Premiership Women's Rugby season preview: Who faces who on opening weekend as World Cup winners return?

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The PWR returns to build on the huge momentum generated by England's World Cup triumph at Twickenham in September. A record crowd of 81,885 fans watched the Red Roses beat Canada 33-13 in the showpiece match of an incredible tournament, and England's World Cup-winning stars are back to light up the league. TNT Sports has all you need to know for the opening weekend and the entire season.

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The Premiership Women's Rugby season kicks off on Friday, hot off the heels of England's historic World Cup triumph at Twickenham in September.

A record crowd of 81,885 fans watched the Red Roses overpower Canada to win a third title in what was the second-highest attendance for a men's or women's World Cup final.

Hoping to build on the glorious momentum and growth of women's rugby fostered by that campaign are the plethora of English stars taking part in the PWR.

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At least one PWR match each weekend will be shown live on TNT Sports, including both semi-finals and the final.

Gloucester-Hartpury sealed an iconic three-peat after a 34–19 win over Saracens in last year's showpiece, but now face defending that title without head coach Sean Lynn, who departed the club at the end of last season to become head coach of Wales.

TNT Sports has all you need to know before the PWR kicks off.

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Opening fixtures

Friday, October 24

Harlequins v Loughborough Lightning - 19:30

Saturday, October 25

Trailfinders v Exeter Chiefs - 15:00
Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers - 19:00

Sunday, October 26

Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens - 15:00 - Live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Harlequins

Harlequins have two World Cup-winning players returning in scrum-half Lucy Packer and full-back Ellie Kildunne.

Ross Chisholm's first season in charge saw Quins finish third and reach the semi-finals, only for defeat to rivals Saracens to end a solid season on a disappointing note.

Quins are searching for a first trip to the final since 2021, after reaching the first three finals in the competition's early years.

The club have recruited well, with Black Fern stars Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele Tu'u joining before returning to New Zealand in time for Super Rugby Aupiki midway through 2026.

Ireland international Aoife Wafer also takes up the quarters to join a side worthy of challenging for the title.

Starting XV v Loughborough Lightning

15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Lauren Torley, 13. Claudia Pena, 12. Sarah Parry, 11. Beth Wilcock, 10. Lagi Tuima, 9. Lucy Packer; 1. Silvia Turani, 2. Connie Powell, 3. Lizzie Hanlon, 4. Fi McIntosh, 5. Abbie Fleming, 6. Nicole Wythe, 7. Sara Svoboda, 8. Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements: 16. Carys Phillips, 17. Hannah Sims, 18. Laura Delgado, 19. Tyla Shirley, 20. Lauren Brooks, 21. Lucy Burgess, 22. Ella Cromack, 23. Katie Shillaker.

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Loughborough Lightning

Loughborough Lightning finished sixth last year, and whilst Quins have exciting new signings, Lightning will have to make do without legendary England star Emily Scarratt, who retired from playing earlier this week.

Scarratt will stay on as a coach, and the attacking output will once again rest on the versatile and valuable Helena Rowland.

World Cup final player of the match Sadia Kabeya is expected to continue lighting up the competition, and starts against Quins.

Starting XV v Harlequins

15. Lia Green, 14. Bulou Mataitoga, 13. Alev Kelter, 12. Carmela Morrall, 11. Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Leia Brebner-Holden; 1. Anne Young, 2. Lucy Calladine, 3. Mae Sagapolu, 4. Becky Boyd, 5. Lilli Ives Campion, 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c), 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Haineala Lutui.

Replacements: 16. Kathryn Treder, 17. Amelia Williams, 18. Christine Belisle, 19. Tahlia Brody, 20. Kendall Waudby, 21. Alicia Maude, 22. Abbie Brown, 23. Ellen Scantlebury.

Trailfinders Women

Trailfinders return with 17 new signings this season, adding strength and depth as they hope to break into the play-offs for the first time.

Having only joined the competition in 2023, Trailfinders have notched up respectable finishes of 6th and 7th and even picked up a memorable win over Bristol Bears in January this year.

A maiden PWR title is the eventual goal for Trailfinders, and a slew of international talents have joined the club to help make that happen.

The Black Ferns duo of hooker Georgia Ponsonby and back-rower Alana Borland became two of the first Kiwis to join the PWR. Rachel Malcolm and Emma Wassell join from Loughborough Lightning and Francesca McGhie joins from Leicester.

The club have lost England winger Abby Dow, but Meg Jones returns from her stellar World Cup performances to a side helmed by United States skipper Kate Zackary and aiming for the play-offs.

Starting XV v Exeter Chiefs

15. Julia Schell, 14. Grace White, 13. Meg Jones, 12. Carys Cox, 11. Francesca McGhie, 10. Isla Norman-Bell, 9. Brooke Bradley; 1. Alivia Leatherman, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Sara Seye, 4. Grace Moore, 5. Alana Borland, 6. Rachel Malcom, 7. Kate Zackary (c), 8. Abi Burton.

Replacements: 16. Niamh Swailes, 17. Cana Williams, 18. Maya Montiel, 19. Emma Taylor, 20. Haidee Head, 21. Ella Amory, 22. Niamh Gallagher, 23. Emma Uren.

Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs finished just two points outside the play-offs last season after making the finals in 2022 and 2023.

Whether they can improve on that depends on several factors, as they face this season without longtime head coach Susie Appleby, with Steve Salvin taking charge on an interim basis.

Chiefs have two World Cup winners of their own in Red Roses flanker Maddie Feaunati, an explosive carrier who came off the bench in the final, and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.

Several new faces have joined the ranks in Devon. Italy World Cup star Francesca Granzotto heads west, and England U-20s back-rower Gabriella Nigrelli has swapped rivals Bristol Bears for Chiefs.

Plenty of other changes have happened over the summer as Chiefs bid for an opening weekend win over Trailfinders and a return to the play-offs.

Starting XV v Trailfinders

15. Merryn Elworthy, 14. Katie Buchanan, 13. Nancy McGillivray, 12. Gabby Cantorna, 11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, 10. Liv McGoverne, 9. Flo Robinson (c); 1.Hope Rogers, 2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, 3. DaLeaka Menin, 4. Emily Robinson, 5. Linda van der Velden, 6. Taz Bricknell, 7. Maisy Allen, 8. Maddie Feaunati

Replacements: 16. Emily Tuttosi, 17. Demi Swann, 18. Amy Rule, 19. Gabriella Nigrelli, 20. Zoe Dare, 21. Lucy Nye, 22. Alex Tessier, 23. Sabrina Poulin.

Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks finished bottom of the PWR table last season, picking up just one win.

But with World Cup top performer and final try-scorer Amy Cokayne joining the squad from Leicester, they can be hopeful of a better finish this year.

Cokayne joins fellow World Cup stars Morwenna Talling and Holly Aitchison, who impressed when given the chance at fly-half.

Scotland winger Rhona Lloyd also signed for the season as Sharks begin their campaign against Leicester Tigers.

Starting XV v Leicester Tigers

15. Vicky Irwin, 14. Rhona Lloyd, 13. Laura Perrin, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Holly Thorpe, 10. Lizzie Duffy, 9. Amy Relf; 1. Tysh Harper, 2. Amy Cokayne (c), 3. Evie Roach, 4. Iona Antwis, 5. Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 6. Trudy Cowan, 7. Katie Childs, 8. Sharifa Kasolo.

Replacements: 16. Milly Hyndman, 17. Nick James, 18. Sophie Benavent, 19. Charlotte Fray, 20. Polly Bowman, 21. Olivia Ortiz, 22. Holly Aitchison, 23. Nikita Prothero.

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Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers did not fare much better than Sale last season, finishing eighth and picking up three wins.

They have spent the last three seasons with three different head coaches, and this year Ross Bundy will be hoping his appointment sticks.

In April, Fraser Goatcher was also named Leicester Tigers' director of women's rugby, and a huge 25 signings have accompanied the off-pitch overhaul in the East Midlands.

It has been a summer of upheaval for Tigers, especially as losing Cokayne leaves them as the only side in the league without an England international.

There is plenty of work for Goatcher and Bundy to get stuck into this season.

Starting XV v Sale Sharks

15. Tess Feury, 14. Zoe Evans, 13. Grace Deane, 12. George Lingham, 11. Karolina Kacirkova, 10. Kristin Bitter, 9. Jenny Maxwell (c) 1. Lauren Poole, 2. Micke Gunter, 3. Nadine Vincent, 4. Emerson Allen, 5. Olivia Tallon, 6. Ali Coleman, 7. Morgan Richardson, 8. Tiana Gordon.

Replacements: 16. Alan Bainbridge, 17. Ellie Smith, 18. Clodagh Dunne, 19. Jordan Russell, 20. Alicia Watkins, 21. Eneka Labeyrie, 22. Amelie Anstead, 23. Charlotte Daley.

Gloucester-Hartpury

The three-time champions have the task of defending their hard-earned dominance without Lynn, who left to take the Wales job at the end of last season.

After taking charge in 2020, Lynn helped transform the side from play-off contenders into serial winners. There is continuity, though, with scrum coach Dan Murphy taking the role of head coach.

The club have built their success as the side with the most England internationals, and they have eight World Cup winners in the squad, including Red Roses captain Zoe Aldcroft and veteran No. 9 Natasha Hunt.

No. 8 Alex Matthews scored twice in the World Cup final, and last season's top points scorer Emma Sing will be equally important.

On the pitch, there is little change, with 19-year-old Welsh international Alaw Pyrs the only new face in the squad.

Off the pitch, however, there is plenty to work through with Lynn ending his five-year stint, and Matt Banahan coming in as assistant coach after a spell as Scotland’s attack coach.

Starting XV v Saracens

15. Emma Sing, 14. Mia Venner, 13. Jade Shekells, 12. Tatyana Heard, 11. Nel Metcalfe, 10. Lleucu George, 9. Natasha Hunt (cc); 1. El Perry, 2. Kelsey Jones, 3. Maud Mir, 4. Sam Monaghan, 5. Sarah Beckett, 6. Zoe Stratford (cc), 7. Georgia Brock, 8. Alex Matthews

Replacements: 16. Neve Jones, 17. Ranni Samuda, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Kate Williams, 20. Bethan Lewis, 21. Meg Davies, 22. Lizzie Goulden, 23. Hannah Dallavalle.

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Saracens

Saracens are hoping to secure a first title since 2022 and end Gloucester-Hartpury's dominance, and a talented squad led by Lotte Sharp is full of international experience and primed to do just that.

Buoyed by the return of World Player of the Year Sophie de Goede after a lengthy injury, and Red Roses legend Marlie Packer dismissing any talk of retiring, Saracens are in a good place.

Winger Jess Breach scored an incredible six tries at the World Cup, and Zoe Harrison and Kelsey Clifford both made themselves indispensable to England boss John Mitchell.

The wider squad has been bolstered with 12 signings, including World Cup finalist Laetitia Royer, a dependable, experienced and versatile forward who signed from ASM Romagnat in France.

They kick off the campaign in a blockbuster clash with three-time defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Starting XV v Gloucester-Hartpury

15. Sarah McKenna, 14. Jess Breach, 13. Sydney Gregson, 12. Emma Hardy, 11. Alysha Corrigan, 10. Zoe Harrison (cc), 9. Tori Sellors; 1. Kelsey Clifford, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Carmen Tremelling, 4. Sophie De Goede, 5. Rosie Galligan, 6. Georgia Evans, 7. Marlie Packer (cc), 8. Poppy Cleall.

Replacements: 16. May Campbell, 17. Liz Crake, 18. Donna Rose, 19. Louise McMillan, 20. Charlotte Wright Haley, 21. Amelia MacDougall, 22. Beth Blacklock, 23. Jemma-Jo Linkins.

Bristol Bears

The Bears are the sole team without a fixture on the opening weekend, and must wait until November 2 to get their campaign underway with a trip to Leicester Tigers.

Like Gloucester-Hartpury, Bristol lost a long-time head coach with Dave Ward, husband of Bears and England lock Abbie, leaving the club in April after defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury in the semi-finals.

Props Hannah Botterman and Sarah Bern return from the World Cup, alongside Ward and hooker Lark Atkin-Davies to form one of the league's most formidable packs.

Key for Bristol off the pitch will be utilising the momentum generated by global social media sensation Ilona Maher, who famously helped set a new record crowd for the league of 9,240.

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