'This happens every year': Gloucester Hartpury not sweating over exits

All of a sudden Gloucester Hartpury appear like a very different team heading into the final stretch of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

Just ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations break, the three-time champions’ captain, Zoe Stratford, announced her pregnancy. Earlier this week her move to Sale Sharks was announced by the North West club. As were the summer moves of Circus regulars Tatyana Heard and Sarah Beckett from Kingsholm Stadium to Morson Stadium.

This changing of the guard in many ways was inevitable. Gloucester Hartpury’s ability to keep such a strong spine of their squad together for so long was a major part of their success and, after three PWR titles in as many years, there was always a sense that players could want to seek challenges elsewhere.

Since their 51-14 win over Leicester Tigers last time out, it has also been confirmed that assistant coach Matt Banahan will leave the club for a role with Hartpury RFC in the summer, while Wales front-row Sisilia Tuipulotu is bound for Harlequins.

“We got together last night and I just said ‘this happens’ – this group will never be the same again,” Dan Murphy, Gloucester Hartpury head of rugby, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. “This happens every year. Players move on, coaches move on, players leave, coaches retire. It is part of elite sport.

“We spoke about how we can focus on the now, how we can get ourselves in the place we want to be. We spoke at length at how we want to do that and bring ourselves together.”

There has been some solace for Circus fans as Maud Muir, Alex Matthews, Sam Monaghan, Niamh O’Dowd, Hannah Dallavalle, Nel Metcalfe, Emma Sing and Georgia Brock have all re-signed with the club ahead of next season.

When it comes to the remainder of this season, Gloucester Hartpury have their sights set on a fourth PWR crown on the trot. Earlier this season Stratford revealed to TNT Sports that the squad wanted to go unbeaten in their pursuit of silverware this term.

Having already secured a home semi-final, clashes with Trailfinders Women and Bristol Bears are nothing more than training runs for Murphy’s team.

Not only without Stratford, due to pregnancy, and the injured Heard, experienced scrum-half Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with injury.

“We’ve had a few bumps and bruises, so there is already opportunity for girls to step into that space,” Murphy said.

“There are some unbelievable youngsters here at Hartpury, so we are excited to get them out here and see them perform.”

Injury to Hunt means that 19-cap England international Bianca Blackburn will combine with Lleucu George at half-back for Friday night’s game against Trailfinders Women in West London, with Wales international Sian Jones acting as her back-up.

The absence of Stratford means that Beckett takes the captaincy and partners Monaghan in the second row. Elsewhere England internationals Emma Sing, Mia Venner, Jade Shekells and Maud Muir are instantly installed in the starting side, while Mackenzie Carson makes her first appearance for the side for 14 months.

Gloucester Hartpury match day squad v Trailfinders Women: Emma Sing, Mia Venner, Hannah Dallavalle, Jade Shekells, Abi Pritchard, Lleucu George, Bianca Blackburn; Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Jones, Maud Muir, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Beckett (C), Steph Else, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Brock

Replacements: Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alaw Pyrs, Tabitha Copson, Sian Jones, Ellie Green, Molly Bunker