Premiership Women's Rugby

Premiership Women's Rugby
Current season, competition or edition:Current sports event2025–26 Premiership Women's Rugby
SportRugby union
Founded2017 (2017)
First season2017–18
CEOGenevieve Shore[1]
AdministratorRFU
No. of teams9
CountryEngland
Most recentchampionGloucester–Hartpury (2024–25)
Most titlesSaracens,Gloucester–Hartpury(3 titles each)
BroadcasterTNT Sports
Level on pyramidLevel 1
Relegation toNo relegation
Domestic cupPWR Cup
Official websitewww.thepwr.com

Premiership Women's Rugby – commonly known as The PWR – is an annual semi-professionalwomen's rugby union club competition at the highest level of the English rugby union system, and is run by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).[2] It is contested by nine clubs, who play two series of round-robin matches to determine the four participants of the play-offs, which takes the form 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 they and Saracens have won the most league titles (3).[3]

Premiership Women's Rugby runs concurrently with the PWR Cup, a similar annual competition contested by the same clubs, which was introduced in the 2021–22 season. Unlike the league format, teams are instead split into two pools, and only play one series of round-robin matches to determine places in the competition's play-offs.[4]Saracens are the current champions, while they and Exeter Chiefs have won the most cups (2).[5]

History

2016–2023: Premier 15s

The RFU founded the competition as 'Women's Super Rugby' in October 2016, committing to a three-year, £2.4 million investment.[6][7][8] 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.[8] Minimum standards were raised for aspiring franchise owners, such as requiring clubs to invest in professional training facilities and coaching resources.[8][9]

After interviews with twelve clubs at Twickenham Stadium, the RFU announced the league's ten foundation clubs in February 2017.[10][11] 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",[12]Leicester Tigers, and Member for LichfieldMichael Fabricant, unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the decision,[13][14] with the latter claiming the selection of only ten teams violated the Equality Act 2010, as the men's Premiership Rugby had twelve teams.[14] The Thurrock T-Birds, who won the 2016–17 Championship 1 South season, also unsuccessfully attempted to appeal their exclusion.[15][16]

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."[6][17][18]

Financial services company Allianz began their naming rights sponsorship ahead of the 2020–21 season.[19] 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.[20]Worcester Warriors were temporarily suspended during the 2022–23 season due to financial difficulties.[21] These were resolved within a month and Worcester were unsuspended.[22]

2023 onwards: Premiership Women's Rugby

Trailfinders and Leicester Tigers were admitted into the league in the 2023–24 season, as the competition rebranded to 'Premiership Women's Rugby'.[23][24] 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.[25][26]

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.[27][28] 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.[27][28]

Teams

Nine teams are currently competing in Premiership Women's Rugby, as of the 2025–26 season.[29]

Locations of teams in Premiership Women's Rugby and the PWR Cup
class=notpageimage|
Locations of clubs in Greater London
Current teams
Team Established Location Stadium Capacity Titles (last) Ref
Bristol Bears1984 (1984)BristolShaftesbury Park 200 – (N/A) [30]
Ashton Gate27,000
Exeter Chiefs2019 (2019)ExeterSandy Park15,600 – (N/A) [31]
Gloucester–Hartpury2014 (2014)HartpuryHartpury Stadium[32]2,000 3 (2025) [33]
GloucesterKingsholm16,115
Harlequins1995 (1995)[a]Twickenham(London)Twickenham Stoop14,800 1 (2021) [34]
Leicester Tigers2021 (2021)LeicesterWelford Road25,849 – (N/A) [35]
Loughborough Lightning1970s (1970s)[a]NorthamptonFranklin's Gardens[36]14,249 – (N/A) [37]
Sale Sharks2020 (2020)Sale(Manchester)Heywood Road3,387 – (N/A) [38]
Saracens1989 (1989)Hendon(London)StoneX Stadium10,500 3 (2022) [39]
Trailfinders2023 (2023)Ealing(London)Trailfinders Sports Ground5,000 – (N/A) [40]

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 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 Bears72017–18 to 2024–25
Darlington Mowden Park Sharks52017–18 to 2022–23
Exeter Chiefs52020–21 to 2024–25
Gloucester–Hartpury72017–18 to 2024–25
Harlequins72017–18 to 2024–25
Leicester Tigers22023–24 to 2024–25
Loughborough Lightning72017–18 to 2024–25
Richmond22017–18 to 2018–19
Sale Sharks52020–21 to 2024–25
Saracens72017–18 to 2024–25
Trailfinders22023–24 to 2024–25
Wasps52017–18 to 2022–23
Waterloo22017–18 to 2018–19
Worcester Warriors52017–18 to 2022–23

Sponsorship

Period Sponsor Name League Branding Ref
2017–2020United KingdomTyrrells Potato CrispsTyrrells Premier 15sPremier 15s[41]
2020–2023GermanyAllianzAllianz Premier 15s[42]
2023–2024Allianz Premiership Women's RugbyPremiership Women's Rugby
2024–presentNo sponsorPremiership Women's Rugby—

Structure

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. From the 2023–24 season onwards, each club also has bye weeks. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:[43]

  • 4 points are awarded for a win.
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw.
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss.
    • 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.

Play-offs

Following the completion of the regular season, the top 4 teams enter the play-offs, which are usually 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.[7]

Champions

Season 1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions Final Runners–up 2nd place, silver medalist(s)Top of Table Ref
2017–18Saracens24–20 HarlequinsSaracens[44]
2018–19Saracens33–17 Harlequins[45]
2019–20 Season abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21Harlequins25–17 SaracensSaracens[46]
2021–22Saracens43–21 Exeter Chiefs[47]
2022–23Gloucester–Hartpury34–19 Exeter ChiefsGloucester–Hartpury[48]
2023–24Gloucester–Hartpury36–24 Bristol Bears[49]
2024–25Gloucester–Hartpury34–19 Saracens[50]

Summary of winners

# Team Champions Years as champions Runners–up Years as runners–up Top of league table
1 Saracens3 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–222 2020–21, 2024–254
Gloucester–Hartpury2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–250 — 3
3 Harlequins1 2020–212 2017–18, 2018–19—

Player records

All player records are from the 2017–18 season onwards, following the launch of the Premier 15s competition (which was later re-branded as Premiership Women's Rugby).[51]

As of 17 March 2025

Points

Rank Nationality Player Club(s) Years Points
1  EnglandZoe HarrisonSaracens2017– 676
2  EnglandEmma SingGloucester–Hartpury2018– 655
3  EnglandEllie GreenHarlequins, Worcester, Trailfinders, Gloucester–Hartpury2017– 498
4  EnglandLark Atkin-DaviesWorcester, Loughborough, Bristol2017– 475
5  EnglandEllie RugmanGloucester–Hartpury2018– 469
6  EnglandPoppy CleallSaracens2017– 445
7  EnglandMarlie PackerSaracens2017– 430
8  EnglandAbby DowWasps, Harlequins, Trailfinders2017– 418
9  EnglandHelena RowlandSaracens, Loughborough2017– 359
10  EnglandJess BreachHarlequins, Saracens2017– 390
 EnglandMay CampbellSaracens2017–

Tries

Rank Nationality Player Club(s) Years Tries
1  EnglandLark Atkin-DaviesWorcester, Loughborough, Bristol2017– 95
2  EnglandPoppy CleallSaracens2017– 89
3  EnglandMarlie PackerSaracens2017– 86
4  EnglandEllie RugmanGloucester–Hartpury2018– 81
5  EnglandAbby DowWasps, Harlequins, Trailfinders2017– 80
6  EnglandJess BreachHarlequins, Saracens2017– 78
 EnglandMay CampbellSaracens2017–
8  EnglandClaudia Moloney-MacDonaldDMP Sharks, Wasps, Exeter2017– 62
9  EnglandEllie KildunneGloucester–Hartpury, Wasps, Harlequins2017– 59
 EnglandKelly TaylorGloucester–Hartpury2017–

Goal kicking

Rank Nationality Player Club(s) Years Points
1  EnglandZoe HarrisonSaracens2017– 531
2  EnglandEllie GreenHarlequins, Worcester, Trailfinders, Gloucester–Hartpury2017– 473
3  EnglandEmma SingGloucester–Hartpury2018– 470
4  EnglandAmber ReedBristol2017–25 341
5  United StatesGabby CantornaExeter2020– 304
6  EnglandLagi TuimaBristol, Harlequins2017– 292
7  EnglandHelena RowlandSaracens, Loughborough2017– 272
8  EnglandKaty Daley-McLeanLoughborough, Sale2017–21 208
9  EnglandEmily ScarrattLoughborough2017– 207
10  New ZealandLiv McGoverneExeter2022– 203

Broadcast

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.[52] As part of HarlequinsBig 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.[53]

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.[54][55][56] As part of the deal, there is provision for a free-to-air provider to show both the semi-finals and final.[56] The competition CEO Belinda Moore revealed that discussions to try to gain a terrestrial broadcaster for the competition were ongoing.[56] 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.[57][58]BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer showing select games throughout the season.[59]

From the 2025–26 season, TNT Sports will continue to air one game per round, as well as both semi-finals and the final. BBC Sport will show one of the other three games per round, along with one semi-final and the final, which will be available on the BBC Sport app and BBC iPlayer. The remaining two games of each round will be broadcast on the official Premiership Women's Rugby YouTube channel. This will mark the first time in the competition's history that every single league match is broadcast live.[60][61][62]

Territory Rights holder Ref
 United Kingdom BBC Sport &BBC iPlayer[b][62]
 United Kingdom Ireland TNT Sports &Discovery+[c]
Worldwide YouTube[d]

Notes

  1. ^ abRe-formed in 2017
  2. ^One match per round as well as one semi-final and the final
  3. ^One match per round as well as both semi-finals and the final
  4. ^Two matches per round that are not shown on BBC or TNT.

References

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  3. ^"About PWR | Premiership Women's Rugby". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
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  14. ^ abMercury, 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.
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