New Premier 15s season takes shape with local matches plan
England’s elite women’s rugby competition, the Premier 15s, is expected to start its 2020-21 season on Oct 10, with clubs playing locally where possible.
It is understood that the Rugby Football Union will unveil fixtures for the women’s premiership p at the end of this month, coordinating inating them with the release of the fixture schedule for the Gallagher er Premiership season, which begins gins on the weekend of Nov 20-22.
“Unless anything goes wrong, we’re now prepping for playlaying,” a source from one Pree- mier 15s club said. “It’s ’s imminent. Oct 10 is where re we’re heading, but we won’t get any fixtures released until the he end of September. The hope is s that we’ll be on the field d in three weeks.”
The RFU confirmed to The e Daily Telegraph that it was targeting ting an October start date and that it was working with Premiership clubs lubs to schedule double-headers between men’s and women’s sides. des.
As tighter local restrictions ions across the Midlands and parts ts of northern England were announced by the Government nt yesterday, the RFU is antici- pating that women’s fixtures will be played against local opposition.
That scenario would mean London-based clubs such as Wasps, Harlequins and Saracens could meet in the opening rounds. “Playing locally is the plan,” added the source. “DMP Durham Sharks and Sale Sha Sharks haven’t got anyone to play with locally at the moment – so I don’t k know if Worcester will be consider considered local enough to Sale – but play playing locally is the expectation. We might have to put our squad on two coaches, but that then double doubles the amount of money you’r you’re spending on transport.
“T “These expenses are really imp important to consider. For a sout southern team travelling overnigh night to DMP Sharks, players won won’t be able to share rooms, they’ they’ll all have to be separate. All these kinds of things add to the expense of it.”
Premi Premier 15s clubs have been busy re re-signing and recruiting players ahead of the campaign, with Kat Katy Daley-mclean’s arrival at league n newcomers Sale Sharks arguably t the most high-profile transfer of the summer. The elite amateur league is still seeking a sponsor after crispmakers Tyrrells ended th their partnership in May.