Premiership Women’s Rugby have confirmed a restructured season for the 2024/25 campaign, with the aim to benefit the England squad’s Women’s Rugby World Cup preparations. The upcoming PWR season will kick off on Saturday 5 October 2024 with the Final being staged on Sunday 16 March 2025.
“We want to do all we can to help England win the Women’s World Cup so this season structure was agreed after a very collaborative process with the RFU,” said Belinda Moore, the Chief Executive of Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR).
“Kicking off in October we can all look forward to a brilliant Final which takes place 24 hours after Super Saturday in the Men’s Six Nations, creating an unmissable weekend of rugby next March.”
The 2023/24 PWR campaign was heavily disrupted due to the 2024 Women’s Six Nations international break, which caused a mid-season lull from the end of March through to the end of April. The upcoming season will finish ahead of the 2025 Women’s Six Nations, with the Red Roses players remaining in camp for World Cup preparations.
Belinda Moore added: “In the coming season having the Women’s Six Nations after the PWR Final, gives the Red Roses certainly over their five-week rest period, which means they will return to club action after the Women’s World Cup.”
An innovative set of pre-season matches has also been agreed with the ‘PWR Up Series’ being played regionally on September 7th, 14th and 21st.
Belinda Moore said: “With the support of all of our clubs we have decided to play a short regional competition in September so our players and clubs are ready to go for the start of the PWR season in October.
“Our clubs are starting to develop close, regional rivalries and we believe this is just what our players and clubs need before the league season kicks off.”