PWR Round 9 Preview

Trailfinders Women host Harlequins under the lights as a London Derby kicks off the return of Premiership Women’s Rugby. 

Round 9 marks the end of six long weeks without the PWR, and also sees Bristol Bears host Sale Sharks with seven points separating them. 

Also on Sunday, Exeter Chiefs play Leicester Tigers and Gloucester-Hartpury take on Loughborough Lightning. 

Friday 30 January 

Trailfinders Women v Harlequins – Trailfinders Sports Club - 7:30pm, live on BBC Sport 

The return of the PWR begins with a bang as Trailfinders Women welcome Harlequins to Trailfinders Sports Club. 

The Friday night lights will shine brightly as sixth plays third with only three points between them. 

Trailfinders are without several of the stars with Meg Jones and Julia Schell among those on the sidelines. 

They still boast plenty of power in the pack with Alana Border, Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Georgia Ponsonby in the forwards. 

Quins are able to call on Alex Callender, with the Welsh international making her first start of the season.

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Team News 

Trailfinders Women: 15 Rosie Inman, 14 Grace White, 13 Emma Uren, 12 Carys Cox, 11 Vicky Laflin, 10 Niamh Gallagher, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Maya Montiel, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5 Alana Borland, 6 Rachel Malcolm, 7 Kate Zackary (C), 8 Abi Burton 

Replacements: 16 Cristina Blanco, 17 Annabel Meta, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Emma Taylor, 20. Haidee Head, 21. Isla Norman-Bell, 22. Jess Cooksey, 23. Ellie Boatman 

Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 LaurenTorley, 13 Claudia Pena, 12 Sarah Parry, 11 Freya Aucken, 10 Ella Cromack, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Jessie Spurrier, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Fi McIntosh, 5 Abbie Fleming, 6 Aoife Wafer, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Jade Konkel (C) 

Replacements: 16 Maja Meuller, 17 Silvia Turani, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Maddy Page, 20 Sara Svoboda, 21 Emma Swords, 22. Kayleigh Powell, 23 Beth Wilcock 

Match Officials 

Referee: Charlie Gather 

Assistant Referees: Hamish Grant and Darryl Chapman 

Oval Insights 

Trailfinders Women 

• Trailfinders Women average 4.2 metres per carry this season (1st in league) while accumulating 3,699 carry metres (2nd in league). 

•  Alana Borland leads the league in dominant tackle contacts with 10 while making 93 successful tackles (4th in league). 

• Carys Cox has won a league-leading 4 tackle turnovers this season (1st in league). 

•  Georgia Ponsonby has scored 5 tries this season (5th in league) while winning 45 lineout throws (4th in league). 

Harlequins 

• Harlequins Women have the highest kick metres per kick in the league at 29.7 metres (1st in league). 

• Nicole Wythe ranks 2nd in the league for both dominant contacts (27) and total carries (93). 

• Lucy Packer leads the league with 20 box kicks while contributing 6 try assists (2nd in league). 

• Ellie Kildunne ranks 2nd in the Premiership for both metres made (490) and carry distance (733).