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Best player
1. Liv Apps Thoroughly deserved PWR player of the season. The No 9 has been Saracens’ standout player in an impressive campaign and her playing relationship with her half-back partner Zoe Harrison has made the team tick.
2. Meg Jones The England captain steered Trailfinders to their first PWR final with some incredible performances. Her ability to turn a game on a dime with great running lines, huge tackles and leadership qualities make her the MVP of the London club.
3. Alex Matthews The Gloucester No 8 does a lot of work that goes under the radar but her worth was clear for all to see when she was out injured. The club’s performances dramatically changed and her influence will be even more important next season with figures such as Zoe Stratford and Tatyana Heard leaving the club.
Biggest fumble
The captains not offered contracts The Saracens co-captain Marlie Packer and Trailfinders’ captain’, Kate Zackary, contested the PWR title in the final against one another but were treated similarly by their clubs this season. Packer told the BBC that the north London side were not going to offer her a contract for next season, so she has signed for rivals Harlequins for the next campaign. It is also understood Zackary was told her deal would not be renewed with her next destination not yet confirmed. Both players are in great form with amazing leadership qualities and their being allowed to leave feel like mistakes by their former employers.
1. Saracens troll everyone Saracens really leaned into being a club people like to hate and it paid off. Their social media content has been top drawer, an example being when the social team asked Saracens players “what is your favourite thing about Gloucester?” The best response came from Julia Omokhuale who said: “That we’re going to beat them.” Gloucester in fact won the game but Sarries had the content.
2. Gloucester’s blindside date Similar to Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop date, Mackenzie Carson would go on a “date” with a rival player and both would try to break the other one into laughter.
3. Bristol Bears announcements No one does a signing announcement like Bristol and theirs for Ellie Kildunne was unique. Sitting in a chair, a paper covering her face with the headline “where will she end up?” and then the grand reveal of women’s rugby’s biggest star. Unmatched.
Best coach
1. Alex Austerberry The Saracens chief has led them back to the top with only two league losses all season, both at the hands of Gloucester-Hartpury. Austerberry has a good working relationship with his squad and revealed after the final he sometimes writes players notes after a coach once wrote one to him.
2. Barney Maddison Yes, Trailfinders were not competitive in the final but this is only the squad’s third-ever season and to be this successful, a hat must be tipped to Maddison. He has built an impressive squad too, which may result in more international stars joining next season.
3. Steve Salvin Exeter were so close to a spot in the final and fell just short of causing an upset against Saracens. From fifth last season to a few points from a final, the club’s improvement has been impressive.
Biggest shocks
1. Gloucester crumble Before the break for the Women’s Six Nations Gloucester were unbeaten. After the break they didn’t win a game. Trailfinders ended their winning streak, which stretched back to November 2024, and then Gloucester lost to Bristol, whose form has been sub par this season. They remained top of the table and played Trailfinders in the semi-final but again were defeated by the London club. Players such as Mo Hunt and Alex Matthews were injured, while Zoe Stratford’s pregnancy meant she was unavailable. Gloucester just could not replace those three pillars of the team and they crumbled. More was expected from the three-time consecutive league winners.
2. Bristol’s season Bristol had been in and among the top four over the previous few seasons, so their dramatic drop off in form was a surprise. The West Country side managed to win only six games out of the 16 they played and finished eighth. The second half of the season saw an improvement, which they will hope to build on next season with their signing of the World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne.
after newsletter promotion
3. An uncompetitive final Supporters had been licking their lips at the thought of a Saracens v Trailfinders showdown after the latter’s double defeat of the champions, Gloucester. Instead Saracens showed their experience and crushed the first-time finalists with a dominant performance. For a neutral it was a disappointing match after such a competitive season with so many twists and turns.
Best signing
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u The New Zealand international signed in October and remained at Harlequins until March. Mikaele-Tu’u’s impact was clear for all to see and she won player of the year at the club’s awards. She made only 13 appearances but Quins say she left a “lasting impression” on the side and its players.
Improvements needed
1. Expansion This league deserves 10 teams with no club having a bye-week. Fans know this won’t happen next season but it is a must for the 2027-28 campaign. The latest update we have been given is that they are in the expression of interest phase with Wales, Scotland and Ireland all raising their hands as well as clubs such as Bath.
2. TMO for every game The PWR has television match officials but only for their televised games on TNT Sports. That is one game per regular season round and there are no current plans to expand it to the rest of the league because of financial constraints. While it would be a big investment, it is what the league and players deserve in the best women’s club rugby competition in the world.
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This is an extract from our weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To
