PWR: Team News for Round 18 - Sophie de Goede returns to StoneX after two years

With the top four already set in stone, the progressing teams will want nothing more than to put their best foot forward and move into the knock-out stages upon a wave of winning form. The women's game was shocked to discover that Ellie Kildunne has played her final match for Harlequins, as the Twickenham side sit out of Round 18 with a bye and finish at fifth in the table.

It's jubiliant scenes for Trailfinders Women, as Meg Jones and co find themselves in the play-offs for the first time in their history, and are out to end Gloucvester-Hartpury's three-year run of league dominance so, with just one last round of fixtures to go in the PWR regular campaign, here's all the PWR team news.

Exeter Chiefs will look to secure third place and confirm a semi-final trip to Saracens when they host Sale Sharks in the final round of the Premiership Women’s Rugby regular season on Sunday.

The Chiefs require just a single league point to guarantee their position after extending their winning streak to three matches with an emphatic 57-5 victory over Bristol Bears last time out. Sale, meanwhile, arrive at Sandy Park looking to bounce back after their own four-game winning run was brought to an end by Saracens in Round 16.

A major milestone awaits Exeter scrum-half Flo Robinson, who is set to make her 100th appearance for the club. The Chiefs are also boosted by the return of fly-half Liv McGoverne from injury, with the playmaker returning to direct a side that has led the league defensively this season, recording a competition-high 2,571 successful tackles.

The visitors welcome back two key internationals in fly-half Holly Aitchison and hooker Amy Cokayne. Aitchison has been one of the league's standout tactical kickers this season, while Cokayne returns to a forward pack that has excelled at the set-piece, with Sale leading the competition for lineout throws won.

There will also be a fascinating individual battle between two of the league’s most effective back-row operators. Exeter number eight DaLeaka Menin and Sale captain Georgie Perris-Redding both rank among the league leaders for turnover wins, while Maisy Allen continues to top the tackle charts after another outstanding campaign for the Chiefs.

Exeter Chiefs: 15. Merryn Elworthy, 14. Sabrina Poulin, 13. Alex Tessier, 12. Nancy McGillivray, 11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, 10. Liv McGoverne, 9. Flo Robinson (vc); 1. Hope Rogers, 2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, 3. Amy Rule, 4. Linde van der Velden, 5. Dorothy Wall, 6. Emily Robinson (c), 7. Maisy Allen (vc), 8. DaLeaka Menin

Replacements: 16. Emily Tuttosi, 17. Lola Whitley, 18. Abby Middlebrooke, 19. Gabriella Nigrelli, 20. Zoë Dare, 21. Lucy Nye, 22. Danielle Preece, 23. Katie Buchanan

Sale Sharks: 15. Lizzie Duffy, 14. Rhona Lloyd, 13. Beatrice Rigoni, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Shona Campbell, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Amy Relf; 1. Tysh Harper, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Nick James, 4. Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 5. Eva Donaldson, 6. Katie Childs, 7. Georgie Perris-Redding (c), 8. Brittany Hogan

Replacements: 16. Molly Wright, 17. Leah Bartlett, 18. Sophie Benavent, 19. Charlotte Fray, 20. Sharifa Kasolo, 21. Olivia Ortiz, 22. Laura Perrin, 23. Courtney Keight

Sunday, June 7th - 15:30 KO - StoneX Stadium

Two play-off bound sides meet in a London derby at StoneX Stadium on Sunday, although the chances of these teams meeting again in the semi-finals remain slim. Trailfinders sit five points behind Exeter Chiefs and would need a bonus-point win, no points for Chiefs, and a remarkable 101-point swing to leapfrog them into third place.

Saracens have already secured a home semi-final and arrive looking for a third successive victory. There is a notable positional switch in the back three as Paige Farries moves from the wing to full-back, while Canadian international Sophie de Goede makes her first StoneX Stadium appearance in more than two years.

Trailfinders hand opportunities to several new faces, with Lauren Leone set to make her PWR debut on the wing. Mikiela Nelson, Gabby Brown, Scarlet Down and Poppy Love could also make their league debuts from the bench.

Saracens have been the competition's standout attacking side this season, leading the league with 101 tries and 661 points. Trailfinders, meanwhile, boast the best defensive record in PWR, with an 81.6% tackle success rate and a league-high 118 dominant tackles.

Saracens: 15. Paige Farries, 14. Alysha Corrigan, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sophie Bridger, 11. Lotte Sharp, 10. Zoe Harrison (cc), 9. Olivia Apps; 1. Liz Crake, 2. Bryony Field, 3. Donna Rose, 4. Julia Omokhuale, 5. Louise McMillan, 6. Gabrielle Senft, 7. Marlie Packer (cc), 8. Sophie de Goede

Replacements: 16. Carmen Tremelling, 17. Chloe Flanagan, 18. Kelsey Clifford, 19. Georgia Evans, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Amelia MacDougall, 22. Beth Blacklock, 23. Jess Breach

Trailfinders Women: 15. Rosie Inman, 14. Grace White, 13. Vicky Laflin, 12. Celia Quansah, 11. Lauren Leone, 10. Niamh Gallagher, 9. Sophie Molton; 1. Annabel Meta, 2. Cristina Blanco (C), 3. Cassandra Tuffnail, 4. Amelia Buckland-Hurry, 5. Emma Taylor, 6. Niamh Swailes, 7. Sally Williams, 8. Grace Moore

Replacements: 16. Amanda McQuade, 17. Mikiela Nelson, 18. Maya Montiel, 19. Gabby Brown, 20. Scarlet Down, 21. Hayley Jones, 22. Poppy Love, 23. Carys Cox

Sunday, June 7th - 15:30 KO - Kingsholm Stadium

Gloucester-Hartpury will be eager to respond after suffering their first defeat of the season last weekend, with the reigning champions returning to Kingsholm looking to rebuild momentum ahead of the play-offs. Sean Lynn’s side saw their unbeaten campaign ended in a 41-39 thriller against Trailfinders Women, but remain well set at the top of the table.

There are key returns for the hosts, with Tatyana Heard and Nel Metcalfe both back from injury, while Ellie Green is handed her first start of the season at fly-half. Gloucester-Hartpury continue to set the standard in key performance metrics, leading the league in scrum success rate at 96.6% and boasting dominant individual contributors such as Emma Sing in metres gained and Natasha Hunt in try assists.

Bristol Bears also make changes, with Evie Gallagher returning at openside flanker after injury, while Alisha Joyce features in her final appearance for the club. Gallagher remains one of the standout defensive players in the league, leading in turnovers won, while Bristol continue to top the charts for defenders beaten.

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Nel Metcalfe, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Abi Pritchard, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Sian Jones; 1 Ellena Perry, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4 Steph Else, 5 Sarah Beckett (C), 6 Bethan Lewis, 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Jorja Aiono.

Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 Niamh O’Dowd, 18 Ranni Samuda, 19 Alaw Pyrs, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Molly Bunker, 23 Lizzie Goulden.

Bristol Bears: 15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Millie Hyett, 12 Jenna De Vera, 11 Millie David, 10 Keira Bevan, 9 Rhea Clarke; 1 Simi Pam, 2 Amy Dale, 3 Sarah Bern (C), 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Delaney Burns, 6 Alisha Joyce, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Row Marston-Mulhearn.

Replacements: 16 Holly Phillips, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Aisha Jah, 19 Christiana Balogun, 20 Demelza Short, 21 Jenny Herring, 22 Lauren Bailey, 23 Charlotte Woodman.

Sunday, June 7th - 15:30 KO - Welford Road

Only local pride remains on the line as Leicester Tigers host Loughborough Lightning at Welford Road in the final round of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season. Tigers are already confirmed to finish bottom of the table, but will be targeting a first win of the campaign against their East Midlands rivals. Lightning, meanwhile, can still climb to sixth place if results go their way, provided Sale Sharks are beaten at Sandy Park.

Leicester hand another start to Zara Pickwick, who scored against Harlequins last weekend, while Nadine Vincent comes into the forward pack. The Tigers will also be led by fly-half Tess Feury, as they continue to build around young talent and set-piece resilience.

Lightning make key returns of their own, with captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones back in the side, while Keevy Fitzpatrick and Amelia Williams are both named in the starting XV. Loughborough continue to lead the league in attacking output, topping the charts for ruck entries, while individual threats like Alev Kelter and Haineala Lutui remain central to their attacking game.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Kristin Bitter, 14 Eve Slater, 13 Emily Henrich, 12 Jemima McCalman, 11 Karolina Kacirkova, 10 Tess Feury (C), 9 Zara Pickwick; 1 Katherine Baverstock, 2 Micke Gunter, 3 Nadine Vincent, 4 Ali Coleman, 5 Emerson Allen, 6 Jordan Russell, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Hermione Farmer.

Replacements: 16 Alana Bainbridge, 17 Danielle Allen-Solly, 18 Clodagh Dunne, 19 Tiana Gordon, 20 Rowann Sinclair, 21 Eneka Labeyrie, 22 Charlotte Daley, 23 Phoebe Andrews.

Loughborough Lightning: 15 Helen Nelson, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Meg Davey; 1 Amelia Williams, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Keevy Fitzpatrick, 5 Becky Boyd, 6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (C), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui.

Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Grace Clifford, 19 Kaya Acton, 20 Tahlia Brody, 21 Aiobhe Kelly, 22 Lia Green, 23 Lucia Scott.