Ahead of Sunday, when Gloucester-Hartpury get their title defence underway against Leicester Tigers - live on TNT Sports - I aquaplaned my way along the M40 to Kingsholm, and not just because Emma Sing had baked a Kinder Bueno banana bread for the ages.
Here we are, about to begin another season of Premiership Women’s Rugby. Last season saw Gloucester-Hartpury Women lift the trophy once again, winning a free-flowing finale against Bristol Bears Women.
Sadhbh McGrath has been passed fit to take part in Ireland’s inaugural WXV 1 campaign, but head coach Scott Bemand will be without fellow prop Christy Haney in Canada.
Scott Lawrence's USA Eagles are just twenty-four hours out from arguably their biggest test to date under his tutelage. Tackling a high-flying Fijian side in the Asahi Pacific Nations Cup semi-final, Lawrence's side has the opportunity not only to take a jump up the World Rugby rankings but crucially secure a place in the final against either Japan or Samoa.
The question is: will the afternoon’s real murder have already taken place? Will there be any life left in this fixture by the forty-minute mark? The Red Roses are the most lethal team in rugby - killing grooves, burning houses down, and proving anyone wrong who thinks they can get away - and, unfortunately, this one comes with the sense of inevitability which remains this competition’s deepest flaw.
Stephen Jones, the former fly-half with 104 caps for Wales has been recruited for two seasons as assistant coach of the Moana Pasifika franchise under the leadership of head coach Tana Umaga.
Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles says his new boss Eddie Jones shares similar coaching philosophies to Craig Bellamy, who he played and worked under at the Melbourne Storm.
Centurion Test scrum-half Ben Youngs has revealed what he claims to be the main England difference now that Steve Borthwick has succeeded Eddie Jones as head coach.
England raised hopes of success in Japan with a 57-15 victory over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.