PWR semi-finals: Talking points as Trailfinders and Saracens reached the Final

After 74 matches of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season just one more fixture remains.

The 75th match of the campaign will see Trailfinders Women and Saracens go toe-to-toe at the Twickenham Stoop in a winner-takes all finale.

Trailfinders’ 29-26 win against Gloucester Hartpury ended the West Country club’s three-year dominance of English club rugby with the second-ever away win in a PWR semi-final, while it took a late Jess Breach try to help Saracens to a 40-38 win over Exeter Chiefs at StoneX Stadium.

Before the Final on Sunday 28 June, here are three talking points from an enthralling weekend of knockout rugby action in PWR…

Trailfinders’ win can superpower PWR

The full-time celebrations of Trailfinders Women said it all as their place in the PWR Final was confirmed. At the end of their first-ever knockout game of English top flight rugby, Barney Maddison’s team had not only locked in a place at the Twickenham Stoop, but ended Gloucester Hartpury’s three year dominance of women’s rugby in England.

The West Country club’s trio of PWR titles will live long in the memory as a great dynasty of women’s rugby in England. Stars have been forged at Kingsholm Stadium over the years. Including Sean Lynn, whose time as head coach earned him the role as Wales boss in Cardiff.

Even though Gloucester Hartpury’s back-to-back-to-back champions will be remembered fondly, Trailfinders’ hard-fought win may be for the best. All year we have discussed how this is the most competitive PWR season ever. On Sunday that was personified by a shock semi-final defeat and a brand new finalist.

And, if we thought this year’s edition of PWR was competitive, this result signifies that 2026/27 could be even stronger. Already this season Sale Sharks have made strides and next season they will have Zoe Stratford, Tatyana Heard and Sarah Beckett along for the ride, while Leicester Tigers have also made a commitment to increase their women’s rugby investment next season.

With all the recent talk of expansion – taking into considering the notion of teams joining from Ireland, Scotland and Wales joining PWR – Trailfinders’ win signifies that the league is in a seriously strong position.

Zoe Harrison will be the Lions’ starting fly-half

This talking point has been brewing for some time. At the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Zoe Harrison put herself in a different sphere as a game director and goal-kicker. It is a trait that the Saracens fly-half has not dropped upon her return to club rugby.

On Sunday afternoon, as Saracens booked their place in the PWR Final with a 40-38 win against Exeter Chiefs, Harrison got 10 points from the tee.

It was not the perfect afternoon from the 28-year-old – who missed her final kick of the afternoon – although she did nail kicks from the touchline, along with those in front of the posts.

Saracens did have another number of top performers too. Both Olivia Apps and Jess Breach scored braces, while Alysha Corrigan got her customary try on the wing. Even as that trio impressed, yet again Harrison stood head and shoulders above the rest.

With the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s tour coming in just over a years’ time, Harrison is surely at the forefront of Jo Yapp’s mind to lead the team.

Big game players will be key

Right, talk about an obvious statement. When it comes to big games, it is often the biggest players that decide the result. When it comes to the PWR Final this is no different.

Look at Trailfinders’ win. Meg Jones – who should be absolutely shattered after a year of consistent rugby going back to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – was at the heart of everything that the West London club did well in the West Country. It was a performance that yielded a try, an assist and a key involvement in Isla Norman-Bell’s second score.

Jones even completed 10 tackles in the midfield. Those efforts were only bettered in the backs by Emma Uren, while forwards Alana Borland [25], Emma Wassell [26], Kate Zackary [20] and Abi Burton [24] all put in big shifts in defence.

For Saracens, they had the virtue of PWR Player of the Season, Olivia Apps, in their team to score two tries. While England Red Roses flyer, Jess Breach, also bagged a brace, including the decisive try at StoneX Stadium.

The star billing of the PWR Final should have already been enticing. Now it is mouthwatering.