Northern | US
PWR

Leicester add sixth international signing to 2026/27 PWR squad

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Rachel Ehrecke of the USA in action during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool A match between England and USA at the Stadium of Light on August 22, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Comments
Comment

Leicester Tigers have added a sixth capped international to their squad for the 2026/27 JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT

USA Women’s Eagles lock forward Rachel Ehrecke has crossed the East Midlands divide to join Tigers from Loughborough Lightning.

The 30-year-old spent one season with Loughborough, where she made 12 PWR appearances and scored two tries.

VIDEO

Ehrecke, who has also represented Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, is the latest international to have signed on at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Wallaroos pair Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Caitlyn Halse will also be lining up for the club next season, as well as France’s Coco Lindelauf, Wales’ Abbie Fleming and England centre Lagi Tuima.

These signings have come after the club announced that they would have an ‘enhanced strategy’ for the 2026/27. This renewed commitment came amid the side’s ninth-place finish in PWR in the 2025/26 campaign.

Fraser Goatcher, Director of Women’s Rugby, said: “Rachel is someone who brings ridiculous work rate around the pitch. She’s a really industrious player, great in set pieces particularly the lineout, and is going to bring us some tenacity in defence.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Last week Leicester head coach Ross Bundy announced he was leaving the East Midlands for a role with Exeter Chiefs as an assistant coach.

Due to head into their fourth PWR season, Leicester are yet to finish higher than eighth in the English women’s top flight and have seen USA internationals Emily Henrich, Kristin Bitter and Emerson Allen leave Mattioli Woods Welford Road this summer. Wales international prop Katherine Baverstock has also left Tigers.

Related

Ehrecke has won 28 caps for the Eagles since her 2021 debut. The lock most recently appeared in each of her country’s two-match Test series against the Springbok Women in South Africa.

Ehrecke said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be joining a club with such a rich history and passionate fanbase. Can’t wait to get to work with the team and run out at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.”

ADVERTISEMENT

RugbyPass App Download

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!


Whether you’re looking for somewhere to track upcoming fixtures, a place to watch live rugby or an app that shows you all of the latest news and analysis, the RugbyPass rugby app is perfect.

Stream Nations Championship 2026 LIVE

Hemispheres collide in the new Nations Championship. Stream live, replays and highlights free on RugbyPass TV.

Watch on RPTV
Starts 4th July 2026 - USA only.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close