BRAVE, PHYSICAL AND ENTERTAINING – Harlequins 25-26 PWR preview
Harlequins host the opening PWR fixture on Friday evening, but how is their season shaping up? Head Coach Ross Chisholm spoke to The New Women’s Sport Magazine about his team’s identity, their goals and one of their exciting new signings.
After ending last season in third place, behind London rivals Saracens and champions Gloucester Hartpury, Harlequins are hungry for success this year.
The south-west London side are coached by Ross Chisholm, who is an ex-Harlequins player himself. He made over 100 appearances for the club and took a position as an attack coach upon his retirement before taking the helm in July 2024.
His squad is brimming with talent, both international stars and up-and-coming youngsters. Famous faces include the likes of Lucy Packer, Clàudia Peña, Sarah Bonar and of course, Ellie Kildunne (below, left).
Captain Jade Konkel is heading into her third season as the team’s leader and having recently hung up her Scotland rugby jersey, her full rugby focus is on the Quins.
Harlequins play at The Stoop which is just across the road from Twickenham Stadium, the home of English rugby, and the women’s matches will no doubt be a popular place to be this season.
The whole PWR season begins with the “Opening Act”, a Harlequins Friday Night Lights fixture against Loughborough Lightning. As part of Breast Cancer Now’s ‘wear it pink’ campaign, Quins will play in their pink away strip (above, right) for this match.
The game will see world-class players go head-to-head with stars such as Alev Kelter and Sadia Kabeya lining up for the other side.
After a huge summer for the women’s game, it’s expected to be a well-attended fixture, and the club have promised “fireworks and fun for everyone”.
The Quins’ first away trip will see them travel across London to face rivals Saracens, and in game week three they’ll host Gloucester Hartpury, so hitting form quickly is so important.
It has been a busy summer of recruitment in Twickenham, with some exciting players joining their ranks. Sophie Tansley, Fiona McIntosh and Coreen Grant have joined from Saracens, Megan Barwick from Trailfinders, and Lucy Burgess from Bristol Bears.
Driven
Natasha Logan has also joined after leaving Edinburgh University, but perhaps the Quins’ most exciting signing is Ireland international Aoife Wafer (above right) who joins from Leinster.
Chisholm spoke to The New Women’s Sport Magazine about Wafer and what she brings to the side.
He said: “She’s great to have in the environment, great energy, very diligent and wants to be better, she’s so driven and wants to be the best she can be.
“Aoife is a talent that we looked at. We watched her score a try against the Black Ferns two and a half years ago and we thought she was outstanding in that game as a 22-year-old.
“She’s someone that we felt would add some real impact into our environment and we’re delighted to have her here at Quins.”
The Quins’ Head Coach knows what it takes to win cups and titles, he did so as a player, but this year he hopes to coach his side to PWR glory.
Identity
Chisholm told us about his team’s identity heading into this new campaign: “There are clear identities within teams that are successful, whether that’s in the female or the male game.
“The girls came up with this mantra, they want to be ‘brave, physical and entertaining’ and that really encapsulates the club.
“We can coach to those sorts of philosophies and the style that we want to play, we put together game plans and recruit to that model, and this season will be no different.
“Can we take what we’ve done in previous seasons, and do it better? Because what we did last season won’t be good enough to see us into the top four. It’s going to be so competitive.
“We have to grow our game, we have to evolve and adapt as the challenges come but without going away from all the strong foundations we’ve put into place.
“It’s not just about the 15 players that take the field and the 23 squad. It’s whether we can have 30, 40, or 50 players really pushing on all fronts to constantly make people better.
“It gives me some headaches, but that’s the sign of a good team where actually you have lots of options and lots of people doing well.”
Harlequins kick off the PWR season against Loughborough Lightning at 19:30 on Friday 24 October. Tickets are still available to head to The Stoop and see the game live. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch the game on BBC iPlayer.
