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Three talking points from Round 7 of the 2025/26 PWR season
By Joe Harvey
It is mindboggling to think that we are about to enter a five week hiatus of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season.
In late October the 2025/26 season got underway in a flurry of free flowing brilliance. Now we have one more round of action before several weeks of pining commence.
Last weekend Round 7 of the PWR season took place. At the end of four games played across two days there is a new team at the top of the table. And a whole load of intrigue about what will happen in Round 8.
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Here are three talking points from Round 7…
Saracens provide Chiefs learning curve
As we went into Round 7 the clash between Exeter Chiefs and Saracens was hands down the game of the weekend on paper.
A bitterly cold Sandy Park played host to the contest which Saracens prevailed 24-12. Exeter led the contest 14-10 at the break as Steve Salvin’s team piled the pressure onto Saracens and saw two Alex Tessier scored converted.
When the second half got underway Saracens had clearly been reminded of the quality they had amongst their ranks and their five wins in a row leading into this contest.
So, they made light work of things. Where Chiefs pressure had prevailed, Saracens were assured in themselves and a period of fluid play helped Louise McMillan over the whitewash. To lock up the five point victory Donna Rose rumbled over from close range.
That almost unfazed response to adversity is another sign of a Saracens team looking to seriously contend again.
Now top of the table on points difference with Gloucester Hartpury, partly because of the West Country club’s bye week, you cannot help but be excited about what is to come for the North Londoners in the months to come.
Bears toothless again in Lightning visit
It has been six weeks since Bristol Bears’ first, and only, win of the 2025/26 PWR season.
That Round 2 success seems a long way in the rearview mirror as losses to Saracens, Trailfinders Women, Gloucester Hartpury, Exeter Chiefs and now Loughborough Lightning have landed the side with just five points and eighth in the league table.
This weekend’s loss to Lightning underlined some of their shortcomings. Because even though it is a side with world-class talent sprinkled throughout its roster, unleashing that talent has been their biggest shortcoming.
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Limited possession has piled overwhelming pressure onto Scott Lawson’s Bears. Because their scrum is effective. And so is their lineout.
It is primarily individual errors – six receiver errors against Loughborough – that has the West Country club backpedalling at a rate of knots.
A lengthy injury list has also meant that Lawson has struggled to get his best team out on the turf, although the arrival of Ruahei Demant has provided a calming influence.
This weekend the side travels to Allianz Stadium to play Harlequins in Big Game. One last shot at victory for five weeks, and to unleash wing duo Millie David and Reneeqa Bonner, the result will make or break the mood in Bristol as we head into 2026.
Quins do not quit to win second game in a row
Just several weeks ago there were a series of concerned faces watching Harlequins. Now they are fifth in the league and kept out of the top four by points difference alone.
In Round 6, Ross Chisholm’s side ended a run of three losses on the trot with a 56-28 win against basement side Leicester Tigers and backed up that performance with a 22-17 bonus point win over Sale Sharks at the Twickenham Stoop.
It was competitive from start to finish in West London as the North West side scored first before tries for BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne and another for Beth Wilcock put Quins right in the thick of things.
Sarah Parry’s converted effort and Connie Powell’s five pointer went a long way to Harlequins’ good day at the office.
This good form has come at the perfect time with the midseason break upon us. Each of these performance have shown a good amount of character and desire to get a winning result.
Saying goodbye to league action for five weeks at Big Game is, in many ways, the perfect stage for Harlequins. After a difficult 2024/25 season the side are finally living up to their talent.
