Season Preview: Trailfinders Women

Having acted as the Red Roses’ ‘Chief Drummer’ this summer, Abi Burton is now banging the drum for Trailfinders Women with an exciting PWR season ahead.

The 25-year-old back row was part of England’s World Cup-winning squad in September but will now return to west London aiming to make waves in a highly-ambitious Trailfinders squad.

She will likely play a very different role to that which she assumed with the Red Roses, as a firm starter at No.8 for Trailfinders, but Burton understands the importance of strong squad depth.

“I was Chief Drummer by the end of the [World Cup]. When you get into tournaments, there are some people who play and some people who won't play but your role is just as important,” she reflected.

“My role ended up being running opposition for the starting team in the week and for the girls on the bench. Then on the weekend, it was to make as much noise as humanly possible to get the crowd going.

“You take those roles seriously when it means so much to you. It’s such a silly little thing, banging the drum but to be able to keep the support going for the girls, you just want to do everything to help them win. That was my role to play.”

Round One ⏳

We return to the PWR this Saturday - will you be there? #FollowTheTrail 💚 pic.twitter.com/D1anSUDONf

— Trailfinders Women (@TrailfindersW) October 20, 2025

It was a squad depth that helped the Red Roses make history as they lifted World Cup trophy at Allianz Stadium in front of an 82,000-strong crowd.

And with sizeable investment in Trailfinders Women this summer, squad depth is something fans can expect as Burton and her team target new heights domestically, too.

“The goal is for us to come top four,” asserted Burton. “That's always been the goal,  even without these signings the goal would have always stayed the same, but the new signings will help us get there quicker.

“One of the biggest things is that we want to be able to compete, and with the support that we have within the club, it gives us the opportunity to compete. 

“[Looking] towards Christmastime, I would love for us to gel. People think that if you put loads of new signings together, [it means] we're going to win the PWR.

“Of course, we want to win the PWR, that's why we all play rugby, but it's not going to happen overnight.”

While Burton might want to temper expectations in the short term, there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to change at Trailfinders this season.

The side have made some statement signings with players arriving fresh from the World Cup. Burton will be joined by England teammate and World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Meg Jones who makes the switch from Leicester Tigers.

There are also a host of Scottish internationals making the move from the East Midlands to London as Rachel Malcolm and Emma Wassell join from Loughborough Lightning and Francesca McGhie also joins from Leicester.

Recruitment has come from further afield too, with hooker Georgia Ponsonby and flanker/lock Alana Borland becoming two of the first Black Ferns to join the PWR after Amy Rule made the switch to Exeter Chiefs.

“They're excited to have a go and to see where they come up. They’ll be an incredible asset to the squad,” said Burton.

“Both of them winning the last World Cup, the Red Roses winning this World Cup, we just add such a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, and we already have winners within the squad, so naturally winners want to win.

“They will just raise the standard so much, and they're both incredible players as well.

“They've been on the world stage for years and years and performed at the highest level, so they're a real credit to the team, and we're so excited to have them.”

Surrounded by a packed squad, Burton is aiming for consistent minutes of her own as she sets her sights on playing a key role a potential Trailfinders play-off charge.

That will start with a home clash against Exeter Chiefs on 25 October and Burton hopes will culminate with a far bigger role in the World Cup-winning Red Roses squad.

“I would like to play some consistent rugby. I want to put myself in the best possible position come Six Nations to be ready to put my hand up for a starting shirt in [the England squad,” she said.

“Hopefully I can show exactly what I'm about this season and then, ultimately, good performances will lead to rewards at the end.

“I also want to make sure that I'm performing well for the girls in the team so then we can get the wins at the end of the season.”

What is new at Trailfinders Women?

Trailfinders have made 17 new signings heading into the new season, adding both strength and depth to their squad.

It speaks to the ambition of a club that only joined the top flight in 2023 as they hope to shake up the established order in the top four.

Names like Meg Jones, Fran McGhie and their Black Ferns duo certainly seem to put them on the right path to that aim, even having lost the services of World Cup winner Abby Dow.

At the helm, Barney Maddison provides consistency at the helm and will hope to help steer the club closer to that ultimate aim of a maiden PWR title.