Latest news with #PremiershipWomen'sRugby
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scotland wing McGhie joins Trailfinders
Francesca McGhie has scored 10 tries in 22 appearances for Scotland [Getty Images] Trailfinders Women have signed Scotland international wing Francesca McGhie from Leicester Tigers. The 22-year-old has won 22 caps and scored 10 tries for her country since her debut in 2023. McGhie started every match for Scotland in this season's Six Nations, scoring two tries. Advertisement "There's a great ambition here, and there are people and coaches here that I think can add to my game – I feel this is a team I can really develop with," she told Trailfinders' website. "I'm looking forward to joining up with the group and I'm excited to see what we can do together." McGhie will join three of her Scotland team-mates - full-back Chloe Rollie, centre Lisa Thomson and scrum-half Caity Mattinson - in the Trailfinders backline. The west London side finished seventh in last season's Premiership Women's Rugby, a place above Leicester.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
England's MacDonald signs new Exeter deal
Claudia MacDonald scored against France on her last England appearance in the Six Nations last month [Rex Features] Exeter's England winger Claudia MacDonald has signed a new contract for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. The 29-year-old, who has won 35 England caps, joined the club in 2022 and has scored 25 tries in 29 games during a spell that has been hampered by a serious neck injury. Advertisement MacDonald earned an England recall during this year's Six Nations and is aiming to be part of the squad for the upcoming World Cup. She was part of the side that made the last World Cup final in New Zealand in 2021, coming on as a second-half replacement in the final. "Claudia is a world-class player, as shown by her performances in the Six Nations," interim head coach Steve Salvin told the club website. "She worked so hard to recover from her injury and is always a positive influence around the team. Her aim right now is obviously the World Cup, but when she returns, I think we will see an even better version of her at club level."
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ireland star Aoife Wafer to join Harlequins after World Cup
Ireland forward Aoife Wafer has joined Harlequins and will start with the Premiership Women's Rugby team following the World Cup. Named as the 2025 Six Nations player of the tournament on Monday, Wexford native Wafer makes the move from Leinster and Celtic Challenge side Wolfhounds. Ireland team-mates Edel McMahon, Dorothy Wall, Neve Jones and Clíodhna Moloney also play in the English championship. Wafer said: "The history that the club is steeped in is something that really stood out to me. "I'm really looking forward to being here and I can't wait to get going. "This league has all the star players in the world in it. "I want to be the best player in the world, and I can't wait to test myself out against those stars every week. "I was very lucky to come over to a game a few months ago and meet some of the girls and the family values were something that really stood out to me. "That's really important to me, and I know that my family will be well looked after over here as well." The 22-year-old (above) burst on to the international scene last season and was nominated for the player of the season award as well as being named on the 2024 World Rugby XVs team of the year. During this year's Six Nations she scored four tries and made 70 carries - the most of any player - for a staggering 424.7 metres, beating 17 defenders in the process, the second highest of any forward in the championship. She added: "Hopefully what people have seen on the international stage is what they'll get from me at Quins! I'm going to be working incredibly hard to be the best version of myself and hopefully that can really benefit the team, because at the end of the day, it's not about me, it's about whole team." Scott Bemand's Ireland side will play World Cup warm-ups against Scotland and Canada at the start of August. They face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C of the World Cup in August and September.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harlequins sign Ireland forward Wafer from Leinster
Harlequins have signed Ireland forward Aoife Wafer for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. Wafer, who was recently named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship, will join the club from Leinster after this year's World Cup, which will be held in England between 22 August and 27 September. "I think there comes a stage where you have to test yourself week in and week out against the best in the world," the 22-year-old told BBC Sport. "I can't wait to get involved into because they're just brave, physical and entertaining." Wafer, considered one of the best back-rowers in the world, will be joining an already stacked Harlequins roster which includes Scotland number eight Jade Konkel and Wales flanker Alex Callendar. But Wafer says the calibre of her new team-mates was one of most attractive aspects of the move. "This team is absolutely star-studded, especially in the back row," she added. "I just can't wait to get in and learn from them and kind of try tease a few things out of their brain and make my game better as well. Hopefully I'll be able to help them too." Ireland's Wafer wins player of Women's Six Nations Wafer and Hogan among world's best - King Conversations with the Harlequins head coach Ross Chisolm have centred around her playing six and eight. "You look at the modern-day rugby player and people can play across a number of positions," said Chisolm. "Aoife is a high-quality player; she could probably play predominantly more six and eight but it could give us a nice balance to go 'I think today we need this and tomorrow we need that' it's going to be competitive. "She is in my opinion right up there on the world stage of quality of player, the exciting thing is I still think there is room for growth. "Aoife is 22 years-old, it's crazy to think that she's able to output that ability at that age." Wafer announced her new club in a protective brace as a precaution following a minor leg injury at the end of the Six Nations. Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup. Wafer joked "it feels like the back row jerseys is cursed". "We'll really miss the girls," she said. "The physicality and the energy they bring on the field is something you just you can't get, they're key players for us. But I think it gives an opportunity to other people to really stand up and try kind of fight for a spot. "We've plenty of other players who haven't quite got the chance to get to step up into that back row, so I think it'd be interesting come to the World Cup. But yeah, we'll definitely miss the girls." Ireland face Japan in their World Cup Pool C opener on 24 August before games against Spain on 31 August and holders New Zealand on 7 September. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Quins sign Scotland lock McIntosh from Saracens
Harlequins have signed Saracens' Scotland lock Fi McIntosh for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. The 25-year-old played 50 times for Saracens and started their 2022 Premier 15s final win over Exeter. She made her Scotland debut against England in April last year. "Fi is a player with plenty of experience at the highest level. She is a shrewd operator at the line-out and brings real expertise in that area of the game," head coach Ross Chisholm told the club website. "She is a player with international experience and leadership qualities from her time with Saracens. I'm excited to see what she can do in a Quins shirt."
