PWR Round 7 Preview

Two of the front runners in Premiership Women’s Rugby face off in Round 7, while there is also a huge battle in the race for the play-off places.

Currently in second, Saracens travel to third-placed Exeter Chiefs in a massive encounter on Saturday, while Harlequins host Sale Sharks in a game that could have huge play-off ramifications.

Not only that, the game is also a first chance for Quins fans to see new signing Aoife Wafer in action after she was named on the bench.

Elsewhere, Trailfinders play host to Leicester Tigers in the opening game of the weekend, while Loughborough Lightning travel to Bristol Bears looking to consolidate their top-four spot.

SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER

Trailfinders Women v Leicester Tigers – Trailfinders Sports Club – 1pm, live on YouTube

A week on from pushing champions Gloucester Hartpury to the limit, Trailfinders Women welcome Leicester Tigers looking for their third win of the season.

Barney Maddison has made a host of changes with Maia Roos making her first start in the second row.

Kate Zackary returns to the starting line-up at No.8, while Ellie Boatman steps into the midfield in place of Meg Jones.

𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈'𝙎 𝙐𝙋 👊

🆕 Kalounivale and Quansah set for debuts
💥 Brincat starts on the blindside
🔗 Cooksey and Boatman link up in the centres

📺 Watch live on PWR YouTube

📲 https://t.co/pI3wZhP72o#TFWvLEI | #FollowTheTrail 💚 pic.twitter.com/Xbgs8iVWGY

— Trailfinders Women (@TrailfindersW) December 12, 2025

Tigers picked up their first point of the season last week after scoring four tries in defeat to Harlequins and will look to kick on.

They have made two changes from that side with Abileigh Priestnall coming in at fly-half, while Lauren Poole gets the nod at loosehead prop.

Trailfinders Women: 15 Niamh Gallagher, 14 Vicky Laflin, 13 Ellie Boatman, 12 Jess Cooksey, 11. Rosie Inman, 10 Ella Amory, 9 Brooke Bradley, 1 Cana Williams, 2 Niamh Swailes, 3 Cassandra Tuffnail, 4 Shya Pinnock, 5 Maia Roos, 6 Cara Brincat, 7 Haidee Head, 8 Kate Zackary (c)

Replacements: 16 Cristina Blanco, 17 Annabel Meta, 18 Tanya Kalounivale, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Grace Moore, 21 Isla Norman-Bell, 22 Celia Quansah, 23 Emma Uren

Leicester Tigers: 15 Kristin Bitter, 14 Charlotte Daley, 13 Emily Henrich, 12 Georgie Lingham, 11 Karolina Kacirkova, 10 Abileigh Priestnall, 9 Eneka Labeyrie; 1 Lauren Poole, 2 Micke Gunter, 3 Nadine Vincent, 4 Deni Ross, 5 Emerson Allen, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson (c), 8 Tiana Gordon

Replacements: 16 Alicia Watkins, 17 Ellie Smith, 18 Beth Cregan, 19 Hermione Farmer, 20 Leah Heath, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Amelie Anstead, 23 Zoe Evans

Referee: Michael Lamb

Assistant Referees: Darryl Chapman and Melanie Sutton

Oval Insights

Trailfinders Women

- Trailfinders Women lead the league in retained kicks percentage (19.5%) and demonstrated defensive excellence with an 83.4% tackle success rate in the latest round (1st).

- Rosie Inman averages 113.2 meters made and 138.7 carry distance per 80 minutes (both 1st).

- The team dominated the carrying metrics in their latest match with 639 carry meters (1st) and 4.7 meters per carry (1st).

Leicester Tigers

- Leicester Tigers Women lead the Premiership in restart retention with 3.8% success rate and recorded one retained restart in the latest round (1st).

- Georgie Lingham leads the league in tackle turnovers won (4) despite recording 22 missed tackles (most).

- Karolina Kacirkova made 4 dominant contacts in the latest round (6th) and averages 3.8 post-contact meters per carry (2nd).

- The team executed 22 kicks in play and 13 bounced kicks in the latest round (both 1st) while maintaining a 92.9% lineout success rate (2nd).

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens – Sandy Park – 3.05pm, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+

Just three points separate Exeter Chiefs and Saracens ahead of their meeting at Sandy Park, with both gunning for play-off places.

As it stands, Saracens sit in second on 25 points, their sole defeat coming to Gloucester Hartpury.

For this trip to Devon, they have a new-look midfield made up of Sophie Bridger and Sydney Gregson, while there are also changes in the back five as Louise McMillan and Georgia Evans are promoted to the starting line-up.

💭 “You're now really starting to see Kevin's influence on the way Saracens are playing."

📖 Catch our dive into the Canadians on both sides of this weekend’s matchup! https://t.co/qmcUJDP1Tt#EXEvSAR | #SheInspires pic.twitter.com/hKZjkIPzzc

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) December 11, 2025

Chiefs, meanwhile, have gone for an unchanged line-up after their bonus-point success against Bristol Bears.

That means another outing for Gabby Cantorna and Alex Tessier in the midfield, while Gabriella Nigrelli and Merryn Elworthy come onto the bench.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sabrina Poulin, 14 Katie Buchanan, 13 Alexandra Tessier, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Francesca Granzotto, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson (vc); 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, 3 Amy Rule, 4 Linda van der Velden, 5 Abby Duguid, 6 Dorothy Wall, 7 Maisy Allen (vc), 8 Emily Robinson (c)

Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 ⁠Demi Swann, 18 DaLeaka Menin, 19 ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 20 ⁠Zoë Dare, 21 ⁠Lucy Nye, 22 Naomi Brennan, 23 Merryn Elworthy

Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 Zoe Harrison (c), 9 Olivia Apps; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 May Campbell, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Georgia Evans, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Julia Omokhuale

Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 Liz Crake, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Gabrielle Senft, 20 Poppy Cleall, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Emma Hardy, 23 Jemma-Jo Linkins

Referee: Jamie Parr

Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum and Holly Wood

Oval Insights

Exeter Chiefs

- Exeter Chiefs lead the Premiership in carries (881) and recorded a round-high 212 successful tackles.

- Dorothy Wall dominated defensively with 3 dominant tackle contacts (round-best) and averages 24.6 successful tackles per 80 minutes (1st).

- The team controls possession effectively with a league-leading 266 total team possessions this season and 41 in the latest round (2nd).

Saracens

- Saracens Women top the Premiership with 41 tries scored and 263 total points this season (both 1st in league).

- Poppy Cleall leads the league in offloads (19) while adding 4 try assists (3rd in league).

- Zoe Harrison has been exceptional from the tee with 22 successful goals (1st) and an 81.5% goal kicking success rate (2nd).

- The team commands territory with 113 possessions in opposition half (1st) and their dominant carries have produced a league-leading 3,292 carry meters this season.

Harlequins v Sale Sharks – Twickenham Stoop – 5.30pm, live on BBC iPlayer

At long last, Aoife Wafer will make her Harlequins debut after being named on the bench for their meeting with Sale Sharks.

The Ireland flanker, who was named Player of the Championship in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, has had to bide her time since moving across to London.

But now fully fit, she will be itching to make a big impression in her first competitive rugby since the World Cup quarter-finals.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Carys Phillips at Hooker
🔙 Sara Svoboda returns to the side
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Coreen Grant on the right wing
🥇 First PWR appearance for Zara Green
🎓 Debut for Aoife Wafer

Full Team News 👇#COYQ | #HARvLEI

— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) December 12, 2025

Quins have stuck with much of the team that swept past Leicester last week, although Coreen Grant comes onto the wing, while Jessie Spurrier gets the nod at loosehead prop.

Sale, meanwhile, arrive off the back of a bye and will be looking to build on a draw with Exeter Chiefs in their last game.

Holly Aitchison will be charged with pulling the strings from fly-half, with fellow World Cup winner Morwenna Talling waiting to make an impact off the bench.

Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Claudia Pena, 12 Sarah Parry, 11 Beth Wilcock, 10 Ella Cromack, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Jessie Spurrier, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Fi McIntosh, 5 Jade Konkel (c), 6 Nicole Wythe, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u

Replacements: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Zara Green, 18 Ruby Winstanley, 19 Abbie Fleming, 20 Aoife Wafer, 21 Lucy Burgess, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Freya Aucken

Sale Sharks: 15 Lizzie Duffy, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Laura Perrin, 12 Katana Howard, 11 Shona Campbell, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Amy Relf, 1 Tysh Harper, 2 Amelia Hyndman, 3 Nick James, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 6 Georgie Perris-Redding (c), 7 Katie Childs, 8 Sharifa Kasolo. 

Replacements: 16 Leah Bartlett, 17 Gwen Pyrs, 18 Sophie Benavent, 19 Morwenna Talling, 20 Iona Antwis, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Evie Wills, 23 Trudy Cowan.  

Referee: Nikki O’Donnell

Assistant Referees: Calum Howard and Fiona Brunt

Oval Insights

Harlequins

- Harlequins Women dominated the scoring charts in their latest round with 8 tries and 56 points (both 1st).

- Ellie Kildunne has gained 365 meters (4th) and created 9 initial breaks (joint 1st) this season.

- Nicole Wythe recorded 6 dominant contacts in the latest round (most) and ranks 3rd in the league with 72 carries.

- Carys Phillips scored 3 tries in the latest round (most) while her lineout throwing has contributed to the team's 86.4% lineout success rate (1st in league).

Sale Sharks

- Sale Sharks Women lead the Premiership in attacking catch success (4) and fifty-twenty-two kicks (3).

- Rhona Lloyd has scored 5 tries (2nd) and leads the league in attacking catch success (3).

- Holly Aitchison ranks 2nd in the league for kicks in play (50) and joint 1st for retained kicks (9).

- The team has scored a league-leading 4 maul tries and is the only team to record a penalty try from a maul this season.

SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER

Bristol Bears v Loughborough Lightning – Shaftesbury Park – 3pm, live on YouTube

Losing semi-finalists a year ago, Bristol Bears have started this campaign slowly and know that they cannot afford to let too many more points slip away if they want to make the play-offs.

A team packed with international experience will welcome Loughborough Lightning to Shaftesbury Park, with Black Ferns fly-half Ruahei Demant combining with Tilly Ryall in the half-backs.

5⃣0⃣ up for @AbbieWard93
🇨🇦 Pamphinette Buisa set for debut
🔁 Tilly Ryall in at sc rum half

Here's our @ThePWR team news for Sunday 📰👇#BRIvLOU | #BristolBears

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) December 12, 2025

Abbie Ward captains a largely unchanged team, with the backline threats of Reneeqa Bonner, Emma Orr and Millie David just waiting for their chance to strike.

Lightning lost to Saracens last weekend but have made a promising start to the campaign overall.

Bulou Mataitoga comes onto the wing for this game, recovered from a head injury, in the only change to the side.

Currently sat in fourth spot, Lightning have the league’s third best defence so far, with two wins and a draw from their first five games.

Bristol Bears: 15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Savannah Picton-Powell, 11 Millie David, 10 Ruahei Demant, 9 Tilly Ryall; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Amy Dale, 3 Elliann Clarke, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Abbie Ward (c), 6 Christiana Balogun, 7 Jenny Herring, 8 Evie Gallagher

Replacements: 16 Jess Sprague, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Aisha Jah, 19 Pamphinette Buisa, 20 Gwennan Hopkins, 21 Seren Singleton, 22 Lucie Skuse, 23 Jasmine Joyce

Loughborough Lightning: 15 Lucia Scott, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Lis Maude; 1 Anne Young, 2 Lucy Calladine, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Rachel Ehrecke, 6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui

Replacements: 16 Kathryn Treder, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Kendall Waudby, 21 Tahlia Brody, 22 Megan Davey, 23 Lia Green

Referee: Mike Hudson

Assistant Referees: Mike Woods and Holly Wood

Oval Insights

Bristol Bears

- Bristol Bears Women lead the Premiership in turnovers won (44) and jackals (22).

- Evie Gallagher won 4 turnovers in the latest round (most) and leads the league in defensive ruck entries (58).

- Ella Lovibond topped the latest round with 156 carry distance and 130 meters made.

Loughborough Lightning

- Loughborough Lightning lead the league in kick meters per kick (29.9) and won 88.9% of their scrums in the latest round (1st).

- Alev Kelter has beaten 33 defenders this season (1st) while making 418 carry meters (9th).

- Helen Nelson ranks 2nd for kick meters (1,633) and leads the league with 9 retained kicks.

- Haineala Lutui and Lilli Ives Campion drive the physical battle, with Lutui leading in carries (75) and post-contact meters (135), while Campion tops the defensive charts with 8 dominant tackle contacts.