Exeter's Liv McGovern floors Quins but absences take shine off PWR opener

10/05/2024 11:28 AM

• Premiership Women's Rugby: Harlequins 8-7 Exeter
• McGoverne's kick wins a scrappy contest

Harlequins versus Exeter Chiefs is a fixture which is usually littered with internationals and while stars like the Wales and Quins wing Lisa Neumann and England-capped Exeter back row Emily Robinson were playing in their clubs' opening Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) match, 31 players across both sides were not available because they are away on international duty.

The reason the league is starting in October and clashing with the WXV tournaments is because there is a shortened PWR schedule this season due to the 2025 Rugby World Cup. But the overlap has seen criticism from the likes of Exeter head coach Susie Appleby, who was missing 16 players with Quins without 15, who said she couldn't understand the decision in the buildup to the PWR match.