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What to watch in women’s rugby: Quins host Friday night blockbuster
It promises to be another mouthwatering weekend on RugbyPass TV as two of the best teams in Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) meet before a Scottish derby in the Celtic Challenge.
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Harlequins host Bristol Bears under the Friday night lights at Twickenham Stoop where two star-studded squads go all out to earn crucial points in the PWR run-in.
On Saturday, meanwhile, Scotstoun Stadium is the setting for an all-Scottish affair as winless Glasgow Warriors take on Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge.
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You can watch all the action live and for free via RugbyPass TV, except where there is a local broadcast deal in place.
Friends reunited at Stoop
Ross Chisholm and Dave Ward were once teammates and coaching companions, but they will put their friendship to one side on Friday night as Harlequins take on Bristol Bears in the PWR.
The only thing on either coach’s mind at the Stoop will be the battle on the pitch for all-important points in the race for the title.
Hosts Harlequins start the match second, assured of their place in the play-offs and with a home semi-final within their reach.
Bears, meanwhile, occupy the fourth and final play-off spot but know they must win their final regular season match to give themselves the best possible opportunity of joining Quins in the post-season.
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The stakes could not be higher and when you sprinkle in the stardust provided by Ellie Kildunne, Sarah Bern, Ilona Maher, Lucy Packer and others you can see why more than 5,000 fans have snapped up tickets.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Chisholm said. “I think it’s going to be an amazing occasion and both teams have got things riding on it, which is awesome.”
He added: “I was lucky enough to play in a fair few Friday night [matches at the Stoop] myself and you just know what the atmosphere is going to be like.
“That excites me and I’m looking forward to the players going out there and performing.”
Chisholm took his first steps in coaching as part of his then-Quins teammate Ward’s backroom staff at Guildford and the Bristol boss was someone he leaned on when he became a head coach himself at the start of the season.
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“Dave and I have got a good a good relationship. We obviously played together for a number of years at the club and coached together,” he said.
“I’ve always followed him, always chatted and he was someone that I’ve had communication with throughout the season sporadically.”
The hosts start Friday’s match three points off league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury but only two clear of Saracens in third, and they are determined to make sure of a home semi-final before their trip to Kingsholm on the final day.
“It’s always a privilege to run out in the quarters and to have the opportunity to do that at home in a semi-final is massive,” Quins captain Lagi Tuima said.
“But again, we’ll try and finish off some business this Friday and push on from there.”
Friday, February 14
19:45 GMT – Harlequins v Bristol Bears, Twickenham Stoop – WATCH LIVE HERE
Scottish rivals target much-needed win
The second Scottish derby of the Celtic Challenge season takes centre stage this weekend as the rest of the league enjoys a well-deserved rest.
Rearranged from round two, hosts Glasgow Warriors will hope to finally secure their first ever victory in the competition while last season’s runners-up Edinburgh Rugby attempt to kick-start their own campaign.
Glasgow have lost all five of their matches so far this term, most recently falling to a 41-19 defeat to Clovers in Cork last weekend.
Edinburgh, meanwhile, head into the match in similarly poor form, having lost their last four matches. That run culminated in a thrilling 38-32 reverse at Brython Thunder.
Something has to give at Scotstoun Stadium therefore and the home fans will hope that history can be made.
It was Edinburgh who triumphed when the teams met at Hive Stadium in the season’s opening round, though, as Hannah Walker scored three of the hosts’ 10 tries.
Find out who will come out on top in the latest Scottish derby, live and for free via RugbyPass TV.
Saturday, February 15
14:00 GMT – Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
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