The PWR Cup is back to kick off a memorable season of elite women's rugby

The PWR Cup is back to kick off a memorable season of elite women's rugby

Premiership Women’s Rugby is proud to announce the return of the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) Cup for the 2025–26 season. A bold, future-focused tournament designed to spotlight and accelerate the next generation of English rugby talent.

The PWR Cup will start on Saturday, 23 August 2025, culminating in a showcase final on the weekend of 11-12 October, allowing PWR to celebrate the Rugby World Cup. The pool stages will run alongside the global tournament, allowing fans and players to celebrate rugby together. The PWR Cup Final will be staged two weeks after the Rugby World Cup Final, and will be broadcast live on PWR's YouTube channel.

Click here to see all the PWR Cup fixtures

Now firmly established as a cornerstone of the elite women’s rugby calendar, the PWR Cup offers a high-performance, competitive platform for emerging stars, bridging the critical gap between academy development and full Premiership and international squads.

“The PWR Cup is where fearless, next-generation talent meets elite competition,” said PWR’s League and Operations Manager, Amy Walmsley. 

“It’s a key part of our vision to build a thriving and inspiring future for women’s rugby in England — one that starts with opportunity. 

“The PWR Cup competition celebrates development, ambition, and bold, entertaining rugby.”

The Cup was last staged in the 2023-24 season with Saracens triumphing over Bristol Bears, 31-17, in a memorable Final at Shaftsbury Park. Click here to relive that Final

In the Saracens side in that Final was Amelia MacDougall, who said: "The PWR Cup holds a special place in my journey — winning it in 2024 was a huge moment, both personally and for our club. It gave me the platform to test myself and grow in a high-performance environment.”

“I know just how vital the PWR Cup is. It’s more than a tournament — it’s a launchpad.

"I can’t wait for the 2025–26 season to kick off. The PWR Cup is where young players step up and make their mark. It’s exciting, fast rugby — and that’s what makes it so exciting to be part of."

As the PWR Cup takes place during Rugby World Cup it gives the PWR clubs the chance to further strengthen their ties to local grassroots clubs and their fans. 

Harlequins are playing their two home fixtures at Cobham RFC and Horsham RFC, while Leicester Tigers will be taking games to Burton RFC and Lichfield RFC.

Holders Saracens kick off their campaign with a reunion against the Bears, this time at the StoneX Stadium at 3pm on Saturday 30 August.

What makes the PWR Cup special?

• Elite player development: A performance-driven environment designed to give emerging athletes the opportunity to compete, grow, and shine.
• Fast, fearless rugby: High-energy matches that reflect the hunger and ambition of tomorrow’s stars.
• Fan-Focused: Fixtures that connect new talent with new audiences and strengthen club identity.
• Pathway to international rugby: Many Red Roses began their journey in this competition — who will be next?

With matches hosted across England leading Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs, the PWR Cup invites young fans, families, coaches, media and commercial partners to follow the journeys of rising stars before they become household names.

The PWR Cup embodies the values of inclusivity, performance, and long-term investment in women’s sport, aligning with the league’s mission to build not just winning teams, but legacies.