47 - 18

PWR semi-final line-up confirmed on thrilling penultimate weekend

93 days ago

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Keira Bevan of Bristol Bears Women with the ball during the Premiership Women's Rugby match between Harlequins and Bristol Bears at The Stoop on February 14, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury secured a home Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) semi-final and top spot in the regular season table as Bristol Bears claimed the last remaining play-off spot.

Results on Friday and earlier on Saturday meant Gloucester-Hartpury knew a bonus-point victory at Sale Sharks would tie up first place, and they duly ran out 41-24 winners at CorpAcq Stadium.

Sean Lynn’s three-peat chasers will play West Country rivals Bristol in the semi-finals at Kingsholm on March 2 after the Bears beat Harlequins 19-10 on Friday night and Exeter Chiefs suffered a 21-12 defeat – their sixth in seven matches – at Saracens the following day.

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On a decisive weekend, Saracens’ win took them above Quins and into second place, firmly in the driver’s seat for a home semi-final with one round of the regular season to go.

It means Saracens are guaranteed to meet their London rivals in the opening semi-final on March 1, with the identity of the hosts to be determined by results this Friday night.

Fixture

PWR

Saracens Women

21 - 12

Full-time

Exeter Chiefs Women

All Stats and Data

Alex Austerberry’s side welcome Sale to StoneX Stadium in round 18, while Quins face a daunting trip to regular season champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

Mia Venner starred for the Circus at Sale, running in three of her side’s seven tries as they eased to victory against the league’s basement club.

As well as securing top spot for the visitors, the result means that Sharks will end the regular season bottom of the PWR table.

Fixture

PWR

Sale Sharks Women

24 - 41

Full-time

Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC

All Stats and Data

That is because Leicester Tigers withstood a late Trailfinders Women fightback to record only their third victory of the season in Saturday’s opening match, edging a barnstorming contest 45-43 in Ealing.

Leicester built a commanding 45-22 lead early in the second half, as Scotland winger Fran McGhie completed her hat-trick with less than half an hour to play.

Hosts Trailfinders scored three converted tries in the final 10 minutes, through Lisa Thomson, Julia Schell and Rosie Inman, but it was too little, too late to secure a memorable comeback.

Fixture

PWR

Trailfinders Women

43 - 45

Full-time

Leicester Tigers Women

All Stats and Data

A rollercoaster penultimate round began in fine style under the Twickenham Stoop lights on Friday night as Bristol got the win they needed to crash the top four.

England star Ellie Kildunne scored tries either side of half time to keep title-chasing Quins in the hunt in front of a club record 6,780 crowd.

But Bristol, who led 12-5 at the break thanks to tries from Phoebe Murray and Alisha Butchers-Joyce, sealed victory when Sarah Bern went over midway through the second half.

Fixture

PWR

Harlequins Women

10 - 19

Full-time

Bristol Bears Women

All Stats and Data

That result meant Exeter needed to win at StoneX Stadium on Saturday to maintain their own play-off hopes into the final round.

However, despite taking an early lead through Nancy McGillivray, first-half tries from Sophie Bridger, May Campbell and Poppy Cleall condemned Chiefs to defeat.

Claudia MacDonald’s second-half try proved nothing more than consolation for Exeter, who miss out on the semi-finals despite starting the season with eight straight victories.

Comments

1 Comment

BC 92 days ago

At least some of the Red Roses backs will get a breather before the 6N as will Feaunati, Kabaya and Talling

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Cantab 8 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 8 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 8 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 8 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍

37 Go to comments

NB 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Always the same at the other place. Some of those perceptions of him at the Tahs - lazy, overweight and slow - were impossible to shift!

37 Go to comments

NB 8 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hang on to Miz Carlos!

37 Go to comments

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