What to watch in women’s rugby: PWR and Celtic Challenge leaders

Celtic Challenge and Premiership Women’s Rugby action continues this weekend, with two games live on RugbyPass TV.

Wolfhounds and Brython Thunder meet again

This weekend, Wolfhounds and Brython Thunder will meet for the second leg of their home and away fixtures – this time on Wolfhounds’ home soil at the UCD Bowl.

Brython Thunder go into the fixture, which we rearranged due to travel complications which impacted the Welsh team, without a win so far this season.

Stacey Flood shone for the Irish side in their recent meeting and was named player of the match. Wolfhonds’ eight tries in the 48–0 victory were scored by Maebh Clenaghan, Molly Boyne, Amy Larn, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Katie Heffernan, captain Claire Boles, and Ella Roberts.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

The result was Wolfhounds’ third bonus-point victory out of the four matches they’ve played so far, which puts them at the top of the table going into this weekend. Clovers, the only team to have beaten Wolfhounds this season sit just behind in second, on the same number of points (15), but just behind on points difference.

Brython Thunder are currently in fifth place, without a win to their name so far, but with one try and one losing bonus point to their name. While level on points with Glasgow, Thunder have the upper hand on points difference to save them from the bottom place in the table.

With no other Celtic Challenge fixtures being played this weekend, be sure to watch this one on RugbyPass TV as teams stacked with international players and future stars go head-to-head in Dublin.

Round five will continue on 25 January with Glasgow Warriors taking on second-placed Clovers, before Edinburgh play Gwalia Lightning on 26 January.

Saturday, November 18

13:30 GMT – Wolfhounds vs Brython Thunder, UCD Bowl. WATCH LIVE HERE

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Trailfinders at Kingsholm

The Premiership Women’s Rugby defending champions are also in action this weekend, now at the top of the table after last weekend’s win over Loughborough Lightning.

Gloucester-Hartpury, now with nine wins from their 12 matches played, currently sit just above Harlequins, who have a game in hand, with a three-point difference.

Sean Lynn’s side will meet Trailfinders this Saturday at Kingsholm, with the London team undoubtedly keen to get back into the action after their match against Sale Sharks in round 13 was postponed.

Barney Maddison’s Trailfinders impressed in their last outing in round 12, pushing Harlequins to a close contest at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Despite being ahead going into the last ten minutes, Trailfinders weren’t able to see out the victory as their London rivals fought back with tries from Carys Phillips and Kayleigh Powell ultimately sealing the 46-39 win.

Trailfinders sit seventh in the PWR table going into round 14, but with two more games to be played than sixth-placed Loughborough Lightning who are currently only three points ahead of them, it will be crucial that they pick up points from their next matches if they’re to make the step up.

League leaders Gloucester-Hartpury, who are in search of their third consecutive title this season, scored six tries to take the bonus-point win last weekend.

In their first meeting in January 2024, Trailfinders held The Circus to a six-point scoreline, with Gloucester-Hartpury coming out on top with the 33-27 win. The scoreline was vastly different the second time they faced each other in the 2023/24 season, with Gloucester-Hartpury taking a convincing 59-12 victory at home.

This season, Gloucester-Hartpury continued their winning form against last year’s league debutants with a 32-19 win in round six, with Emma Sing, Ellie Rugman (twice), Alex Matthews, and Beth Stafford all crossing the whitewash.

Red Roses players were involved in a training camp earlier this week, where newly named England captain Zoe Aldcroft joined Gloucester-Hartpury teammates Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Sarah Beckett, Georgia Brock, Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt, Tatyana Heard, Mia Venner, and Emma Sing.

Trailfinders had two players selected, speedster Abby Dow, and Abi Burton, who while uncapped for England in the 15s game, has represented Great Britain on the SVNS Series and at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Gloucester-Hartpury go into the game on a five-match winning streak having not lost since their round eight encounter with Bristol Bears. Trailfinders last won in round nine, when they picked up their most recent victory against Sale Sharks.

Fixture

PWR

Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC

10:05

18 Jan 25

Trailfinders Women

All Stats and Data

Elsewhere in the PWR, Bristol Bears are back in action after an important win over Exeter Chiefs last weekend and will face Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.

Last weekend’s bonus-point win put them just outside of the top four, but there’s work still to be done in their remaining fixtures against Tigers, Trailfinders, Loughborough, and Harlequins if they’re to break into playoff position. The match, which kicks off at 13:00 on Saturday 18, will be streamed on YouTube. Watch it HERE. 

Sale Sharks will host Harlequins, who are currently ranked second after an impressive season so far which has seen them take nine wins from 11.

On Sunday, Loughborough Lightning will play Exeter Chiefs at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Saturday, November 18

15:05 GMT – Gloucester-Hartpury vs Trailfinders, Kingsholm Stadium. WATCH LIVE HERE*

*This match will not be available to watch in the UK, Ireland, the USA, and Canada.