Harlequins Women

Harlequin Ladies were founded in 1995 as the ladies team of Harlequin FC. They initially played their home games at Centaurs RFC, Grasshoppers RFC, Old Isleworthians RFC and at Harlequins previous training base at Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields in Roehampton.[1][2] They won their first league title unbeaten and were subject of a Channel 4 documentary.[3] In 2000, they were promoted to Rugby Football Union for Women Division 1.[4] However they were later relegated from top flight.[5] Following the RFUW restructuring the leagues in 2007, Harlequins Ladies were placed in Championship 2 South East.[6] As of 2017, they played their rugby in the National 2 South East league.[7]

In 2016, Harlequins announced a partnership with Women's Premiership club Aylesford Bulls Ladies. The agreement stated that Aylesford Bulls would become a part of Harlequins and would wear their colours[8] but initially retain their name and at first split their matches between Aylesford, Kent and Harlequins' Twickenham Stoop.[9] However the elite squad later moved to be permanently based at Surrey Sports Park at the University of Surrey in Guildford, with the 3s maintaining their links with the local area and keeping Old Isleworthians RFC as their training and playing base.[10] In 2017, Harlequins Ladies were awarded a franchise for the new Women's Super League, later renamed Premier 15s. In doing so, Harlequins fully took over Aylesford Bulls Ladies with Harlequins being confirmed for the new league in a full merger and would cease using the Aylesford Bulls name.[8][11][12][13]

In July 2019, they changed their name to Harlequins Women.[14]

Harlequins Ladies 1/2s play their home fixtures either at their training base, the Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, or at the Twickenham Stoop, which is situated in Twickenham in south-west London. As of September 2018, Harlequins Ladies 3s will be playing their home fixtures at the brand new facilities at Grasshoppers RFC.

On 10 March 2018, at their league match against local rivals Richmond Women, Harlequins Ladies attracted a record attendance for a British ladies club rugby match of 4,545.[15]

The following season, on 30 March 2019, they beat their own record with an attendance of 4,837 for their last regular season league match of the season against Gloucester-Hartpury Women.[16]

The Harlequins Ladies squad for the Tyrrells Premier 15s 2019/20 season is:[17]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Natasha Bradshaw Fullback Jessica Breach Wing England Megan Brown Wing Rachael Burford Centre England Alexandra Chung Centre Heather Cowell Fullback Bethan Dainton Wing Wales Jessica Davis Fullback Laura Dowsett Centre Chloe Dumbreck Wing Beverley Gilbert Scrum-half Ellie Green Fly-half England Bobbie Haywood Scrum-half Breanna Hill Fly-half Izzy Mayhew Centre Ellie Miles Centre England Jade Mullen Fullback Heike Niemand Scrum-half Lucy Packer Scrum-half Wales Kiera Paul-Jones Wing Victoria Petersson Centre Sweden Leanne Riley Scrum-half England Chloe Rollie Fullback Scotland Molly Saunders Wing Emily Scott Fly-half Lagi Tuima Centre England Charlotte Wellbelove Wing Samantha White Centre Stacey White Centre

Player Position Union Teya Ashworth Lock Sarah Beckett Back row England Shaunagh Brown Back row England Gillian Bourke Hooker Ireland Chloe Butler Lock Australia Anna Caplice Flanker Ireland Davinia Catlin Hooker England Amy Cokayne Hooker England Sheree Cooper Prop Vickii Cornborough Prop England Sam Cornborough Back row Ellisha Dee Prop England Chloe Edwards Hooker England Jenny Eyre Lock Giada Franco Back row Italy Fi Fletcher Back row England Asleigh Greenslade Back row Alex Hardy Flanker England Jade Konkel Back row Scotland Leah Lyons Hooker Ireland Samantha McCarthy Back row Deborah McCormack Lock Scotland Patricia Metcalfe-Jones Hooker Katy Mew Back row Sally Parker Hooker Alicia Saili Prop Zoe Saynor Lock Abbie Scott Lock England Kristine Sommer Back row United States Jenny Vik Hooker Tove Viksten Prop Sweden Samantha Voyle Number 8