PWR Round 2 Preview: team news for Sunday double header at Trailfinders and Exeter Chiefs

Sale Sharks make their 2024/25 bow in Premiership Women’s Rugby on Saturday as they take on Saracens under the lights in Round 2. 

Harlequins get the weekend underway as they take on defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury with the hosts looking to avenge their late defeat to Exeter Chiefs from the opening weekend. 

Also in the capital, Trailfinders Women host Loughborough Lightning on Sunday with both looking for their first win before Chiefs round out the weekend at Sandy Park as they play Leicester Tigers. 

SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER 

Harlequins v Gloucester-Hartpury – Twickenham Stoop – 3pm 

Harlequins and Gloucester-Hartpury suffered contrasting fortunes in their opening games of the season. 

Gloucester-Hartpury weathered a storm against Leicester Tigers before pulling away to get their title defence off to a perfect start, while Quins suffered late heartbreak to lose by a point to Exeter Chiefs. 

Quins face a tough task to bounce back but can call on three Olympians among the backs to give them a dynamic attack. 

Heather Cowell joins Grace Crompton and Lauren Torley to make up an all-Team GB back three. 

50 up 🏏

Sheree Cooper is in line to make her 50th @HarlequinsWomen appearance demo the bench tomorrow.#PWR | #PoweredDifferently https://t.co/e5wkbutaTN

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) October 11, 2024

The Cherry & Whites have brought in Jade Shekells for her first start for the club as she partners Pip Hendy in the centres.

Emma Sing continues at full-back after a sensational performance last weekend while the forward pack is unchanged from the win over Tigers.

Match Officials

Referee: Jonathan Cook

Assistant Referees: Calum Howard and Darryl Chapman

Fourth Official: Niamh Hennessy

Team News

Harlequins

15 Lauren Torley, 14 Heather Cowell, 13 Lisa Neumann, 12 Lagi Tuima (C), 11 Grace Crompton, 10 Ella Cromack, 9 Freya Aucken; 1 Jessie Spurrier, 2 Maja Meuller, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Harriet Millar-Mills, 5 Lauren Brooks, 6 Nicole Wythe, 7 Izzy Hannay, 8 Sara Svoboda

Replacements: 16 Nicola Haynes, 17 Sheree Cooper, 18 Hannah Duffy, 19 Tyla Shirley, 20 Lucy Heryet, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Sarah Parry, 23 Katie Shillaker

Gloucester Hartpury

15 Emma Sing, 14 Charlotte Woodman, 13 Jade Shekells, 12 Pip Hendy, 11 Rachel Lund, 10 Millie Hyett, 9 Bianca Blackburn; 1 El Perry, 2 Amy Dale, 3 Ranni Samuda, 4 Beth Stafford, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Steph Else (C), 7 Tabitha Copson, 8 Gwennan Hopkins

Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 Alisha Smith, 18 Megan Lewis, 19 Robyn Davies, 20 Gemma Bell, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Charlie-Mai Manns, 23 Carys Williams-Morris

How to Watch

The match is live on the Harlequins YouTube channel.

Oval Insights

Harlequins

• Last weekend, Nicole Wythe made more carries than any other player (22). Teammates Lagi Tuima and Sara Svoboda also made 17 apiece (joint-second).
• Lauren Torley beat ten defenders in Round 1 – more than any other player. She also won two turnovers.
• A league-high 35% of Harlequins’ possessions ended with kicks last weekend. Consequently, they had more possessions in the opposition half than any other team (24).

Gloucester-Hartpury

• Emma Sing’s match rating last weekend was the highest of the round: 9.5. She scored a round-high 22 points, two tries, made 193 metres, four clean breaks, and beat nine defenders.
• Jade Shekells played 29 minutes off the bench last week. In that time, she made 78 metres, a clean break, assisted a try, and won three turnovers.
• A higher percentage of Gloucester-Hartpury’s passes were long in Round 1 than any other team (75%). They averaged the second-fewest phases per possession last weekend (2.7).

Sale Sharks v Saracens – CorpAcq Stadium – 7pm

Margot Julia will make her debut in the centres for Sale Sharks as they get their PWR campaign underway against Saracens.

She will be partnered by Laura Perrin, while India Perris-Redding is named at scrum half on her return from a shoulder injury.

💬 "It would mean everything to qualify..."

With ambitions of playing at next year's @rugbyworldcup in her sights, we heard from @ferugby and @SaleSharksWomen flanker Alba Capell ahead of a crunch WXV clash 👇https://t.co/QVgfDO1LIO#PWR | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/q7PDU8p6VP

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) October 11, 2024

The forwards see Detysha Harper captain from tighthead prop, with Sophie Lewis and Amelia Hyndman completing the front row.

Saracens were pushed all the way in their opening match against Trailfinders and Alex Austerberry has rewarded the side by making minimal changes.

Lucy Lawford-Wilby will make her PWR debut in the back row while Leanne Infante and Sydney Gregson come into the side, the latter making their first appearance of the season.

Match Officials

Referee: Charlie Gayther

Assistant Referees: Gregg Dawson and Simon Park

Fourth Official: Adam White

Team News

Sale Sharks

15 Nikita Prothero, 14 Sophie Hopkins, 13 Izzy McGuire-Evans, 12 Laura Perrin, 11 Lauren Delany, 10 Vicky A Irwin, 9 India Perris-Redding; 1 Sophie Lewis, 2 Amelia Hyndman, 3 Detysha Harper, 4 Polly Bowman, 5 Iona Antwis, 6 Trudy Cowan, 7 Kay Searcy, 8 Jo Brown

Replacements: 16 Amber Schonert, 17 Alice Iwanejko, 18 Nick James, 19 Marion Ridgway, 20 Jasmine Hazell, 21 Eloise Hayward, 22 Alicia Carlton, 23 Katie Moore

Saracens

15⁠ ⁠⁠Jemma-Jo Linkins, 14 ⁠⁠Sydney Gregson, 13 Emma Hardy, 12 Sarah McKenna (CC) 11 ⁠⁠Isla Alejandro, 10⁠ ⁠⁠Amelia MacDougall, 9⁠ ⁠⁠Leanne Infante; 1⁠ ⁠Akina Gondwe, 2. Bryony Field, 3⁠ ⁠⁠Carmen Tremelling, 4⁠ ⁠⁠Joia Bennett, 5⁠ ⁠⁠Sophie Tansley, 6⁠ ⁠⁠Lucy Lawford-Wilby, 7⁠ ⁠⁠May Campbell (CC), 8⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall

Replacements: 16⁠ ⁠⁠Daisy Fitzgerald, 17⁠ ⁠⁠Maya Montiel, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Chloe Flanagan. 19⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Cleall 20⁠ ⁠⁠Cara Wardle, 21⁠ ⁠⁠Tori Sellors, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Beth Blacklock, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Chantelle Miell

How to Watch

The match is live on Global Yo.

Oval Insights

Sale Sharks

• Detysha Harper made nine offloads in the PWR Up series – more than any other player. She made 30 carries in two matches (joint-5th).
• 11.8% of the Sharks’ kicks in PWR Up were off the left boot – a higher percentage than any other team. They also kicked contestable the most (23.3%).
• The Sharks made more entries to the opposition 22 than any other team in PWR Up (34). However, they came away with just 1.9 points per entry (7th).

Saracens

• Sharifa Kasolo made a round-high nine dominant carries last weekend. Teammates May Campbell and Isla Alejandro made seven and five respectively.
• May Campbell was the only player in Round 1 who made three dominant tackles. Akina Gondwe, Tori Sellors, and Amelia MacDougall also made two apiece.
• Saracens’ gainline success rate was the highest in Round 1 (70.7%). They also made the most post-contact metres (241).

SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER

Trailfinders Women v Loughborough Lightning – Trailfinders Sports Ground – 12:45pm

Trailfinders Women will look to follow their strong showing against Saracens with Loughborough Lightning on Sunday.

The London club lost out in the closing stages against their crosstown rivals, and have made four changes to their starting line-up.

From end to end 💨

Grace White's break set the perfect platform for this Vicky Laflin 🔥#PWR | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/OgpRuNPF2O

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) October 9, 2024

Sally Williams has come into the back row while Ellie Boatman and Kendra Cousineau form a new-look centre partnership.

Francesca Goldthorp is straight into the starting line-up having returned to Loughborough Lightning this week.

The cross-codes star was most recently playing rugby league in the NRLW for North Queesland Cowboys having departed Lightning for Australia in 2023.

Goldthorp is named at full-back while England U20 winger Evelyn Clarke makes her first PWR start on the wing, with Ellie Tromans handed a Lightning debut among the centres.

Match Officials

Referee: Hamish Grant

Assistant Referees: Jamie Parr and Veryan Boscawen

Fourth Official: Katie Gent

Team News

Trailfinders Women

15 Vicky Laflin, 14 Rosie Inman, 13 Ellie Boatman, 12 Kendra Cousineau, 11 Grace White, 10 Ella Amory, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Kie Tamai, 2 Kat Evans, 3 Kira Leat, 4 Emma Taylor (C), 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Sally Williams, 7 Abi Burton, 8 Annabel Meta

Replacements: 16 Alicia Watkins, 17 Eloise Harris, 18 Mica Evans, 19 Rowena Burnfield, 20 Megan Barwick, 21 Sarah Denholm, 22 Amy Wilson-Hardy, 23 Emma Uren

Loughborough Lightning

15 Francesca Goldthorp, 14 Evelyn Clarke, 13 Ellie Tromans, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Ellen Scantlebury, 10 Lia Green, 9 Alicia Maude; 1 Amelia Williams, 2 Lucy Calladine, 3 Isla Curphey, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Issy Winter, 6 Becky Boyd, 7 Kendall Waudby, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (C)

Replacements: 16 Katherine Baverstock, 17 Laura Keates, 18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19 Keevy Fitzpatrick, 20 Lucy Finch, 21 Ellie Roberts, 22 Megan Davey, 23 Cieron Bell

How To Watch

The match is live on TNT Sports.

Oval Insights

Trailfinders Women

• Vicky Laflin scored three tries in the opening weekend of the PWR – as many as any other player. She also made the joint-most clean breaks (six) and beat nine defenders (2nd).
• In Round 1, Trailfinders scored a league-high average of 4.1 points per 22 entry. When they made a line break, they scored a try in the same phase 64.3% of the time – the best conversion rate of the round.
• Trailfinders made the joint-most offloads in Round 1, a total of 16. Individually, Rosie Inman made three.

Loughborough Lightning

• Lucy Calladine scored two tries last weekend – as many as any other forward. Her match rating of 6.7 saw her enter the Round 1 Team of the Week.
• Lightning had the best gainline success rate in Round 1 (86.7%). Two of their three tries came from lineouts.
• Lightning’s tackle success rate was the lowest in Round 1 (68.3%); they missed a total of 39 tackles. However, they made eight dominant tackles (2nd).

Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers – Sandy Park – 3pm

Nancy McGillivray makes her first appearance since the 2022/23 season for Exeter Chiefs against Leicester Tigers on the side’s return to Sandy Park.

McGillivray starts at outside centre after 17 months out, with Naomi Brennan switching to No.12 in an otherwise unchanged team from the one that defeated Quins 8-7 at the death last week.

The 21-year-old said: “I’ve thinking about this moment since I did my knee. It’s very exciting but it feels a bit surreal right now.

Guess who's excited to play in front of our #ChiefsFamily this week! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️#EXEvLEI | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/1W9uFT94vn

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) October 10, 2024

“It’s definitely been tough. Last year, I did not play a single bit of rugby.

“It’s hard being out of the team and not playing, but they have been so supportive and I felt I was always part of this team it no matter what.”

Leicester Tigers have named new signing Jenny Maxwell as captain on her first start for the club as they ring the changes from their loss to Gloucester-Hartpury.

Maxwell is one of seven changes to the XV with Ellie Smith and Eeva Pohjanheimo also among the five players handed their first PWR starts for the Tigers.

Match Officials

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Assistant Referees: Ben Simpson and Simon Adams

Fourth Official: Scott Baker

Team News

Exeter Chiefs

15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Naomi Brennan, 11 Georgina Tasker, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson; 1 Demi Swann, 2 Clara Nielson, 3 Flo Long, 4 Poppy Leitch (C), 5 Niamh Orchard, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Emily Robinson

Replacements: 16 Millie Whitehouse, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Stef Evans, 19 Taz Bricknell, 20 Zara Feaunati, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Ellie Cunningham, 23 Sabrina Poulin

Leicester Tigers

15 Amanda Swartz, 14 Zoë Evans, 13 Evie Wills, 12 Katie Childs, 11 Elin Beaver, 10 Sarah Nicholas, 9 Jenny Maxwell (C); 1 Ellie Smith, 2 Alana Bainbridge, 3 Nadine Vincent, 4 Leah Heath, 5 Eeva Pohjanheimo, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Rowann Sinclair

Replacements: 16 Nikki Simpson, 17 Zainab Alema, 18 Sophie Benavent, 19 Charlotte Fray, 20 Abi Bowes, 21 Amy Relf, 22 Charlotte Daley, 23 Celia Quansah

How to Watch

The match is live on Exeter Chiefs YouTube channel.

Exeter Chiefs

• Six of the top seven tacklers in Round 1 were Chiefs players; Maisy Allen made a round-high 26 and won three turnovers.
• Liv McGoverne made more kicks in play than any other player last weekend (11) and the second-most kick in play metres (334).
• Exeter conceded more penalties than any other team in Round 1 (16). They conceded 205 penalty kick metres as a result (7th).

Leicester Tigers

• Jordan Russell made more offloads than any other forward last weekend (four). She also assisted two tries.
• Tigers made more dominant carries than any other team in Round 1, accounting for a league-high 40.3% of their carries.
• 30.8% of the Tigers’ kicks were contestable last weekend – more than any other team. They retained two of their 13 kicks.