The sixth round of fixtures in the Allianz Premier 15’s see Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC welcome an unbeaten and top of the league Harlequin’s Women to the Alpas Arena.
Although Gloucester-Hartpury sit slap-bang in the middle of the table in 5th, they have made their home a fortress, winning 66% of their home games, with victories over Shale Sharks Women and Exeter Chiefs Women, whilst Harlequins Women are unbeaten so far this season, most recently running out 31-0 winners against Sale Sharks Women in round five.
If last years results are anything to go by Harlequins are clear favoruites, when the women from London travelled to Kingsholm and came away with a 17-29 win, and a 39-12 win in the reverse fixture at the Twickenham Stoop.
Some interesting news has come out of the Harlequins camp this week, as the Women’s game is looking to turn fully professional, current flanker and Irish international Anna Caplice is looking for part-time work to be able to afford to carry on with her rugby career.
Six current England and Harlequins players have been awarded full time professional contracts (Shaunagh Brown, Vickii Cornborough, Abbie Scott, and backs Jess Breach, Rachael Burford and Leanne Riley), but not all the players in the league are in such a privileged position, which needs to change if Women’s rugby is to continue developing any further.
And what a great game between Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC vs Harlequins Women this Saturday will be to advertise the talent that Allianz Premier 15s’ women have on offer, an example to why women’s rugby deserves more funding, coverage and advertisement.
