Chiefs Women all set for return of the cup

Exeter Chiefs Women will face Harlequins, Gloucester-Hartpury and Trailfinders as the PWR Cup returns to the domestic rugby calendar.

The compact 2024/25 season meant there was no room for a full cup competition but its back for 2025/26 to give the next generation of English rugby talent players some game-time during the Rugby World Cup.

Chiefs will play their first two pool matches away while Sandy Park is being utilised as Rugby World Cup host venue. This will see them play Harlequins on Saturday, August 23 (KO 15:00) at Cobham RFC.

They have a bye the following weekend before heading to 4ED Hartpury Stadium to play Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday, September 7 (KO 13:00).

Chiefs have another bye for the weekend of September 13/14 before their first home game of the season against Trailfinders at Sandy Park on Saturday, September 20 (KO 13:00).

No rugby will be played the weekend of the Rugby World Cup final but will resume for the semi-finals on October 4/5 and the showcase final and third-place play-off on October 11/12.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s interim head coach Steve Salvin said: “After a very long time without any meaningful matches, we are looking forward to these cup games. Our international players will be on Rugby World Cup but, so that offers plenty of opportunity to integrate some of our new players and to give our younger players so some competitive game-time. We expect to utilise many of our U23s squad, and I am excited to see what they can do against what will be some tough opposition.”

The Cup will comprise a pool stage, involving all nine PWR clubs, followed by a knockout stage for the top qualifiers. There are two pools. Pool A is made up of four teams, including Chiefs, and pool B of five teams. The pools were drawn based on seedings using the final league standings from 2024/25 season. The top eight teams were allocated to the pools using the alternate seeding method. The 9th team was drawn into the pools randomly to determine which pool had the make-up of five teams.

The knock-outs will see the top two teams from each pool advancing to crossover semi-final fixtures: A1 v B2 and B1 v A2. The two losing semi-finalists will play for third place and the two winning semi-finalists will progress to the final. All knock-out fixtures will be played at the home venue of the highest seeded club.

PWR will broadcast the cup final on its YouTube channel.

“The PWR Cup is where fearless, next-generation talent meets elite competition,” said PWR’s league and operations manager, Amy Walmsley. “It’s a key part of our vision to build a thriving and inspiring future for women’s rugby in England, one that starts with opportunity. The PWR Cup competition celebrates development, ambition, and bold, entertaining rugby.”