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Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft of Gloucester-Hartpury celebrate with the Premiership Women’s Rugby trophy - Getty Images/Andrew Redington
Gloucester-Hartpury 34 Saracens 19
Gloucester-Hartpury’s warrior queens will not just stay on their throne for another season, they have written their names in the history books, bagging their third consecutive domestic title and achieving their remarkable mission of a ‘three-peat’. Not even a so-called neutral venue of Saracens’ home ground would deny them.
The Women’s Six Nations might be around the corner but this Premiership Women’s Rugby finale had the feel of a full-blooded Test match, such was its unrelenting intensity and the level of skill that was on display. At times it resembled two boxers punching the lights out of each other, as the reigning champions ground down Saracens’ hungry wolfpack in a dominant second half to give head coach Sean Lynn a fairytale send-off in his final game in charge.
Lynn will take charge of Wales next weekend but the legacy he leaves behind is one of the great accomplishments of the English domestic game, men or women’s. The sizeable contingent of ‘shed heads’ that made the trip were chanting his name by the final whistle, serenading the Swansea native with their own sing-alongs. How proud he must be of the dynasty he has created in a town where women’s rugby is thriving.
“To have my family in the huddle at the end, dreams do come true,” said Lynn, who sported a red and white wig in his post-match press conference. “To finish this stint off with Gloucester-Hartpury with a three-peat is very special. I can’t fault the players. It’s a special club. I keep on saying it’s not about me. The PWR is just growing and growing and it was a real spectacle out there today.”
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Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn, who is leaving to take on the Wales job, celebrates with his wife and family in the team huddle - Getty Images/Ryan Hiscott
The hallmark of a champion side is its never-say-die attitude, and his team showed it in spades in a dominant second-half in which they crafted a trio of unanswered scores to knock the wins out of Saracens’ sails. Zoe Aldcroft, their co-captain and taliswoman, revealed they needed a “rocket” at half-time to get on top of proceedings after the Londoners had punched enough holes to engineer a four-point lead at the break.
Emma Sing might have had an off colour day from the tee, but she was still Gloucester-Hartpury’s most creative livewire from deep, while winger Pip Hendy excelled on her own axis. Both should make the final cut of John Mitchell’s England squad, which will be announced on Monday.
If there were questions over whether Saracens could match the Cherry and Whites’ power game, they well and truly answered them in an attritional first period which saw them win the physical battle. Even on the edges, they looked more superior, with Lotte Sharp’s well-taken finish down the wing blunting Gloucester-Hartpury’s momentum.
They are a team that has learned to win ugly at times this season and in a nip-and-tuck first half, their aura of invincibility slipped on more than one occasion and their discipline creaked. Poppy Cleall’s cute inside pass put Jess Breach through a sailing gap, before the visitors were ahead with a penalty try after illegally bringing down Saracens’ rumbling maul, with Mo Hunt the woman sacrificed. But that was as good as it would get for Alex Austerberry’s side, who were outmuscled and left frustrated by Gloucester-Hartpury’s brute force.
The visitors’ lightning start to the second half yielded a quickfire double from Maud Muir – whose ball-carrying contribution all afternoon was off the charts – and another from hooker Neve Jones. In an illustration of their dominance, they even lost Alex Matthews to the bin for a high tackle on Poppy Cleall, but even with a player deficit Saracens lacked the wherewithal to free themselves from Gloucester-Hartpury’s shackles.
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Player of the match Maud Muir breaks away to score a try for Gloucester-Hartpury - Getty Images/Andrew Redington
Their sustained period of pressure culminated in a sniping try from Mo Hunt - who is getting better with age and has cemented her place as England’s starting nine this Six Nations - all but guaranteed the Cherry and White’s trophy cabinet will be full for another year. “We just suffocated Sarcens and that’s what we wanted to do. It’s truly special. To get this three-peat, I’ll treasure this moment for a long time,” reflected Lynn, who will report at Cardiff Vale’s headquarters at 9am on Monday, ahead of Wales’ trip to Scotland for the opening round of the Women’s Six Nations. Whoever follows in his footsteps will have mighty big shoes to fill.
Match details
Scores: 5-0 Williams try, 5-5 Breach try, 5-7 Harrison con, 5-14 pen try, 5-19 Sharp try, 10-19 Sing try, 15-19 Venner try, 20-19 Muir try, 22-19 Sing con, 27-19 N Jones try, 32-19 Hunt try, 34-19 Sing con.
Gloucester-Hartpury: E Sing; M Venner (R Lund 75), H Jones, T Heard, P Hendy; L George, N Hunt; E Perry (M Carson 44), N Jones (G Boag 80), M Muir (K Buggy 75), S Beckett (S Else 80), Z Aldcroft, K Williams, B Lewis (G Brock 56), A Matthews.
Booked: Hunt, Matthews.
Replacements not used: M Davies, E Green.
Saracens J Breach; A Corrigan, E Hardy (S Gregson 51), S Bridger, L Sharp (S McKenna 70); Z Harrison, E Wyrwas; A Gondwe (M Hunt 51), M Campbell (B Field 70), K Clifford, R Galligan (B Cleall 70), G Evans (L McMillan 76), G Senft, M Packer, P Cleall.
Replacements not used: C Tremelling, T Sellors.
Referee: Joe James
Attendance: 7,848
05:56 PM GMT
Signing off from the StoneX
That’s all from the StoneX. What an afternoon of rugby.
The PWR may be over but the Women’s Six Nations starts in less than a week.
We will have all the latest from what promises to be a great tournament covered.
05:53 PM GMT
Reflections and Celebrations
As the dust settles on that final there’s a contrast of emotions at the StoneX.
Saracens will be disappointed they didn’t continue their early first half momentum. Head Coach Alex Austerberry praised his side’s effort, but said at times their failure to be clinical let them down. Although there will no doubt be a period of reflection at Saracens, Austerberry sent an ominous reminder that each time Saracens have lost a Premiership final they have returned to win the competition the following year.
Hartpury-Gloucester’s Head Coach Sean Lynn has been bathed in champagne as he takes in his final few hours with this great club side. Throwing a “rocket” at his side at half time, his team turned it around and “suffocated” Saracens in the second half. With his family present in the team huddle at the end, Lynn’s 5 year stint with the club comes to an end as he said, “Dreams do come true”.
05:17 PM GMT
Gloucester-Hartpury lift the trophy
Gloucester-Hartpury topped the table at the end of the regular season and they have delivered again today.
This team are used to lifting trophies, but there’s no chance they took today for granted.
The celebrations have begun at the StoneX.
05:01 PM GMT
MATCH REPORT
Read Fi Tomas’ match report on a final to remember.
04:58 PM GMT
Sean Lynn’s send off
Head Coach Sean Lynn is finishing his time at Gloucester-Hartpury on a high.
Taking over as Wales Women’s Head Coach, this was his final match in charge of the cherry and whites. He leaves an unforgettable legacy at Gloucester and another trophy for their cabinet.
04:53 PM GMT
THREE-PEAT!
Today’s win secures the three-peat for Gloucester-Hartpury!
What an incredible last three seasons they have had.
04:52 PM GMT
Maud Muir wins Player of the Match
Prop Maud Muir wins Player of the Match for a relentless performance. She epitomises Gloucester-Hartpury’s power.
04:50 PM GMT
FULL TIME Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 34
What an 80 minutes of rugby. Both sides played some stunning rugby but Gloucester-Hartpury were far too strong for Saracens in the second half. They truly deserved this victory.
04:48 PM GMT
FINAL WHISTLE
GLOUCESTER HARTPURY WIN THE PWR
04:47 PM GMT
78 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 34
2 minutes to go and Saracens pressure in the Gloucester 22 is absorbed.
Both sides are unrelenting.
04:43 PM GMT
75 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 34
The final replacements are on the pitch as both sides look to use some fresh legs in these last 5 minutes.
04:42 PM GMT
73 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Saracens are giving all they can and have it down field but continue to be repelled by Gloucester. The latter are playing with such confidence now, truly deserving of this victory.
04:38 PM GMT
70 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 34
Ten minutes to go here at the StoneX.
Saracens need to score now if they have any hopes left of lifting the trophy.
04:36 PM GMT
CONVERSION!
SING SLOTS THE CONVERSION OVER
04:36 PM GMT
68 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 32
Mo Hunt crosses for another Gloucester try!
Just over ten minutes to go, this is starting to look like a mountain to climb for Saracens.
04:35 PM GMT
TRY!
MO HUNT SCORES!
04:32 PM GMT
65 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Gloucester-Hartpury are renowned for their problem-solving ability and they look like they’re turning the screw now. Saracens have barely been able to get a foothold in this second half. Shout out to the guy doing the stadium announcements, who is doing his best to call out the Saracens’ fans and the Gloucester ‘shedheads’ in the stand. Hopefully this will be the last time we see a PWR final at a so-called ‘neutral’ ground..
04:31 PM GMT
62 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Alex Matthews returns to the pitch, it’s 15 against 15 again.
Saracens forwards are putting in a huge shift here and have had the upper hand the past few minutes. They need to shift this momentum down field.
04:24 PM GMT
57 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Saracens win a penalty for Gloucester Hartpury’s ill discipline playing the nine.
Still in their 22 it’s another scrum and they finally get the ball down the pitch. They need to capitalise on this territory.
04:22 PM GMT
56 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Poppy Cleall wins the ball back for Saracens.
Saracens have a scrum in their 22 and look to shift the ball down field.
04:20 PM GMT
55 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
That yellow card has not diminished Gloucester Hartpury’s attack. They still have all this possession this second half.
04:17 PM GMT
YELLOW CARD!
A dangerous tackle from Alex Matthews on Poppy Cleall sends the Gloucester Number 8 to the bin. The cherry and whites will be down to 14 for the next 10 minutes...
04:16 PM GMT
50 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
Those missed conversions mean Gloucester aren’t home and dry just yet. The Saracens crowd have been quiet since this period of dominance from the visitors... it’s starting to sound like Queensholm!
04:13 PM GMT
CONVERSION MISSED
Sing misses another conversion!
04:13 PM GMT
48 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 27
The maul delivers and hooker Neve Jones crosses the line. What dominance from the Gloucester Hartpury pack.
04:12 PM GMT
TRY!
NEVE JONES SCORES
04:11 PM GMT
48 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 22
Line out Gloucester. They look to use their maul to score another try.
04:10 PM GMT
46 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 22
Gloucester Hartpury have had all the possession this second half. Can they build on this lead?
04:09 PM GMT
CONVERSION
Sing converts the try this time round!
04:09 PM GMT
44 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 20
Gloucester quickly make up for that disallowed try... their forward power was unstoppable. Zoe Aldcroft assisting Maud Muir to the line.
04:07 PM GMT
TRY!
MAUD MUIR SCORES
04:07 PM GMT
43 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
That disallowed try takes the scoreboard back to Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
04:06 PM GMT
TRY DISALLOWED
A TMO review disallows the Alex Matthews’ try.
Matthews was in touch.
04:05 PM GMT
43 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 20
Gloucester’s Number 8 crosses the tryline. What power from the Number 8.
04:04 PM GMT
TRY!
ALEX MATTHEWS SCORES FOR GLOUCESTER
04:04 PM GMT
42 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
Gloucester-Hartpury start as they left off. Camped on the try line, Sarah Beckett is just held short.
04:01 PM GMT
The Second Half is about to start
40 minutes of the PWR season left! Who will be crowned champion?
03:53 PM GMT
Half Time Analysis
You wonder how costly Tat Heard’s overcooked pass to Pip Hendy on the stroke of half time will cost the visitors. GH had a big overlap and if the winger had gathered it the champions would be ahead at the break. It’s symptomatic of how GH have played much of this half - at times they’ve been guilty of overplaying it. They’ve unleashed all their big ball carrying threats - Zoe Aldcroft and Alex Matthews have been standouts - but Saracens look well up for the challenge. Absolutely anyone’s game this.
03:46 PM GMT
40 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
Gloucester-Hartpury were edging towards the Saracens’ try line but Tatyana Heard threw the final pass into touch. That’s the first half over.
03:43 PM GMT
39 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
Penalty to Gloucester just before half time for a Saracens knock on.
It’s a scrum to finish the second half.
03:40 PM GMT
36 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
With the missed conversion the score remains at 19-15. Gloucester have had all the possession in the last 10 minutes and will want to close the gap on the scoreboard before half-time.
03:37 PM GMT
Conversion missed!
Emma Sing misses another conversion.
She’s been stunning with the ball in hand but has not brought her kicking boots today.
03:37 PM GMT
33 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 15
Winger Mia Venner crosses the line to bring Gloucester within 5 of Saracens.
03:36 PM GMT
TRY!
Gloucester-Hartpury’s Mia Venner scores!
03:32 PM GMT
28 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 10
Turnover for Gloucester’s Pip Hendy! Brilliant work from the winger.
03:30 PM GMT
27 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester-Hartpury 10
Mo Hunt returns to the field for Gloucester after her yellow card. The cherry and whites will be relieved to be back to their full compliment of players.
03:29 PM GMT
Saracens capitalise on Gloucester-Hartpury’s ill discipline
Gloucester-Hartpury had everything working like clockwork in the first quarter but Saracens have capitalised on the visitors’ poor discipline to feel their way into this one. A shout out must go to Lotte Sharp, nee Clapp, who has scored, once again on the big stage. She’s been such a terrific servant to the club and has to roll out of bed tomorrow to rock up to her primary school teacher job. Emma Sing is having an excellent game too, although her kicking from the tee has been a bit off colour so far.
03:27 PM GMT
24 mins Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 10
Missed Conversion!
Emma Sing again fails to convert her try. The score remains at 19-10.
03:26 PM GMT
23 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 10
The Gloucester full back crosses the line again. She’s doing what she has done all season, what a finisher she is.
03:26 PM GMT
TRY!
GLOUCESTER’S EMMA SING SCORES!
03:25 PM GMT
22 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 5
Gloucester win a penalty and kick to touch. This is the first time they have been in Saracens 22 in a little while. Can they make the most of it?
03:23 PM GMT
20 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 5
Since Gloucester’s early try it’s been all Saracens. 3 tries to 1 for the home side, they have been relentless in attack.
03:21 PM GMT
CONVERSION!
Zoe Harrison slots the conversion with ease. What a score Saracens are building.
03:21 PM GMT
17 mins: Saracens 19 Gloucester Hartpury 5
It’s another try for Saracens as their Co-Captain Sharp crosses the line.
03:20 PM GMT
TRY!
Lotte Sharp scores for Saracens!
03:18 PM GMT
14 mins: Saracens 14 Gloucester-Hartpury 5
It’s a penalty try for Saracens after Gloucester take their maul down illegally.
A yellow card for Gloucester Hartpury scrum half Mo Hunt to add to Gloucester’s misery.
03:16 PM GMT
TRY!
Penalty try to Saracens!
03:15 PM GMT
12 mins: Saracens 7 Gloucester-Hartpury 5
More end to end stuff. Saracens rescuing the ball from their try line, immediately putting pressure on Gloucester-Hatpury at the other end of the pitch.
03:11 PM GMT
9 mins: Saracens 7 Gloucester-Hartpury 5
It’s been end to end this first ten minutes... as we knew it would be. One try for each of the two sides, with only Zoe Harrison’s conversion splitting them.
03:08 PM GMT
Conversion!
Zoe Harrison slots the conversion with ease. Saracens lead.
03:07 PM GMT
6 mins: Saracens 5 Gloucester Hartpury 5
Jess Breach, the Saracens full back, crosses the line for Saracens first try of the match.
03:07 PM GMT
TRY!
Jess Breach scores for Saracens!
03:04 PM GMT
Missed Conversion 0-5
Emma Sing misses the conversion.
03:04 PM GMT
TRY!
3 minutes in Kate Williams scores for Gloucester-Hartpury!
03:00 PM GMT
Kick Off!
We’re underway here at the StoneX and what an atmosphere it is!
80 minutes stand between one of these sides lifting the PWR trophy...
02:56 PM GMT
5 minutes to go...
Gloucester Hartpury will take the kick off.
The game will be refereed by Joe James, assisted by Alex Thomas and Callum Howard.
02:52 PM GMT
10 minutes to kick off!
The teams have completed their warm ups and are finishing their final preparations. 10 minutes to go...
02:50 PM GMT
Gloucester Hartpury league dominance
Gloucester Hartpury topped the league in the regular season, winning 13 out of 16 games. Their one away defeat came to Saracens, adding some extra spice to this final fixture.
02:36 PM GMT
Saracens home dominance
Playing at their home stadium, the StoneX, you can’t help but feel that might give Saracens the edge in this final. They have won 22 of their last 24 games here, a formidable stat for their opponents to overcome.
02:26 PM GMT
May Campbell starts at hooker
Glancing at the team sheet, May Campbell’s name jumps out. The Saracens veteran is starting at hooker for the hosts, despite having played the majority of this season at blindside flanker. She’s part of a full-strength Saracens pack but can it match Gloucester-Hartpury’s power game? All eight of the visitors’ forwards have international honours and, with the exception of El Perry, are likely to be key personnel for their countries in the upcoming Six Nations. Today’s final is also an opportunity for Red Roses to stake a claim in John Mitchell’s and Sean Lynn’s respective England and Wales squads, both of which will be announced tomorrow.
02:25 PM GMT
How a Christmas dinner revived Gloucester-Hartpury’s PWR three-peat bid
It was last December, midway through the Premiership Women’s Rugby season, when Gloucester-Hartpury’s title-defending credentials were questioned. Their 19-14 defeat by Bristol at Kingsholm marked their third loss of the season – an unwanted tally by their lofty standards – and as the players trudged off the pitch, their body language said it all.
“After the game, a few of the players were just saying to me, ‘Lynny, we’re not us, we’re not us’,” says Sean Lynn, the Gloucester-Hartpury head coach. “So on the Monday, I posed the question to the players, ‘Who are we?’”
Read all about it here.
02:17 PM GMT
Gloucester Hartpury make one change
Gloucester Hartpury have made one change to their semi-final side that beat Bristol Bears.
Fly half Ellie Green is on the bench in Sean Lynn’s final game in charge.
02:10 PM GMT
Saracens make changes to Semi-Final line-up
Saracens have made one change to their 23 that beat Harlequins in the semi-final two weeks ago.
Gabrielle Senft comes into the side as Georgina Evans moves to the second row and Louise McMillan shifts to the bench.
Ready for Battle#YourSaracens lineup for @ThePWR Final pic.twitter.com/UDS2gJLDgA
— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) March 14, 2025
02:05 PM GMT
Team Line-Ups
Saracens
Starting XV: 15. Jess Breach; 14. Alysha Corrigan; 13. Emma Hardy; 12. Sophie Bridger; 11. Lotte Sharp (Co-captain); 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Ella Wyrwas; 1. Akina Gondwe; 2. May Campbell; 3. Kelsey Clifford; 4. Rosie Galligan; 5. Georgia Evans; 6. Gabrielle Senft; 7. Marlie Packer (Co-captain); 8. Poppy Cleall.
Substitutes: 16. Bryony Field; 17. McKinley Hunt; 18. Carmen Tremelling; 19. Bryony Cleall; 20. Louise McMillan; 21. Tori Sellors; 22. Sarah McKenna; 23. Sydney Gregson.
Gloucester Hartpury
Starting XV: 15. Emma Sing; 14. Mia Venner; 13. Hannah Jones; 12. Tatyana Heard; 11. Pip Hendy; 10. Lleucu George, 9. Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt (Co-captain); 1. El Perry; 2. Neve Jones; 3. Maud Muir; 4. Sarah Beckett; 5. Zoe Aldcroft (Co-captain); 6. Kate Williams; 7. Bethan Lewis; 8. Alex Matthews.
Substitutes: 16. Gillian Boag; 17. Mackenzie Carson; 18. Kathryn Buggy; 19. Steph Else; 20. Georgia Brock; 21. Meg Davies; 22. Ellie Green; 23. Rachel Lund.
01:57 PM GMT
Welcome to the PWR Final
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Premiership Women’s Rugby final. We’re here at the StoneX Stadium and the stage is set for what should be a stellar match between Saracens and Gloucester-Hartpury.
These are the two most successful teams in PWR history, but today marks the first time they have ever met in the final of the competition. If their last few matches are anything to go by we should be in for a ferocious battle and a feast of tries.
Playing at their home ground today, Saracens last won this title in 2022 and are looking to add a fourth PWR title to their impressive trophy cabinet. In a closely fought semi-final Saracens beat Harlequins 32-24 to set up this final showdown.
Gloucester-Hartpury are in search of the “three-peat” and have added motivation with this being Head Coach Sean Lynn’s final match in charge. They topped the table in the regular league season and secured a convincing win against Bristol Bears in their semi-final. The one away defeat they suffered this year was against Saracens and they will be wary of the danger the opposition pose on their home ground.
Both sides feature a host of domestic and international stars who have set the field alight this season. Amongst them are the league’s top try scorer Saracens’ May Campbell, who also tops the charts for carries, tackles and turnovers. Wearing the Cherry and White shirt Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing has topped charts for points, metres made and defenders beaten. They will both be hoping to continue their stunning form in this final match of the season.
Kick off is at 3pm; follow live updates to see which of these sides takes the trophy home.
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