'Not one ounce of fear' - Abi Burton bullish over Trailfinders hopes in PWR final after Saracens branding 'lights fire'

React to this story

Abi Burton insists Trailfinders are "not scared" of Saracens ahead of Sunday's Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) final, despite suffering a heavy defeat to their opponents on the final day of the regular season.

Highlights: England beat Australia to set up last-eight clash with Scotland as Wales lose again

Video credit: TNT Sports

Barney Maddison's side set up a meeting with Saracens following a 29-26 win over Gloucester-Hartpury, with two Isla Norman-Bell tries enough to secure a trip to Twickenham Stoop.

However, they face a tough test to secure the PWR trophy for the first time in their bid to deny Sarries a fourth title.

Yet, despite losing 80-14 to Saracens earlier this month, Burton is adamant that there is "not one ounce of fear" in the Trailfinders dressing room ahead of Sunday's clash, which will be live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

PWR

'The whole week has been amazing' - Packer bows out for Saracens with more title glory

28/06/2026 at 22:44

"We're not scared," Burton began. "We've played them twice, and the scoreline hasn't gone our way, but there's not one ounce of fear in this room with that team that's going to play on Sunday.

"We truly believe that we can win. What do you play for if you don't believe that?

"You bear in mind what's happened in the past, but, ultimately, there’s no fear going into it."

Apps reveals how she has 'changed the game' ahead of PWR final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Trailfinders will become the first team to finish fourth and win the PWR Cup if they overcome Saracens.

And Burton believes that the game taking place at Twickenham Stoop will add to the occasion and increase the possibility of an upset.

"The fact that it is at Twickenham Stoop, and an all-London final, you'll be Queens of the PWR and Queens of London by the end of this. So it will be such a spectacular occasion," the 26-year-old continued.

"You see all of Sarries’ branding - the original club of North London - and I think it's incredibly done, but it also lights a bit of a fire as well. We want to be a dominant force within the entirety of PWR, but I feel like if you're the best in London, you get the bragging rights.

"But I think the rivalry and the competitiveness are already through the roof."

'It would be an underdog story'

Trailfinders' England captain Meg Jones stated that it would be an "underdog story" if they go on to beat one of the division's dominant sides.

"I honestly didn't think I'd be here," Jones told BBC Sport. "It would be an underdog story and mean a huge amount to the club. And on the back of the season we've had, it would mean a great deal to me as well."

The 29-year-old also admitted that she didn't expect Trailfinders to challenge for the PWR Cup, continuing: "Probably not at the start of the season, but I don't actually think that far ahead. There are so many variables.

"We always set for the top four, and when we'd beaten Gloucester [in the regular season] a couple of weeks before the play-offs, we thought, 'wow, we're really clicking here. We know the plan'."