Premiership Women's Rugby: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Women's rugby union club competition in England}} |
{{Short description|Women's rugby union club competition in England}} |
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{{About|the top flight women's rugby union competition in England|the similarly named men's competition|Premiership Rugby}} |
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{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} |
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} |
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{{Infobox sports league |
{{Infobox sports league |
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| title = Premiership Women's Rugby |
| title = Premiership Women's Rugby |
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| current_season = |
| current_season = 2024–25 Premiership Women's Rugby |
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| logo = Premiership Women's Rugby (Allianz).png |
| logo = Premiership Women's Rugby (Allianz).png |
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| last_season = 2022–23 Premiership Women's Rugby |
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| upcoming_season = |
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| sport = Rugby union |
| sport = Rugby union |
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2017}} |
| founded = {{Start date and age|2017}} |
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| inaugural = |
| inaugural = [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18]] |
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| administrator = [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] |
| administrator = [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] |
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| teams = 9 |
| teams = 9 |
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| country = {{ |
| country = {{flagu|England}} |
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| champions = [[Gloucester-Hartpury]]<br>(2nd title) |
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| other countries = |
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| champ_season = [[2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby|2023–24]] |
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| champion = |
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| champions = [[Gloucester-Hartpury Women|Gloucester-Hartpury]] (1st title) |
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| champ_season = [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23]] |
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| most_champs = |
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| most successful club = [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] (3 titles) |
| most successful club = [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] (3 titles) |
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| tv = [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] |
| tv = [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] |
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| levels = Level 1 |
| levels = Level 1 |
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| promotion = |
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| relegation = ''No relegation'' |
| relegation = ''No relegation'' |
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| domestic_cup = [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]] |
| domestic_cup = [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]] |
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| league_cup = |
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| confed_cup = |
| confed_cup = |
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| website = {{URL|https://www.thepwr.com/}} |
| website = {{URL|https://www.thepwr.com/}} |
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| ceo = Belinda Moore |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Premiership Women's Rugby''', officially known as '''Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby''' or '''The Allianz PWR''', is an annual [[Semi-professional sports|semi-professional]] [[women's rugby union]] club competition at the highest level of the [[English rugby union system]], and is run by the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU). It is contested by nine clubs who play two series of [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] matches to determine the four participants of a [[single-elimination tournament]]. It began play in the [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18 season]], superseding the former [[Women's Premiership]], and introducing elements of [[Professional sports|professionalism]] in the sport's highest level. In its first six seasons, the competition was known as the |
'''Premiership Women's Rugby''', officially known as '''Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby''' or '''The Allianz PWR''', is an annual [[Semi-professional sports|semi-professional]] [[women's rugby union]] club competition at the highest level of the [[English rugby union system]], and is run by the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU). It is contested by nine clubs who play two series of [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] matches to determine the four participants of a [[single-elimination tournament]]. It began play in the [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18 season]], superseding the former [[Women's Premiership]], and introducing elements of [[Professional sports|professionalism]] in the sport's highest level. In its first six seasons, the competition was known as the Premier 15s. [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] are the current champions, while [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] have won the most championships (3). |
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Premiership Women's Rugby runs concurrently with the |
Premiership Women's Rugby runs concurrently with the [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]], a similar annual competition contested by the same clubs, in which the teams are instead split into two pools, and only play one series of round-robin matches to determine places in the competition's tournament. The [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]] began play in the [[2021–22 Premier 15s|2021–22 season]] and has been won twice by [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]]. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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===2016–2023: Premier |
===2016–2023: Premier 15s=== |
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The RFU founded the competition as "Women's Super Rugby" in October 2016, committing to a three-year, £2.4 million investment.<ref name="espn.com">[http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/20711176/tyrrells-premier-15s-preview-new-league-sign-how-far-women-rugby-come "Premier 15s: New league a real opportunity for women's rugby"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924190348/http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/20711176/tyrrells-premier-15s-preview-new-league-sign-how-far-women-rugby-come |date=24 September 2018 }}, ESPN, Victoria Monk, 15 September 2017.</ref><ref name="SQ217">{{cite web |url=http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/womens-super-rugby-launch-england |title=Women's Super Rugby to launch in England |publisher=Scrumqueens |date=February 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200014/http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/womens-super-rugby-launch-england |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=tc>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/england-reveal-top-new-women%E2%80%99s-competition |title=England reveal top new women's competition |publisher=Scrumqueens |date=October 2016 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222120358/http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/england-reveal-top-new-women%E2%80%99s-competition |url-status=live }}</ref> A bidding process was opened to clubs seeking to operate a franchise in the new league, with the RFU initially planning to have all eight [[Women's Premiership]] teams and two new teams compete.<ref name=tc /> Minimum standards were raised for aspiring franchise owners, such as requiring clubs to invest in professional training facilities and coaching resources.<ref name=tc/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-announce-teams-for-women-super-rugby/ |title=RFU announce teams for Women's Super Rugby |publisher=RFU |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200307/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-announce-teams-for-women-super-rugby/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
The RFU founded the competition as "Women's Super Rugby" in October 2016, committing to a three-year, £2.4 million investment.<ref name="espn.com">[http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/20711176/tyrrells-premier-15s-preview-new-league-sign-how-far-women-rugby-come "Premier 15s: New league a real opportunity for women's rugby"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924190348/http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/20711176/tyrrells-premier-15s-preview-new-league-sign-how-far-women-rugby-come |date=24 September 2018 }}, ESPN, Victoria Monk, 15 September 2017.</ref><ref name="SQ217">{{cite web |url=http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/womens-super-rugby-launch-england |title=Women's Super Rugby to launch in England |publisher=Scrumqueens |date=February 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200014/http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/womens-super-rugby-launch-england |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=tc>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/england-reveal-top-new-women%E2%80%99s-competition |title=England reveal top new women's competition |publisher=Scrumqueens |date=October 2016 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222120358/http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/england-reveal-top-new-women%E2%80%99s-competition |url-status=live }}</ref> A bidding process was opened to clubs seeking to operate a franchise in the new league, with the RFU initially planning to have all eight [[Women's Premiership]] teams and two new teams compete.<ref name=tc /> Minimum standards were raised for aspiring franchise owners, such as requiring clubs to invest in professional training facilities and coaching resources.<ref name=tc/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-announce-teams-for-women-super-rugby/ |title=RFU announce teams for Women's Super Rugby |publisher=RFU |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=28 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200307/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-announce-teams-for-women-super-rugby/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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After interviews with twelve clubs at [[Twickenham Stadium]], the RFU announced the league's ten foundation clubs in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Ellis |url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/gloucester-hartpury-set-for-new-look-women-s-premiership/story-30169686-detail/story.html |title=Gloucester-Hartpury set for new look Women's Premiership |publisher=Gloucestershire Live |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39120956 |title=Women's Super Rugby: RFU offers 10 clubs places in 2017 competition |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307032936/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39120956 |url-status=live }}</ref> The decision to admit all Premiership clubs ([[Aylesford Bulls Ladies]] being taken over by [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] to become [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins Ladies]]) except for [[Lichfield Ladies]], despite their fifteen-year presence in the top flight, was controversial. As the club expressed being "disgusted, disappointed and dumbfounded",<ref>{{cite web |last=Beardmore |first=Michael |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-lichfield-ladies-chief-disgusted-and-dumbfounded-by-super-league-exclusion/story-30174347-detail/story.html#6YMB21Xul16Jt545.99 |title=RUGBY UNION: Lichfield Ladies chief 'disgusted and dumbfounded' by Super League exclusion |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Leicester Tigers]], and [[Lichfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Member for Lichfield]] [[Michael Fabricant]], unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the decision,<ref>{{cite web |last=Mercury |first=Lichfield |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/leicester-tigers-throw-their-weight-behind-lichfield-ladies-bid-to-overturn-super-league-exclusion/story-30176999-detail/story.html |title=Leicester Tigers give their backing to Lichfield Ladies' bid to overturn Super League exclusion |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="lichfieldmercury-1">{{cite web |last=Mercury |first=Lichfield |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-mp-vows-to-raise-lichfield-ladies-extraordinary-super-league-omission-in-parliament/story-30215641-detail/story.html |title=RUGBY UNION: MP vows to raise Lichfield Ladies' 'extraordinary' Super League omission in Parliament |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=20 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321055028/http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-mp-vows-to-raise-lichfield-ladies-extraordinary-super-league-omission-in-parliament/story-30215641-detail/story.html |archive-date=21 March 2017 |url-status=dead |
After interviews with twelve clubs at [[Twickenham Stadium]], the RFU announced the league's ten foundation clubs in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Ellis |url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/gloucester-hartpury-set-for-new-look-women-s-premiership/story-30169686-detail/story.html |title=Gloucester-Hartpury set for new look Women's Premiership |publisher=Gloucestershire Live |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39120956 |title=Women's Super Rugby: RFU offers 10 clubs places in 2017 competition |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307032936/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39120956 |url-status=live }}</ref> The decision to admit all Premiership clubs ([[Aylesford Bulls Ladies]] being taken over by [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] to become [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins Ladies]]) except for [[Lichfield Ladies]], despite their fifteen-year presence in the top flight, was controversial. As the club expressed being "disgusted, disappointed and dumbfounded",<ref>{{cite web |last=Beardmore |first=Michael |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-lichfield-ladies-chief-disgusted-and-dumbfounded-by-super-league-exclusion/story-30174347-detail/story.html#6YMB21Xul16Jt545.99 |title=RUGBY UNION: Lichfield Ladies chief 'disgusted and dumbfounded' by Super League exclusion |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Leicester Tigers]], and [[Lichfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Member for Lichfield]] [[Michael Fabricant]], unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the decision,<ref>{{cite web |last=Mercury |first=Lichfield |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/leicester-tigers-throw-their-weight-behind-lichfield-ladies-bid-to-overturn-super-league-exclusion/story-30176999-detail/story.html |title=Leicester Tigers give their backing to Lichfield Ladies' bid to overturn Super League exclusion |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="lichfieldmercury-1">{{cite web |last=Mercury |first=Lichfield |url=http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-mp-vows-to-raise-lichfield-ladies-extraordinary-super-league-omission-in-parliament/story-30215641-detail/story.html |title=RUGBY UNION: MP vows to raise Lichfield Ladies' 'extraordinary' Super League omission in Parliament |publisher=Lichfield Mercury |date=20 March 2017 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321055028/http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/rugby-union-mp-vows-to-raise-lichfield-ladies-extraordinary-super-league-omission-in-parliament/story-30215641-detail/story.html |archive-date=21 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with the latter claiming the selection of only ten teams violated the [[Equality Act 2010]], as the men's [[Premiership Rugby]] had twelve teams.<ref name="lichfieldmercury-1"/> The [[Thurrock T-Birds]], who won the 2016–17 Championship 1 South season, also unsuccessfully attempted to appeal their exclusion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theenquirer.co.uk/thurrock-womens-rugby-side-set-to-fight-for-new-big-money-super-league-inclusion/ |title=Thurrock women's rugby side set to fight for new big money Super League inclusion |publisher=The Enquirer |date=16 March 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=31 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331210533/http://www.theenquirer.co.uk/thurrock-womens-rugby-side-set-to-fight-for-new-big-money-super-league-inclusion/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/Governance/Disclipine/01/32/44/70/ThurrockRFCLichfieldRFCjudgmentApril2017_English.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> |
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The seven Premiership clubs would join [[ |
The seven Premiership clubs would join [[Gloucester-Hartpury]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], and [[Waterloo Ladies|Waterloo]] in the inaugural season of the league, which had been rebranded to the "Premier 15s" prior to its start. [[Potato chip|Potato crisps]] manufacturer [[Tyrrells (crisps)|Tyrrells]] obtained its [[naming rights]] for three years, in what was described by the RFU as "the biggest ever financial investment in women's club rugby."<ref name="espn.com"/><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/tyrrells-named-title-partner-for-women-domestic-competition/ |title=Tyrrells named as title partner for women's domestic competition |publisher=Rugby Football Union |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=16 September 2017 |archive-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916182500/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/tyrrells-named-title-partner-for-women-domestic-competition/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://insidersport.com/2020/05/26/tyrrells-ends-womens-premier-15s-title-sponsorship/ |title=Tyrrells ends Women's Premier 15's title sponsorship |last=Daniels |first=Tom |publisher=Insider Sport |date=16 May 2020 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812062332/https://insidersport.com/2020/05/26/tyrrells-ends-womens-premier-15s-title-sponsorship/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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[[Financial services]] company [[Allianz]] began their naming rights sponsorship ahead of the [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020 |
[[Financial services]] company [[Allianz]] began their naming rights sponsorship ahead of the [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 October 2020|title=RFU And Allianz Announce Landmark Partnership For The Premier 15s|url=https://www.salesharks.com/2020/10/06/rfu-and-allianz-announce-landmark-partnership-for-the-premier-15s/|access-date=6 October 2020|website=Sale Sharks|language=en|archive-date=20 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720080425/https://www.salesharks.com/2020/10/06/rfu-and-allianz-announce-landmark-partnership-for-the-premier-15s/|url-status=live}}</ref> The two independent clubs, [[Richmond Women|Richmond]] and Waterloo, were replaced with the Premiership Rugby-affiliated [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] and [[Sale Sharks Women|Sale Sharks]]. The RFU stressed the need for financially viable clubs in the wake of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52183337|title=Sale and Exeter join women's top flight|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 December 2021|archive-date=8 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108173024/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/52183337|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]] were temporarily suspended during the [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23 season]] due to financial difficulties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worcester suspended from competition after owners miss RFU deadline {{!}} Rugby union {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/26/worcester-suspended-from-competition-after-owners-miss-rfu-deadline |access-date=26 September 2022 |website=amp.theguardian.com |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926164524/https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/26/worcester-suspended-from-competition-after-owners-miss-rfu-deadline |url-status=live }}</ref> These were resolved within a month and Worcester were unsuspended.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 October 2022 |title=Worcester Warriors and Wasps given green light to compete despite administration |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-10-27/worcester-warriors-and-wasps-given-green-light-to-compete-despite-administration |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=ITV News |language=en |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027125709/https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-10-27/worcester-warriors-and-wasps-given-green-light-to-compete-despite-administration |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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===2023 onwards: Premiership Women's Rugby=== |
===2023 onwards: Premiership Women's Rugby=== |
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[[Trailfinders Women| |
[[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] and [[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester Tigers]] were admitted into the league in the [[2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby|2023–24 season]], as the competition rebranded to "Premiership Women's Rugby".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allianz Premier 15s Update|url=https://www.premier15s.com/news/article/allianz-premier-15s-update|access-date=16 December 2022|website=www.premier15s.com|archive-date=22 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222144612/https://www.premier15s.com/news/article/allianz-premier-15s-update|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Premiership Women's Rugby Launched To Kick Off A New Era For Women's Rugby In England |url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/premiership-womens-rugby-launched |access-date=27 June 2023 |website=www.thepwr.com |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627204528/https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/premiership-womens-rugby-launched |url-status=live }}</ref> Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors were initially excluded from the 2023–24 season alongside [[Darlington Mowden Park Sharks|DMP Sharks]] and [[Wasps Women|Wasps]]. Sale and Worcester were given conditional invitations by the RFU to rejoin for the 2023–24 season, in order to maintain the number of clubs in the league at ten.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2023 |title=Sharks Women receive conditional offer to join Premier 15s |url=https://www.salesharks.com/2023/02/01/sharks-women-receive-conditional-offer-to-join-allianz-premier-15s/ |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=Sale Sharks |language=en-US |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604011902/https://www.salesharks.com/2023/02/01/sharks-women-receive-conditional-offer-to-join-allianz-premier-15s/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2023 |title=Warriors Women secures position in Allianz Premier 15s for 2023/24 season |url=https://www.warriorswomen.co.uk/news/warriors-women-secures-position-in-allianz-premier-15s-for-2023-24-season/ |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=[[Worcester Warriors Women|Warriors Women]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720080424/https://www.warriorswomen.co.uk/news/warriors-women-secures-position-in-allianz-premier-15s-for-2023-24-season/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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====Withdrawal of Worcester Warriors Women==== |
====Withdrawal of Worcester Warriors Women==== |
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On 17 October 2023 the owners of Worcester Warriors Women, Cube International, notified the RFU and PWR that they intended to withdraw Worcester Warriors Women from Premiership Women's Rugby and the Allianz Cup.<ref name="Warriors 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67136795|title=Worcester Warriors Women: Premiership Women's Rugby side pull out of 2023-24 season|website=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 October 2023|access-date=17 October 2023|language=en-UK|archive-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017164129/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67136795|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Warriors 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/warriors-women-withdraw-from-premiership-womens-rugby|title=WARRIORS WOMEN WITHDRAW FROM PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY|website= |
On 17 October 2023 the owners of Worcester Warriors Women, Cube International, notified the RFU and PWR that they intended to withdraw Worcester Warriors Women from Premiership Women's Rugby and the [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]].<ref name="Warriors 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67136795|title=Worcester Warriors Women: Premiership Women's Rugby side pull out of 2023-24 season|website=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 October 2023|access-date=17 October 2023|language=en-UK|archive-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017164129/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67136795|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Warriors 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/warriors-women-withdraw-from-premiership-womens-rugby|title=WARRIORS WOMEN WITHDRAW FROM PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY|website=Premiership Women's Rugby|date=17 October 2023|access-date=17 October 2023|language=en-UK|archive-date=19 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019094148/https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/warriors-women-withdraw-from-premiership-womens-rugby|url-status=live}}</ref> The impact on the season's fixtures was not announced, however Worcester's next fixture, the [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]] match against [[Bristol Bears Women]] was cancelled.<ref name="Warriors 1"/><ref name="Warriors 2"/> |
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== Teams == |
== Teams == |
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Nine teams are currently competing in Premiership Women's Rugby, as of the [[2024–25 Premiership Women's Rugby|2024–25 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepwr.com/clubs |title=Clubs - Premiership Women's Rugby |publisher=Premiership Women's Rugby |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> |
|||
Ten were originally going to compete in the 2023-24 season of Premiership Women's Rugby and the Allianz Cup. This was reduced to nine following the withdrawal of Worcester. |
|||
{{CSS crop|Location=right|bSize=270|cWidth=250|cHeight=230|oTop=150|oLeft=10|Description=Locations of teams in Premiership Women's Rugby and the Allianz Cup|Content= |
{{CSS crop|Location=right|bSize=270|cWidth=250|cHeight=230|oTop=150|oLeft=10|Description=Locations of teams in Premiership Women's Rugby and the [[Allianz Cup (women's rugby union)|Allianz Cup]]|Content= |
||
{{Location map+|England|float=right|width=350|places= |
{{Location map+|England|float=right|width=350|places= |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.5|long=-2.5|background=#ffffff|label=[[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol]]}} |
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.5|long=-2.5|background=#ffffff|label=[[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol]]|position=left}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=50.7|long=-3.5|background=#ffffff|label=[[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter]]}} |
{{Location map~|England|lat=50.7|long=-3.5|background=#ffffff|label=[[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter]]}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.9|long=-2.3|background=#ffffff|label={{ |
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.9|long=-2.3|background=#ffffff|label={{nowrap|[[Gloucester-Hartpury]]}}}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.6|long=-1.1|background=#ffffff|label=[[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester]]}} |
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.6|long=-1.1|background=#ffffff|label=[[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester]]|position=left}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.2394|long=-0.9197|background=#ffffff|label=[[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)| |
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.2394|long=-0.9197|background=#ffffff|label=[[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough]]|position=right}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=53.4|long=-2.3|background=#ffffff|label=[[Sale Sharks Women|Sale]]}} |
{{Location map~|England|lat=53.4|long=-2.3|background=#ffffff|label=[[Sale Sharks Women|Sale]]}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.2|long=-2.2|background=#ffffff|label=''<s>[[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester]]</s>{{efn|Worcester withdrew from the league on 17 October 2023<ref name="Warriors 1"/><ref name="Warriors 2"/>}}''|position=left}} |
|||
{{location map~|England|lat=51.5|long=-0.0|background=#ffffff|label='''London'''|mark=Blue pog.svg}} |
{{location map~|England|lat=51.5|long=-0.0|background=#ffffff|label='''London'''|mark=Blue pog.svg}} |
||
{{Location map~|England|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|marksize=1|lat=51.1|long=-0.47|label_size=85|background=white|label={{nowrap|'''[[London]] teams:'''}}<br> |
|||
[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]<br> |
|||
[[Saracens Women|Saracens]]<br> |
|||
[[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
|position=right}} |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| Line 69: | Line 66: | ||
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.450|long=-0.346|background=#ffffff|label=[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]}} |
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.450|long=-0.346|background=#ffffff|label=[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]}} |
||
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.603|long=-0.224|background=#ffffff|label=[[Saracens Women|Saracens]]}} |
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.603|long=-0.224|background=#ffffff|label=[[Saracens Women|Saracens]]}} |
||
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.525|long=-0.330|background=#ffffff|label=[[ |
{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.525|long=-0.330|background=#ffffff|label=[[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]]}} |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
||
| Line 83: | Line 80: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
| rowspan="2" | [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
| rowspan="2" | [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
||
| rowspan="2" | 1984 |
| rowspan="2" | {{Start date and age|1984}} |
||
| rowspan="2" | [[Bristol]] |
| rowspan="2" | [[Bristol]] |
||
| Shaftesbury Park |
| Shaftesbury Park |
||
| Line 91: | Line 88: | ||
| [[Ashton Gate (stadium)|Ashton Gate]] |
| [[Ashton Gate (stadium)|Ashton Gate]] |
||
| 27,000 |
| 27,000 |
||
|- |
|||
| [[Ealing Trailfinders Women|Ealing Trailfinders]] |
|||
| 2023 |
|||
| [[Ealing]] {{Small|([[London]])}} |
|||
| [[Trailfinders Sports Ground]] |
|||
| 5,000 |
|||
| – (N/A) |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
| [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
||
| 2019 |
| {{Start date and age|2019}} |
||
| [[Exeter]] |
| [[Exeter]] |
||
| [[Sandy Park]] |
| [[Sandy Park]] |
||
| Line 106: | Line 96: | ||
| – (N/A) |
| – (N/A) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| rowspan="2" | [[ |
| rowspan="2" | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
||
| rowspan="2" | 2014 |
| rowspan="2" | {{Start date and age|2014}} |
||
| [[Hartpury]] |
| [[Hartpury]] |
||
| Hartpury Stadium<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled |url=https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/news/2024/10/hartpury-stadium-renamed-as-vodafone-and-4ed-foundation-partnership-unveiled/ |publisher=Hartpury University & College |date=29 October 2024 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> |
|||
| The Hartpury Arena |
|||
| 2,000 |
| 2,000 |
||
| rowspan="2" | |
| rowspan="2" | 2 ([[2023–24 Premier 15s|2024]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Gloucester]] |
| [[Gloucester]] |
||
| [[Kingsholm Stadium]] |
| [[Kingsholm Stadium|Kingsholm]] |
||
| 16,115 |
| 16,115 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
||
| 1995{{efn|name=Re-formed|Re-formed in 2017}} |
| {{Start date and age|1995}}{{efn|name=Re-formed|Re-formed in 2017}} |
||
| [[Twickenham]] {{Small|(London)}} |
| [[Twickenham]] {{Small|([[London]])}} |
||
| [[Twickenham Stoop]] |
| [[Twickenham Stoop]] |
||
| 14,800 |
| 14,800 |
||
| Line 125: | Line 115: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester Tigers]] |
| [[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester Tigers]] |
||
| 2021 |
| {{Start date and age|2021}} |
||
| [[Leicester]] |
| [[Leicester]] |
||
| [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] |
| [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] |
||
| Line 132: | Line 122: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]] |
| [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]] |
||
| 1970s{{efn|name=Re-formed}} |
| {{Start date and age|1970s}}{{efn|name=Re-formed}} |
||
| [[Northampton]] |
| [[Northampton]] |
||
| [[Franklin's Gardens]]<ref name="Lightning Franklin's Gardens">{{cite news | url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/womens-rugby/news/lightning-to-call-the-gardens-home-as-allianz-pwr-fixture-schedule-announced | title=Lightning to call the Gardens home as Allianz Premiership |
| [[Franklin's Gardens]]<ref name="Lightning Franklin's Gardens">{{cite news | url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/womens-rugby/news/lightning-to-call-the-gardens-home-as-allianz-pwr-fixture-schedule-announced | title=Lightning to call the Gardens home as Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby fixture schedule announced | publisher=[[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]] | date=9 August 2023 | access-date=9 August 2023 | language=en-UK | archive-date=9 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809120802/https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/womens-rugby/news/lightning-to-call-the-gardens-home-as-allianz-pwr-fixture-schedule-announced | url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
| 14,249 |
| 14,249 |
||
| – (N/A) |
| – (N/A) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Sale Sharks Women|Sale Sharks]] |
| [[Sale Sharks Women|Sale Sharks]] |
||
| 2020 |
| {{Start date and age|2020}} |
||
| [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]] {{Small|([[Greater Manchester|Manchester]])}} |
| [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]] {{Small|([[Greater Manchester|Manchester]])}} |
||
| [[Heywood Road]] |
| [[Heywood Road]] |
||
| Line 146: | Line 136: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
||
| 1989 |
| {{Start date and age|1989}} |
||
| [[Hendon]] {{Small|(London)}} |
| [[Hendon]] {{Small|([[London]])}} |
||
| [[Barnet Copthall| |
| [[Barnet Copthall|StoneX Stadium]] |
||
| 10,500 |
| 10,500 |
||
| 3 ([[ |
| 3 ([[2021–22 Premier 15s|2022]]) |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
| {{Start date and age|2023}} |
|||
| [[Ealing]] {{Small|([[London]])}} |
|||
| [[Trailfinders Sports Ground]] |
|||
| 5,000 |
|||
| – (N/A) |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
=== All time === |
=== All time === |
||
A total of 14 clubs have been involved in the top flight since the league's inception in the 2017–18 season. The most recent clubs to make debuts in Premiership Woman's Rugby were [[ |
A total of 14 clubs have been involved in the top flight since the league's inception in the 2017–18 season. The most recent clubs to make debuts in Premiership Woman's Rugby were [[Trailfinders Women]] and [[Leicester Tigers Women]], who made their top-flight debut in the 2023–24 season. |
||
Five clubs — [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol]], [[ |
Five clubs — [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol]], [[Gloucester-Hartpury]], [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough]] and [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] — have appeared in every season to date. |
||
Below |
Below is a list of clubs that have participated in the competition and the number of full seasons they've competed in. Clubs currently active are marked in '''bold''', while those that have been ever-present in are listed in '''''bold italics'''''. The last column shows the seasons each club has participated in, including the current one. |
||
{{Small|'''Note:''' The 2019–20 season is not counted as it was abandoned due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].}} |
|||
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
||
! Team |
|||
! Seasons !! Team !!class="unsortable"| Dates |
|||
! Seasons Competed |
|||
!class="unsortable" | Seasons Participated |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''''[[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]]''''' || '''''6''''' || 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Darlington Mowden Park Sharks]] || 5 || 2017–18 to 2023 |
|||
| '''''5''''' || '''''[[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol]]''''' || 2018–2024 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''[[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]]''' || '''4''' || 2020–21 to 2023–24 |
|||
| 5 || [[DMP Sharks]] || 2018–2023 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| ''' |
| '''''[[Gloucester-Hartpury]]''''' || '''''6''''' || 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ''' |
| '''''[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]''''' || '''''6''''' || 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''[[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester Tigers]]''' || '''1''' || 2023–24 |
|||
| '''''5''''' || '''''[[Gloucester-Hartpury Women|Gloucester-Hartpury]]''''' || 2018–2024 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''''[[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]]''''' || '''''6''''' || 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
|||
| '''''5''''' || '''''[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]''''' || 2018–2024 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Richmond Women|Richmond]] || 2 || 2017–18 to 2018–19 |
|||
| ''' ''' || '''[[Leicester Tigers Women|Leicester]]''' || 2024 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''[[Sale Sharks Women|Sale Sharks]]''' || '''4''' || 2020–21 to 2023–24 |
|||
| '''''5''''' || '''''[[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough]]''''' || 2018–2024 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| '''''[[Saracens Women|Saracens]]''''' || '''''6''''' || 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ''' |
| '''[[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]]''' || '''1''' || 2023–24 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| [[Wasps Women|Wasps]] || 5 || 2017–18 to 2023 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Waterloo Ladies|Waterloo]] || 2 || 2017–18 to 2018–19 |
|||
| 5 || [[Wasps Women|Wasps]] || 2018–2023 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]] || 5 || 2017–18 to 2023 |
|||
| 2 || [[Waterloo Ladies|Waterloo]] || 2018–2019 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 5 || [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester]] || 2018–2023 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|} |
|} |
||
| Line 198: | Line 197: | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!Period |
! Period |
||
!Sponsor |
!class="unsortable" | Sponsor |
||
!class="unsortable" | Name |
|||
!Name |
|||
!League Title |
!class="unsortable" | League Title |
||
!class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2017–2020 || {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Tyrrells (crisps)|Tyrrells Potato Crisps]] || Tyrrells Premier 15s ||rowspan="2"| Premier 15s || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/08/03/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/RFU-Tyrrells.aspx |title=RFU Names Snack Brand Tyrrells Title Sponsor Of New Women's Domestic Competition |publisher=Sports Business Journal |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 2020–2023 ||rowspan="2"| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Allianz]] || Allianz Premier 15s ||rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12091062/allianz-to-sponsor-premier-15s-as-top-flight-womens-rugby-returns |title=Allianz to sponsor Premier 15s as top-flight women's rugby returns |publisher=Sky Sports |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> |
|||
|2017–2020|| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Tyrrells (crisps)|Tyrrells]] || Tyrrells Premier 15s|| rowspan="2"|Premier 15s |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 2023–current || Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby || Premiership Women's Rugby |
|||
|2020–2023|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Allianz]] || Allianz Premier 15s |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
||2023–current ||Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby || Premiership Women's Rugby |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
== Structure == |
== Structure == |
||
=== League season === |
=== League season === |
||
The Premiership Women's Rugby league season typically runs from September to June and comprises 18 rounds of matches, with each club playing each other home and away. In the 2023–24 season, each club also had[[Bye (sports)|bye]] weeks. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows: |
The Premiership Women's Rugby league season typically runs from September to June and comprises 18 rounds of matches, with each club playing each other home and away. In the 2023–24 season, each club also had [[Bye (sports)|bye]] weeks. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows: |
||
* 4 points are awarded for a win |
* 4 points are awarded for a win |
||
* 2 points are awarded for a draw |
* 2 points are awarded for a draw |
||
| Line 229: | Line 230: | ||
! class=unsortable | Final |
! class=unsortable | Final |
||
! Runner-up {{silver02}} |
! Runner-up {{silver02}} |
||
! Top of Table |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18]] |
! [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18]] |
||
| Line 234: | Line 236: | ||
| style="text-align:center;|24–20 |
| style="text-align:center;|24–20 |
||
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! [[2018–19 Premier 15s|2018–19]] |
! [[2018–19 Premier 15s|2018–19]] |
||
| Line 239: | Line 242: | ||
| style="text-align:center;|33–17 |
| style="text-align:center;|33–17 |
||
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! 2019–20 |
! 2019–20 |
||
| colspan= |
| colspan=4 style="text-align:center;|''Season abandoned due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]'' |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21]] |
! [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21]] |
||
| style="text-align:right;|'''[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]''' |
| style="text-align:right;|'''[[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]]''' |
||
| style="text-align:center;|25–17 |
| style="text-align:center;|25–17 |
||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Line 252: | Line 257: | ||
| style="text-align:center;|43–21 |
| style="text-align:center;|43–21 |
||
| [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
| [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
||
| [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23]] |
! [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23]] |
||
| style="text-align:right;|'''[[ |
| style="text-align:right;|'''[[Gloucester-Hartpury]]''' |
||
| style="text-align:center;|34–19 |
| style="text-align:center;|34–19 |
||
|[[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
| [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
||
| [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
|- |
|||
! [[2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby|2023–24]] |
|||
| style="text-align:right;|'''[[Gloucester-Hartpury]]''' |
|||
| style="text-align:center;|36–24 |
|||
| [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
|||
| [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
| Line 278: | Line 292: | ||
| align=center | 4 |
| align=center | 4 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| align=center | 2 |
||
| [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
|||
| align=center | 2 |
|||
| [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23]], [[2023–24 Premier 15s|2023–24]] |
|||
| align=center | 0 |
|||
| align=center | — |
|||
| align=center | 2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| align=center | 3 |
|||
| [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
|||
| align=center | 1 |
| align=center | 1 |
||
| [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21]] |
| [[2020–21 Premier 15s|2020–21]] |
||
| Line 286: | Line 308: | ||
| align=center | — |
| align=center | — |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|} |
|||
| [[Gloucester-Hartpury Women|Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| align=center | 1 |
|||
== Player records == |
|||
| [[2022–23 Premier 15s|2022–23]] |
|||
All player records relate to the [[2017–18 Premier 15s|2017–18 season]] onwards, following the launch of the Premier 15s competition (which was later re-branded as Premiership Women's Rugby).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://womensrugbydata.com/premier-15s/|title=Premier 15s - Women's Rugby Data|website=Women's Rugby Data|access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref> |
|||
| align=center | 0 |
|||
| align=center | — |
|||
{{updated|24 June 2023}} |
|||
| align=center | 1 |
|||
|- |
|||
=== Points === |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
|||
|- |
|||
!width=60| Rank |
|||
!width=120| Nationality |
|||
!width=160| Player |
|||
!width=400| Club(s) |
|||
!width=90| Years |
|||
!width=60| Points |
|||
|- |
|||
! 1 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Zoe Harrison]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''523''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 2 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Ellie Green]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]], [[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''484''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 3 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Emma Sing]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2018– |
|||
| '''463''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 4 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Ellie Rugman]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2018– |
|||
| '''454''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 5 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Poppy Cleall]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''425''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 6 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Marlie Packer]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''410''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 7 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Abigail Dow|Abby Dow]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Wasps Women|Wasps]], [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''388''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 8 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Lark Atkin-Davies]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''385''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 9 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Jessica Breach|Jess Breach]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''380''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 10 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Helena Rowland]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''359''' |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|||
=== Tries === |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
|||
|- |
|||
!width=60| Rank |
|||
!width=120| Nationality |
|||
!width=160| Player |
|||
!width=400| Club(s) |
|||
!width=90| Years |
|||
!width=60| [[Try (rugby)|Tries]] |
|||
|- |
|||
! 1 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Poppy Cleall]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''85''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 2 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Marlie Packer]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''82''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 3 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Ellie Rugman]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2018– |
|||
| '''78''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 4 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Lark Atkin-Davies]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''77''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 5 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Jessica Breach|Jess Breach]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''76''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 6 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Abigail Dow|Abby Dow]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Wasps Women|Wasps]], [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''74''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 7 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[May Campbell (rugby union)|May Campbell]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''61''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 8 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Kelly Taylor (rugby union)|Kelly Taylor]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''59''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 9 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Claudia MacDonald]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Darlington Mowden Park Sharks]], [[Wasps Women|Wasps]], [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''58''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 10 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Heather Cowell]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]], [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''57''' |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|||
=== Goal kicking === |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
|||
|- |
|||
!width=60| Rank |
|||
!width=120| Nationality |
|||
!width=160| Player |
|||
!width=400| Club(s) |
|||
!width=90| Years |
|||
!width=60| Points |
|||
|- |
|||
! 1 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Ellie Green]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]], [[Worcester Warriors Women|Worcester Warriors]], [[Trailfinders Women|Trailfinders]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''459''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 2 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Zoe Harrison]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''423''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 3 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Emma Sing]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2018– |
|||
| '''333''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 4 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Amber Reed]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''289''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 5 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|USA}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Gabby Cantorna]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Exeter Chiefs Women|Exeter Chiefs]] |
|||
| 2020– |
|||
| '''288''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 6 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Helena Rowland]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Saracens Women|Saracens]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''234''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 7 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Lagi Tuima]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Bristol Bears Women|Bristol Bears]], [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''229''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 8 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|ENG}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Katy Daley-McLean]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], [[Sale Sharks Women|Sale Sharks]] |
|||
| 2017–21 |
|||
| '''208''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 9 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|NZL}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Lizzie Goulden]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Wasps Women|Wasps]], [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], [[Gloucester-Hartpury]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''197''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! 10 |
|||
| align=left | {{ruw|WAL}} |
|||
| align=left | [[Florence Williams (rugby union)|Flo Williams]] |
|||
| align=left | [[Loughborough Lightning (women's rugby union)|Loughborough Lightning]], [[Wasps Women|Wasps]], [[Saracens Women|Saracens]] |
|||
| 2017– |
|||
| '''184''' |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
== Broadcast == |
== Broadcast == |
||
In the |
In the 2022–23 season, at least two matches per round were streamed on the competition website. At least one of these matches will also be shown on the [[BBC iPlayer]] and [[BBC Red Button]]. Both semi-finals and the final were shown on the competition website, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Red Button.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RFU |url=https://www.premier15s.com/news/article/how-to-watch-allianz-premier-15s-live-stream-games |access-date=8 April 2022 |website=www.premier15s.com |archive-date=17 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217065455/https://www.premier15s.com/news/article/how-to-watch-allianz-premier-15s-live-stream-games |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of [[Harlequins Women|Harlequins]] [[The Big Game (rugby union)|Big Game]] double-header with [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins Men]], [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] broadcast one regular season game as well as both semi-finals and the final. Unlike the BBC, TNT Sports uses its own punditry and commentary for the matches they broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT Sport to show Premier 15s semi-finals and final |url=https://www.bt.com/sport/rugby-union/features/bt-sport-to-show-premier-15s-semi-finals-and-final |access-date=8 April 2022 |website=BT.com |language=en |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529033916/https://www.bt.com/sport/rugby-union/features/bt-sport-to-show-premier-15s-semi-finals-and-final |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
From the |
From the 2023–24 season, [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] gained broadcasting rights to one game per weekend as well as both the semi-finals and the final.<ref name="TNTPWR">{{cite news |title=TNT Sports Adds Rights To Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby To Strengthen Live Rugby Offering |url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/tnt-sports-adds-rights-to-allianz-premiership-womens-rugby-to-strengthen-live-rugby-offering |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=Premiership Women's Rugby |date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108141428/https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/tnt-sports-adds-rights-to-allianz-premiership-womens-rugby-to-strengthen-live-rugby-offering |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TNT Sports adds Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby rights to strengthen live rugby offering |url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/rugby/tnt-sports-adds-allianz-premiership-women-s-rugby-rights-to-strengthen-live-rugby-offering_sto9874731/story.shtml |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=[[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] |date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108173025/https://www.tntsports.co.uk/geoblocking.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TNT Telegraph">{{cite news |last1=Tomas |first1=Fiona |title=TNT secure Premiership Women's Rugby rights in 'game-changing' deal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/11/08/tnt-secure-premiership-womens-rugby-rights-deal/ |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=8 November 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> As part of the deal, there is provision for a [[Free-to-air television|free-to-air provider]] to show both the semi-finals and final.<ref name="TNT Telegraph"/> The competition CEO Belinda Moore revealed that discussions to try to gain a [[Terrestrial television|terrestrial broadcaster]] for the competition were ongoing.<ref name="TNT Telegraph"/> The same game shown by TNT sports will be aired by The Rugby Network in the United States and Canada and by RugbyPassTV outside of the UK, Ireland, US, and Canada.<ref name="RugbyNetworkPWR"/><ref name="RugbyPassPWR"/> [[BBC Sport]] and [[BBC iPlayer]] began showing select games from round 13 onwords.<ref name="BBC2024">{{cite web |title=Premiership Women's Rugby - all you need to know |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68435068 |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=1 March 2024 |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301155614/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68435068 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!Territory |
! Territory |
||
!Rights holder |
! Rights holder |
||
! {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
|||
!Ref. |
|||
|- |
|||
|{{flagu|United Kingdom}} |
|||
|[[BBC Sport]] &<br>[[BBC iPlayer]]{{efn|Select matches}} |
|||
|align=center|<ref name="BBC2024"/> |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{flagu|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flagu|Ireland}} |
|{{flagu|United Kingdom}}<br>{{flagu|Ireland}} |
||
|[[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]]<br>[[Discovery+]]{{efn|name=One match per round|One match per round as well as both semi-finals and the final}} |
|[[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]] &<br>[[Discovery+]]{{efn|name=One match per round|One match per round as well as both semi-finals and the final}} |
||
|align=center|<ref name="TNTPWR"/> |
|align=center|<ref name="TNTPWR"/> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|{{flagu|United States}}<br>{{flagu|Canada}} |
|{{flagu|United States}}<br>{{flagu|Canada}} |
||
|The Rugby Network+{{efn|name=One match per round}} |
|The Rugby Network+{{efn|name=One match per round}} |
||
|align=center|<ref name="RugbyNetworkPWR">{{cite web |title=Allianz Premiership |
|align=center|<ref name="RugbyNetworkPWR">{{cite web |title=Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby To Air Exclusively On The Rugby Network In Us And Canada |url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/allianz-premiership-womens-rugby-to-air-exclusively-on-the-rugby-network-in-us-and-canada |website=www.thepwr.com |access-date=17 November 2023 |date=17 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117224434/https://www.thepwr.com/news/article/allianz-premiership-womens-rugby-to-air-exclusively-on-the-rugby-network-in-us-and-canada |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|Rest of World |
|Rest of World |
||
|Rugbypass TV{{efn|name=One match per round}} |
|Rugbypass TV{{efn|name=One match per round}} |
||
|align=center|<ref name="RugbyPassPWR">{{cite web |title=More live rugby coming to RugbyPass TV this weekend! |url=https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1725563724390420505 |
|align=center|<ref name="RugbyPassPWR">{{cite web |title=More live rugby coming to RugbyPass TV this weekend! |url=https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1725563724390420505 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |date=17 November 2023 |access-date=17 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301230644/https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1725563724390420505 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
|} |
|} |
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{{Rugby union in England}} |
{{Rugby union in England}} |
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{{Premiership Women's Rugby}} |
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{{Premier 15s}} |
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{{Women's rugby union}} |
{{Women's rugby union}} |
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[[Category:Women's rugby union competitions in England]] |
[[Category:Women's rugby union competitions in England]] |
||
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Europe]] |
|||
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in England]] |
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in England]] |
||
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category:Premiership Women's Rugby| ]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 20:29, 27 December 2024
Current season, competition or edition: 2024–25 Premiership Women's Rugby | |
.png) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| First season | 2017–18 |
| Administrator | RFU |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Country |  England |
| Most recent champion(s) | Gloucester-Hartpury (2nd title) (2023–24) |
| Most titles | Saracens (3 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | TNT Sports |
| Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
| Relegation to | No relegation |
| Domestic cup(s) | Allianz Cup |
| Official website | www |
Premiership Women's Rugby, officially known as Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby or The Allianz PWR, is an annual semi-professional women's rugby union club competition at the highest level of the English rugby union system, and is run by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). It is contested by nine clubs who play two series of round-robin matches to determine the four participants of a single-elimination tournament. It began play in the 2017–18 season, superseding the former Women's Premiership, and introducing elements of professionalism in the sport's highest level. In its first six seasons, the competition was known as the Premier 15s. Gloucester-Hartpury are the current champions, while Saracens have won the most championships (3).
Premiership Women's Rugby runs concurrently with the Allianz Cup, a similar annual competition contested by the same clubs, in which the teams are instead split into two pools, and only play one series of round-robin matches to determine places in the competition's tournament. The Allianz Cup began play in the 2021–22 season and has been won twice by Exeter Chiefs.
History
[edit]2016–2023: Premier 15s
[edit]The RFU founded the competition as "Women's Super Rugby" in October 2016, committing to a three-year, £2.4 million investment.[1][2][3] A bidding process was opened to clubs seeking to operate a franchise in the new league, with the RFU initially planning to have all eight Women's Premiership teams and two new teams compete.[3] Minimum standards were raised for aspiring franchise owners, such as requiring clubs to invest in professional training facilities and coaching resources.[3][4]
After interviews with twelve clubs at Twickenham Stadium, the RFU announced the league's ten foundation clubs in February 2017.[5][6] The decision to admit all Premiership clubs (Aylesford Bulls Ladies being taken over by Harlequins to become Harlequins Ladies) except for Lichfield Ladies, despite their fifteen-year presence in the top flight, was controversial. As the club expressed being "disgusted, disappointed and dumbfounded",[7] Leicester Tigers, and Member for Lichfield Michael Fabricant, unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the decision,[8][9] with the latter claiming the selection of only ten teams violated the Equality Act 2010, as the men's Premiership Rugby had twelve teams.[9] The Thurrock T-Birds, who won the 2016–17 Championship 1 South season, also unsuccessfully attempted to appeal their exclusion.[10][11]
The seven Premiership clubs would join Gloucester-Hartpury, Loughborough Lightning, and Waterloo in the inaugural season of the league, which had been rebranded to the "Premier 15s" prior to its start. Potato crisps manufacturer Tyrrells obtained its naming rights for three years, in what was described by the RFU as "the biggest ever financial investment in women's club rugby."[1][12][13]
Financial services company Allianz began their naming rights sponsorship ahead of the 2020–21 season.[14] The two independent clubs, Richmond and Waterloo, were replaced with the Premiership Rugby-affiliated Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks. The RFU stressed the need for financially viable clubs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] Worcester Warriors were temporarily suspended during the 2022–23 season due to financial difficulties.[16] These were resolved within a month and Worcester were unsuspended.[17]
2023 onwards: Premiership Women's Rugby
[edit]Trailfinders and Leicester Tigers were admitted into the league in the 2023–24 season, as the competition rebranded to "Premiership Women's Rugby".[18][19] Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors were initially excluded from the 2023–24 season alongside DMP Sharks and Wasps. Sale and Worcester were given conditional invitations by the RFU to rejoin for the 2023–24 season, in order to maintain the number of clubs in the league at ten.[20][21]
Withdrawal of Worcester Warriors Women
[edit]On 17 October 2023 the owners of Worcester Warriors Women, Cube International, notified the RFU and PWR that they intended to withdraw Worcester Warriors Women from Premiership Women's Rugby and the Allianz Cup.[22][23] The impact on the season's fixtures was not announced, however Worcester's next fixture, the Allianz Cup match against Bristol Bears Women was cancelled.[22][23]
Teams
[edit]Nine teams are currently competing in Premiership Women's Rugby, as of the 2024–25 season.[24]
Locations of teams in Premiership Women's Rugby and the Allianz Cup
Locations of clubs in Greater London
| Team | Established | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Titles (last) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Bears | 1984 | Bristol | Shaftesbury Park | 200 | – (N/A) |
| Ashton Gate | 27,000 | ||||
| Exeter Chiefs | 2019 | Exeter | Sandy Park | 15,600 | – (N/A) |
| Gloucester-Hartpury | 2014 | Hartpury | Hartpury Stadium[25] | 2,000 | 2 (2024) |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm | 16,115 | |||
| Harlequins | 1995[a] | Twickenham (London) | Twickenham Stoop | 14,800 | 1 (2021) |
| Leicester Tigers | 2021 | Leicester | Welford Road | 25,849 | – (N/A) |
| Loughborough Lightning | 1970s[a] | Northampton | Franklin's Gardens[26] | 14,249 | – (N/A) |
| Sale Sharks | 2020 | Sale (Manchester) | Heywood Road | 3,387 | – (N/A) |
| Saracens | 1989 | Hendon (London) | StoneX Stadium | 10,500 | 3 (2022) |
| Trailfinders | 2023 | Ealing (London) | Trailfinders Sports Ground | 5,000 | – (N/A) |
All time
[edit]A total of 14 clubs have been involved in the top flight since the league's inception in the 2017–18 season. The most recent clubs to make debuts in Premiership Woman's Rugby were Trailfinders Women and Leicester Tigers Women, who made their top-flight debut in the 2023–24 season.
Five clubs — Bristol, Gloucester-Hartpury, Harlequins, Loughborough and Saracens — have appeared in every season to date.
Below is a list of clubs that have participated in the competition and the number of full seasons they've competed in. Clubs currently active are marked in bold, while those that have been ever-present in are listed in bold italics. The last column shows the seasons each club has participated in, including the current one.
Note: The 2019–20 season is not counted as it was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Team | Seasons Competed | Seasons Participated |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Bears | 6 | 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
| Darlington Mowden Park Sharks | 5 | 2017–18 to 2023 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 2020–21 to 2023–24 |
| Gloucester-Hartpury | 6 | 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
| Harlequins | 6 | 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
| Leicester Tigers | 1 | 2023–24 |
| Loughborough Lightning | 6 | 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
| Richmond | 2 | 2017–18 to 2018–19 |
| Sale Sharks | 4 | 2020–21 to 2023–24 |
| Saracens | 6 | 2017–18 to 2023–24 |
| Trailfinders | 1 | 2023–24 |
| Wasps | 5 | 2017–18 to 2023 |
| Waterloo | 2 | 2017–18 to 2018–19 |
| Worcester Warriors | 5 | 2017–18 to 2023 |
Sponsorship
[edit]| Period | Sponsor | Name | League Title | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2020 |  Tyrrells Potato Crisps |
Tyrrells Premier 15s | Premier 15s | [27] |
| 2020–2023 |  Allianz |
Allianz Premier 15s | [28] | |
| 2023–current | Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby | Premiership Women's Rugby |
Structure
[edit]League season
[edit]The Premiership Women's Rugby league season typically runs from September to June and comprises 18 rounds of matches, with each club playing each other home and away. In the 2023–24 season, each club also had bye weeks. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
Playoffs
[edit]Following the completion of the regular season, the top 4 teams enter the playoffs, which are held in June. The top two teams receive home advantage, the league leaders hosting the 4th ranked team, and the 2nd place team hosting the 3rd place team. The winners of these semi-finals progress to the final, with no set venue, with the winner of the final being crowned champions. In the inaugural season, the play-offs comprised back-to-back home and away fixtures, with the winner being determined by an aggregate score. This was changed to single matches from the following season onwards.[2]
Champions
[edit]| Season |  Champions
|
Final | Runner-up 
|
Top of Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Saracens | 24–20 | Harlequins | Saracens |
| 2018–19 | Saracens | 33–17 | Harlequins | Saracens |
| 2019–20 | Season abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2020–21 | Harlequins | 25–17 | Saracens | Saracens |
| 2021–22 | Saracens | 43–21 | Exeter Chiefs | Saracens |
| 2022–23 | Gloucester-Hartpury | 34–19 | Exeter Chiefs | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| 2023–24 | Gloucester-Hartpury | 36–24 | Bristol Bears | Gloucester-Hartpury |
Summary of winners
[edit]| # | Team | Champions | Years as champions | Runners-up | Years as runners-up | Top of league table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saracens | 3 | 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22 | 1 | 2020–21 | 4 |
| 2 | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2 | 2022–23, 2023–24 | 0 | — | 2 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 1 | 2020–21 | 2 | 2017–18, 2018–19 | — |
Player records
[edit]All player records relate to the 2017–18 season onwards, following the launch of the Premier 15s competition (which was later re-branded as Premiership Women's Rugby).[29]
- As of 24 June 2023
Points
[edit]| Rank | Nationality | Player | Club(s) | Years | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England
|
Zoe Harrison | Saracens | 2017– | 523 |
| 2 | England
|
Ellie Green | Harlequins, Worcester Warriors, Trailfinders | 2017– | 484 |
| 3 | England
|
Emma Sing | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2018– | 463 |
| 4 | England
|
Ellie Rugman | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2018– | 454 |
| 5 | England
|
Poppy Cleall | Saracens | 2017– | 425 |
| 6 | England
|
Marlie Packer | Saracens | 2017– | 410 |
| 7 | England
|
Abby Dow | Wasps, Harlequins, Trailfinders | 2017– | 388 |
| 8 | England
|
Lark Atkin-Davies | Worcester Warriors, Loughborough Lightning, Bristol Bears | 2017– | 385 |
| 9 | England
|
Jess Breach | Harlequins, Saracens | 2017– | 380 |
| 10 | England
|
Helena Rowland | Saracens, Loughborough Lightning | 2017– | 359 |
Tries
[edit]| Rank | Nationality | Player | Club(s) | Years | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England
|
Poppy Cleall | Saracens | 2017– | 85 |
| 2 | England
|
Marlie Packer | Saracens | 2017– | 82 |
| 3 | England
|
Ellie Rugman | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2018– | 78 |
| 4 | England
|
Lark Atkin-Davies | Worcester Warriors, Loughborough Lightning, Bristol Bears | 2017– | 77 |
| 5 | England
|
Jess Breach | Harlequins, Saracens | 2017– | 76 |
| 6 | England
|
Abby Dow | Wasps, Harlequins, Trailfinders | 2017– | 74 |
| 7 | England
|
May Campbell | Saracens | 2017– | 61 |
| 8 | England
|
Kelly Taylor | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2017– | 59 |
| 9 | England
|
Claudia MacDonald | Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Wasps, Exeter Chiefs | 2017– | 58 |
| 10 | England
|
Heather Cowell | Worcester Warriors, Harlequins | 2017– | 57 |
Goal kicking
[edit]| Rank | Nationality | Player | Club(s) | Years | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England
|
Ellie Green | Harlequins, Worcester Warriors, Trailfinders | 2017– | 459 |
| 2 | England
|
Zoe Harrison | Saracens | 2017– | 423 |
| 3 | England
|
Emma Sing | Gloucester-Hartpury | 2018– | 333 |
| 4 | England
|
Amber Reed | Bristol Bears | 2017– | 289 |
| 5 |  United States
|
Gabby Cantorna | Exeter Chiefs | 2020– | 288 |
| 6 | England
|
Helena Rowland | Saracens, Loughborough Lightning | 2017– | 234 |
| 7 | England
|
Lagi Tuima | Bristol Bears, Harlequins | 2017– | 229 |
| 8 | England
|
Katy Daley-McLean | Loughborough Lightning, Sale Sharks | 2017–21 | 208 |
| 9 |  New Zealand
|
Lizzie Goulden | Wasps, Loughborough Lightning, Gloucester-Hartpury | 2017– | 197 |
| 10 |  Wales
|
Flo Williams | Loughborough Lightning, Wasps, Saracens | 2017– | 184 |
Broadcast
[edit]In the 2022–23 season, at least two matches per round were streamed on the competition website. At least one of these matches will also be shown on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button. Both semi-finals and the final were shown on the competition website, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Red Button.[30] As part of Harlequins Big Game double-header with Harlequins Men, TNT Sports broadcast one regular season game as well as both semi-finals and the final. Unlike the BBC, TNT Sports uses its own punditry and commentary for the matches they broadcast.[31]
From the 2023–24 season, TNT Sports gained broadcasting rights to one game per weekend as well as both the semi-finals and the final.[32][33][34] As part of the deal, there is provision for a free-to-air provider to show both the semi-finals and final.[34] The competition CEO Belinda Moore revealed that discussions to try to gain a terrestrial broadcaster for the competition were ongoing.[34] The same game shown by TNT sports will be aired by The Rugby Network in the United States and Canada and by RugbyPassTV outside of the UK, Ireland, US, and Canada.[35][36] BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer began showing select games from round 13 onwords.[37]
| Territory | Rights holder | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom
|
BBC Sport & BBC iPlayer[b] |
[37] |
United Kingdom Ireland
|
TNT Sports & Discovery+[c] |
[32] |
United States Canada
|
The Rugby Network+[c] | [35] |
| Rest of World | Rugbypass TV[c] | [36] |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Premier 15s: New league a real opportunity for women's rugby" Archived 24 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, ESPN, Victoria Monk, 15 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Women's Super Rugby to launch in England". Scrumqueens. February 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "England reveal top new women's competition". Scrumqueens. October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ "RFU announce teams for Women's Super Rugby". RFU. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ Lane, Ellis (28 February 2017). "Gloucester-Hartpury set for new look Women's Premiership". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 30 March 2017. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Women's Super Rugby: RFU offers 10 clubs places in 2017 competition". BBC Sport. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ Beardmore, Michael (2 March 2017). "RUGBY UNION: Lichfield Ladies chief 'disgusted and dumbfounded' by Super League exclusion". Lichfield Mercury. Retrieved 30 March 2017. [permanent dead link]
- ^ Mercury, Lichfield (3 March 2017). "Leicester Tigers give their backing to Lichfield Ladies' bid to overturn Super League exclusion". Lichfield Mercury. Retrieved 30 March 2017. [permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Mercury, Lichfield (20 March 2017). "RUGBY UNION: MP vows to raise Lichfield Ladies' 'extraordinary' Super League omission in Parliament". Lichfield Mercury. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ "Thurrock women's rugby side set to fight for new big money Super League inclusion". The Enquirer. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/Governance/Disclipine/01/32/44/70/ThurrockRFCLichfieldRFCjudgmentApril2017_English.pdf [dead link]
- ^ "Tyrrells named as title partner for women's domestic competition" (Press release). Rugby Football Union. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ Daniels, Tom (16 May 2020). "Tyrrells ends Women's Premier 15's title sponsorship". Insider Sport. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "RFU And Allianz Announce Landmark Partnership For The Premier 15s". Sale Sharks. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Sale and Exeter join women's top flight". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Worcester suspended from competition after owners miss RFU deadline | Rugby union | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors and Wasps given green light to compete despite administration". ITV News. 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Allianz Premier 15s Update". www.premier15s.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ "Premiership Women's Rugby Launched To Kick Off A New Era For Women's Rugby In England". www.thepwr.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Sharks Women receive conditional offer to join Premier 15s". Sale Sharks. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Warriors Women secures position in Allianz Premier 15s for 2023/24 season". Warriors Women. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Worcester Warriors Women: Premiership Women's Rugby side pull out of 2023-24 season". BBC Sport. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ a b "WARRIORS WOMEN WITHDRAW FROM PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY". Premiership Women's Rugby. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Clubs - Premiership Women's Rugby". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled". Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Lightning to call the Gardens home as Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby fixture schedule announced". Loughborough Lightning. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "RFU Names Snack Brand Tyrrells Title Sponsor Of New Women's Domestic Competition". Sports Business Journal. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Allianz to sponsor Premier 15s as top-flight women's rugby returns". Sky Sports. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Premier 15s - Women's Rugby Data". Women's Rugby Data. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "RFU". www.premier15s.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "BT Sport to show Premier 15s semi-finals and final". BT.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ a b "TNT Sports Adds Rights To Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby To Strengthen Live Rugby Offering". Premiership Women's Rugby. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "TNT Sports adds Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby rights to strengthen live rugby offering". TNT Sports. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Tomas, Fiona (8 November 2023). "TNT secure Premiership Women's Rugby rights in 'game-changing' deal". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby To Air Exclusively On The Rugby Network In Us And Canada". www.thepwr.com. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ a b "More live rugby coming to RugbyPass TV this weekend!". X (formerly Twitter). 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Premiership Women's Rugby - all you need to know". BBC Sport. 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.