicester Tigers.

Loughborough Lightning v Harlequins – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, 7.30pm, live on YouTube

Loughborough Lightning suffered a narrow defeat at Sale last time out and will be hoping a trio of World Cup winners can help them bounce back against Harlequins.

For the first time since they triumphed with the Red Roses, all three of Sadia Kabeya, Helena Rowland and Lilli Ives Campion will start together on Friday night.

Elsewhere Fancy Bermudez comes into the starting lineup on the wing, while Anne Young gets the nod at loosehead prop.

Harlequins have made two changes from the side that lost at home to Saracens last time out, with Lagi Tuima and Ellie Kildunne coming into the backline.

Tuima starts at inside centre, which sees Sarah Parry shift out a spot and Claudia Peña moves to the wing, while Kildunne starts at full-back.

Quins currently sit in fourth spot, nine points clear of Lightning, who have lost their last four games.

Exeter Chiefs v Trailfinders Women – Sandy Park, 12.30pm, live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, BBC Red Button

Third takes on fifth at Sandy Park as Exeter Chiefs welcome Trailfinders Women to Devon with a chance to consolidate their play-off push.

Chiefs earned a try bonus in defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury last time out and are four points clear of their opponents on Saturday.

For this encounter, Exeter welcome back a pair of international hookers as Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald starts and Emily Tuttosi comes onto the bench, while Francesca Granzotto gets the nod on the wing in the only change to the backs.

Trailfinders Women were on a bye last week, but welcome back Meg Jones for this one, starting at outside centre alongside Wales international Carys Cox.

It is all change in the pack from the side that beat Leicester Tigers in February, with skipper Kate Zackary and Rachel Malcolm coming into the back row, while Black Ferns Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Maia Roos and Alana Borland all come into the front five.

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks – Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 3pm, live on YouTube

Sale Sharks have won their last three games to move up to sixth in the league and will be hoping to move even closer to the play-off places when they travel to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Sharks came from behind to see off Loughborough Lightning last time out and make it three in a row for the first time in the club’s history.

Now Tom Hudson will take his team to his former club, with 10 changes to the side including returns to the starting line-up for Beatrice Rigoni, Asia Hogan-Rochester and Courtney Keight.

Leicester have made some changes of their own, with Scotland international Jenny Maxwell getting a start at scrum-half.

Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury – StoneX Stadium, 12.30pm, live on TNT Sports 1, discovery+

Gloucester-Hartpury return to the StoneX Stadium for the first time since they clinched a third successive PWR title at the ground last season.

The Circus are unbeaten since, but sit second in the table having played a game fewer than Sunday’s opponents.

Saracens have made two changes from the side that beat Harlequins, with the one change in the pack seeing Marlie Packer return to the starting line-up.

The other change comes in the centres with Emma Hardy, while in half-backs, Olivia Apps and Zoe Harrison will continue their partnership.

Gloucester-Hartpury, meanwhile, welcome back Emma Sing at full-back, as Rachel Lund comes onto the wing and up front, Bethan Lewis gets the nod in the back row.

Sarries currently sit top by virtue of a better points difference, but have played a game more than their opponents.