Predicting how the PWR will finish this season
Bookmark this now so you can remind me how wrong I am...
With the first round of the PWR campaign set to kick off this weekend, what better time to share my thoughts and predictions for the season ahead. I’ll work down the final positions of last season’s table, share a few thoughts on each team and then share where I think they’ll end up at the end of 16 rounds of play. I’m not predicting the way the play-offs will shake out here, just the regular season…. but you’ll see who I think makes it to the final four.
Gloucester-Hartpury Women
Last season: 1st
The three-time champions will want to make it four in a row and it would be silly to bet against them before a ball has been kicked in anger. It’s a season of transition at Queensholm though, most notably with Sean Lynn leaving to coach Wales. Lynn masterminded so much of their success and was given time to mold the team into what he knew would be needed to win. It remains to be seen how they will fare without him.
On the field they still have the leadership of Zoe Aldcroft and Mo Hunt, as well as a host of talent across the field. They’ve lost a number of squad players but this only helps to clear a path for the likes of Steph Else and Millie Hyett to claim a starting spot and make it their own.
This season prediction: 3rd
Saracens Women
Last season: 2nd
In the early years of this league, Saracens were the team to beat, regular winners and always in the final. They slipped a little in recent seasons as Alex Austerberry reshuffled an aging lineup, but last season saw them back in the mix. This year they’ll have Sophie de Goede back in contention for a starting spot as well as Laetitia Royer in the mix to add to their spine of Canadian talent. They’ve also made some astute depth signings and my hunch is that with Bryony Cleall retiring after the PWR Cup final a couple of weeks ago, this may be viewed internally as the last shot for some of their veterans - and if so, never bet against a motivated Sarries side with a chip on their shoulder!
This season prediction: 1st
Harlequins Women
Last season: 3rd
Quins will benefit so much from simply having many of their players, especially their electric outside backs, available regularly due to the GB 7s contract situation. They’ve been patiently building a new brand of Harlequins rugby, true to their roots as one of the baller teams in the league, but with an ever more steely spine to back it up. As such they made probably the most high-profile signing of the off-season to add Aoife Wafer to their back row. The young Irish flanker will add ferocity and flair to their running game and shore up their defence too. They’ve also swiped a trio of good players from their London rivals Saracens.
This season prediction: 2nd
Bristol Bears Women
Last season: 4th
Much like their West Country rivals a little way up the M5 in Gloucester, the Bears start the season with a new head coach. Scott Lawson joins from the Scottish national side where he had been working as a skills coach and also forwards coach for the men’s u20s. They’ve also lost some key players, most notably Holly Aitchison and Courtney Keight. They maintain a very strong tight five, who will ensure they can hold their own in the set piece, but Natalee Evans will have to step up quickly to replace Aitchison, even with the veteran guile of Keria Bevan at 9 to support her.
This season prediction: 6th
Exeter Chiefs Women
Last season: 5th
Chiefs are a fascinating side, with some fantastic players, but after bursting onto the scene in 2019 and finding themselves in the final just a year later, they seem to have taken a bit of a step backwards. Susie Appleby’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of last season and a lot of their experienced players, notably Rachel Johnson and Poppy Leitch, either left the club or retired altogether. They still have some great talent in key positions, including a core of US and Canadian internationals and some great young talent coming through, but it feels like another season of transition in the south west.
This season prediction: 5th
Loughborough Lightning
Last season 6th
Lightning head coach Nathan Smith has his work cut out this season as Lightning have lost a bunch of their key forwards, from skipper Rachel Malcolm to three of their regular locks in Emma Wassell, Abby Duguid and Hallie Taufoou. As such I can’t help but see them really struggle at set piece this year and without a quality pack they are going to have a fight to assert themselves on a game. When the weather turns and they have a better shot at playing some running rugby their backs are still good enough to cause concern among opposition coaches, so they’ll need to try and keep the ball and move it quickly to have a shot at winning games.
This season prediction: 8th
Trailfinders Women
Last season 7th
It’s been a slow build for Trailfinders Women since they entered the league, with a few hiccups along the way. Before last season started Giselle Mather left the team and Barney Maddison stepped in as head coach, slowly building a team built on good defence and a solid platform of forward play. This change of philosophy led to a few departures over the summer, including Abby Dow, but they’ve allowed Maddison to bring in a host of exciting talent. Scotland paid Emma Wassell and Rachel Malcolm bring leadership and the aforementioned defensive prowess, while Meg Jones is an absolute coup of a signing and will relish pulling the strings and deploying the likes of Julia Schell and Fran McGhie to wreak havoc. I’m expecting a big step forward for the Vallis Way side!
This season prediction: 4th
Leicester Tigers
Last season: 8th
Tigers and Trailfinders joined the league at the same time, but where the team in Ealing have pushed on and built on their foundations, it feels like the Leicester side seem to be making backward steps. With far and away the biggest turnover in their side - 30 new joiners, 22 players leaving - they will have to gel fast, and without the likes of Meg Jones, Fran McGhie or Amy Cokayne to call upon they lack the top end talent they had previously. Tigers are a historic club, but their women’s team deserve more focus and investment than they are currently receiving.
This season prediction: 9th
Sale Sharks Women
Last season: 9th
Sale Sharks have been a strange team who consistently threaten to break out but somehow seem to be perpetually stuck in the bottom end of the league. This season they’ve got the cheque book to tempt some big names north (young readers - ask your parents to explain that reference). Amy Cokayne and Holly Aitchison are the headlines, but Sharifa Kasolo shows long term intent too, she’s a hugely exciting young talent who seemed to be viewed at Saracens as Marlie Packer’s heir. I’m not convinced all the changes they have made will propel them far up the league this season, but if these players stick around, look for Sale to be in the mix in a year or so.
This season prediction: 7th
So there you have my predictions. Now I’d love to hear yours. Leave a comment and tell we where I’m wrong of if you think I’m spot on!