PWR Next Gen Cup victory gives Trailfinders senior stars fresh selection challenge

New Zealand international Alana Borland believes Trailfinders Women’s victory in the JAECOO Next Gen Cup will mean she and the club’s other senior players can expect to come under greater pressure for their starting spots when the JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby begins at the end of the month.

Barney Maddison’s side won their first major trophy after they beat Saracens 22-21 on Saturday. Trailfinders starting XV had an average age of 22, but were bolstered by Canada fly-half Claire Gallagher, and Women’s Rugby World Cup winning Black Ferns Ruby Tui and Tanya Kalounivale.

Borland was on the sidelines running water and messages during the match at Stone X Stadium, meaning the 35-cap Black Fern was able to help celebrate Trailfinders’ young stars reward for the work they put in every day at training.

“As a player, you love getting pushed, and when you see younger ones coming up, it’s awesome,” Borland told RugbyPass. “You want the challenge, and it’s only going to make everyone on the team better.

“The competition’s already pretty strong. Barney, and coaches Steve Shingler and Kim Oliver might have a bit of a tough one with this year’s selection, but that’s a good problem to have.”

Trailfinders fought back from being 14-7 behind at half-time. Their 21-year-old captain Niamh Swailes scored the opening score of the match and added a second after the break. Prop Annabel Meta and Brooke Bradley then crossed to put themselves out of reach before a late Saracens fight-back.

Meta is one of three Trailfinders starters who came through the Trailfinders Academy at Brunel University, a side who Trailfinders’ England back rower Abi Burton coaches. The partnership began in 2021 and since then has produced players that have taken their first steps in professional rugby.

“They didn’t say a word when they first came in, so as a senior player it is always awesome to see your young ones getting to thrive and have big moments like getting to play in a final,” Borland said.

“You only learn from that through experience, so I couldn’t be prouder of how they went and seeing them lift the cup was really cool.”

Trailfinders’ victory came five months after Saracens dominated Trailfinders to win the PWR final 52-14, a match Borland played in alongside Gallagher, fullback Rosie Inman and wing Grace White who also started the PWR Next Gen Cup final.

Meta was rewarded for her try, as well as work in the scrum and loose by winning the player of the match award. The 21-year-old came through Trailfinders’ partner college Henley College and Brunel University and only made the switch from back to front row at the end of 2025.

She has won England caps at Under-20 and Under-18, and Red Roses coach John Mitchell invited her to train with the England squad during this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

“It was tough,” Meta said. “We expected a dog fight, and we got a dog fight, but fortunately we came out on top which is really good to see and really good to feel. It’s the first win in history for us, so something to indulge in.

“We first came into the PWR three or four years ago and the growth we have gone through to reach the final last year and to now win the PREM Cup final says there’s a lot of things to come when the PWR starts.”

Trailfinders’ win stopped Saracens from completing a hat-trick of PWR Next Gen Cup victories. They will now start the defence of their PWR crown reinforced by England’s Zoe Harrison, Jess Breach and Bryony Field, and Canada’s Olivia Apps, Sophie De Goede and Gabrielle Senft.

“It was good, it was a good test for us,” Saracens fly-half Amelia MacDougall told RugbyPass. “Trailfinders are a strong team, and we knew it was going to be a tough game. Losing by a point is hard, but it will make us better in the end. Losing will hurt for a while, but the PWR starts soon and we can concentrate on that.

“It is really good. Everyone wants to start in the PWR, and you have to fight for the shirt. The experience and exposure will help us all to push for that PWR spot. With the internationals coming back, it won’t be easy, but it will be a good spur to push us to new levels.

“We had a few debuts, and one of our props is 18. We’ve played together a lot, and we’ve had good cohesion and have improved week on week, it is just a shame we couldn’t get the win today.”

Both teams will enjoy a few weeks off before the PWR begins over the last weekend of November. Trailfinders begin away to Loughborough Lighting, while Saracens host Leicester Tigers. They then meet again on 2 January when Saracens travel to Trailfinders Sports Club in Round 6.

With the WXV Global Series over, the teams’ internationals have begun to make their return. For Trailfinders, that means the likes of Burton, England captain Meg Jones and her Scotland counterpart Rachel Malcolm will be back to reinforce a squad that will be filled with confidence after they won the club’s maiden trophy.

“We’ve started to get a bit of continuity a bit earlier in the season,” Borland said. “Last year we had a flood of internationals come in from the World Cup, all playing different game plans for, different countries.

“Having a Cup run and gaining the momentum from the end of last season again means hopefully, we’re going to be off to a good start and keep that winning streak going a little longer.”