Premiership Women's Rugby Returns with Gloucester-Hartpury's Record Chase
The Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) season resumes this weekend after a six-week hiatus, with Gloucester-Hartpury poised to continue their remarkable unbeaten run. The West Country side have not lost a match since November 2024, securing an impressive 18 consecutive victories in the league, including their third successive championship final triumph.
Tight Battle at the Summit
Gloucester-Hartpury face Loughborough at Kingsholm on Sunday in a crucial fixture that could see them leapfrog Saracens to claim top spot in the table. Saracens currently lead despite having lost to the champions earlier this season, but they have a bye this weekend, opening the door for Gloucester to seize the initiative.
The top two teams are now a substantial 12 points clear of the chasing pack, with both positions guaranteeing home advantage in the semi-finals. This raises an intriguing question about the significance of finishing first versus second, given the identical reward.
Saracens second row Georgia Evans emphasised the importance of topping the table, stating: "We want to be top all of the time. This league has stepped up, you've seen how competitive and close some of the games are. Top of the table means a lot." Her comments underscore the heightened intensity and quality within the PWR this season.
Fierce Competition for Semi-Final Places
Beneath the leading duo, the race for the remaining semi-final berths is incredibly tight, with only three points separating the clubs positioned from third to sixth. This sets the stage for a compelling climax to the regular season as these teams vie for playoff qualification.
The league's return kicks off on Friday night with Trailfinders hosting Harlequins, a match that marks the long-awaited comeback of Scotland international Emma Wassell. After two years sidelined due to injuries and a chest tumour, Wassell is set to make her club debut for Trailfinders, having last played at club level in January 2024.
Expressing her eagerness, the 31-year-old said: "I am genuinely desperate to get on the pitch. Being able to represent Trailfinders, all of the girls have been so great and coaches and staff. I have really enjoyed being at the club. I have felt very valued." She added, "Now I am getting so close I have butterflies in my stomach about competing for a spot. I think just playing in the league I am excited about. I have been watching it for far too long now from the sidelines."
Struggles at the Bottom and Structural Debates
A significant gap of eight points exists between the top six and the rest of the league, with Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears particularly struggling this campaign. Leicester have managed just a single point, while Bristol are enduring a six-game losing streak.
However, both clubs will retain their top-flight status as the PWR has no immediate plans to introduce relegation. This policy has sparked debate among players regarding the potential benefits and drawbacks of a promotion and relegation system in the future.
Wassell highlighted the current disparities, noting: "I do think the setups and resources for every team are not equal and that is tricky. Until you have a better consistency across all clubs [we can't] bring that [promotion/relegation] in because it can feel slightly unfair." Conversely, Evans sees value in adding jeopardy, explaining: "When you know you are safe, sometimes you can get stuck in a rut. As players it's the same thing, you can get stuck and just go through the motions because 'oh we will be here next year and we will keep building'. It's an exciting thing to think about because it does add that jeopardy."
League Expansion on Hold
In further structural news, the PWR board has confirmed there will be no expansion for the 2026/27 season. The league has operated with nine teams since Worcester Warriors women's demise in 2023, and executive chair Genevieve Shore cited player pool limitations as the primary constraint.
Shore stated: "We looked at it and our biggest inhibitor at the moment is player pool. When we have looked across the size of squads, breadth and depth of squads and Championship clubs and universities, we feel like everyone is in a really solid place. But if we were to now throw in a 10th team or an 11th or 12th team then we are putting a bit too much pressure on the system."
Since its relaunch in 2017, the PWR has undergone two retendering processes, leading to clubs like Richmond and Firwood Waterloo being replaced by Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks. However, no such process has occurred since just before the 2023/24 campaign, indicating a period of consolidation for the league.
