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Sarries expecting 'full-blooded, whole-hearted' contest with Quins in Capital Clash
By Issy Todd
The Capital Clash returns this weekend as Harlequins Women host Saracens at The Stoop on Saturday 7th March in Round 13 of Premiership Women’s Rugby.
The sides met earlier this season at StoneX Stadium, where Saracens claimed a convincing 47-10 victory in the London derby. With the race for the top spots intensifying and more than 4,000 fans expected at The Stoop, the return fixture promises a very different challenge.
Saracens and England back Jess Breach, who previously represented Harlequins, admitted the fixture carries added significance: “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s only 20 minutes from where I live so it’s actually almost a home game for me!
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“Lots of my family and friends are coming and it’s my nephew’s birthday so it means even more. I’ve also got quite a few friends at Quins still so the rivalry is definitely still there.”
With the increasing visibility of the PWR, Breach believes both sides will be well aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses heading into the derby.
She explained: “I think everyone in the Premiership now knows each team’s strengths and weaknesses. There’s a massive review process here at Sarries too, so we know people’s ins and outs, and I’m sure Quins know ours as well.”
Since joining Saracens after the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Breach believes the North London club has helped expand her game.
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“I feel really happy here. I think I needed a new challenge and that’s definitely happened for me at Sarries. I play 15 here rather than on the wing, so I’ve had to evolve my game way more than I probably would have. I think I’m a better-rounded player for that.”
For Breach, the rivalry between the two London sides always guarantees a fierce contest. “It’s always a battle, Quins versus Sarries, whether it’s a regular fixture, a semi-final or a final.
“They’ve got the likes of Aoife Wafer back and she’s a key ball carrier and a real threat for them. If we can keep her quiet, then I think we’ll put ourselves in a good position to get the win at the weekend. Everyone gets up for this game. It doesn’t matter whether it’s at StoneX or The Stoop – you want to beat the other London team.”
Following the emotional demands of the Rugby World Cup, which the Red Roses won in September 2025, Breach highlighted how an extended break after Christmas helped international players reset.
She admitted: “I was able to switch off from rugby, which I probably hadn’t done in the last 12 to 14 months. I came back thinking I want to win the Premiership with Sarries, whereas before that I didn’t actually know what I wanted to do.
“You’ve probably seen better rugby after Christmas than you did beforehand. There was a lot of fatigue and emotional drain after the World Cup, and I think people can actually see that competitiveness of wanting to win the Premiership now, as we just feel refreshed.”
Facing former teammates adds another layer of intrigue for the 28-year-old, despite the fact that one of her closest friends and Rugby Rodeo podcast co-host Ellie Kildunne will not be wearing quarters this weekend due to being stuck in Dubai on account of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“I’m still going to love each and every one of them that I’m friends with on the Quins pitch – but probably not for 80 minutes,” she laughed. “I actually get quite excited to play against my friends because I think you know them better than other people.”
Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry has made two changes to the side that beat Exeter Chiefs 45–7 in the last round of the tournament and he feels set for the London Derby.
“It’s going to be emotional. It’s going to be a tense atmosphere. There’s a good crowd coming in, so we’ve got to make sure we stay true to our game. There will be times you’re under it a bit, so we’ve got to ride that out without hurting ourselves.”
Discipline will be key, according to the Saracens boss: “We’ve got to avoid the self-inflicted pain around penalties and ill-discipline. We’ve defended our line well this year and taken opportunities at the other end when they’ve come. We’ve had a good start to the season. We’re in a great position. Let’s trust the processes again – boring coach chat!”
He concluded: “You’re going to see Quins trying to be at their best. I expect a full-blooded, whole-hearted, high-quality performance from Harlequins and it’s something that we’re going to have to not just match but surpass to get the result that we want.”
After the weekend we will know if Saracens can complete the season double over their London rivals, or whether Harlequins can strike back on home soil.
The Capital Clash kicks off at 12:15pm on Saturday 7th March at The Stoop, with the match available live on TNT Sports.
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