PWR Final: Red Roses legend Katy Daly-McLean previews Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens

Today at 03:23 PM

Red Roses legend Katy Katy-McLean MBE spoke to Ruck to preview the Premiership Women's Rugby final between Saracens and Gloucester, which will be held this Sunday at the StoneX Stadium. 

She also gave an insight into where the league is at the moment, and what could be improved.

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The 2014 World Cup winner with England retired in 2021 after a storied career at the top level of the game and now works for PWR side Sale Sharks at Women's Performance Lead. 

This weekend's final has the potential to have the greatest impact on the women's game, with it coinciding with a home World Cup for England this Summer. 

 It also has huge ramifications, as a win for the Cherry and Whites would make it three in a row, a first in the league since the restructuring in 2017.  

Saracens will have plenty to hold onto too, as a loss for them also takes their opponents level with them on titles since 2017. 

The former fly-half talked about the changed dynamics of it coming in such a big year. 

"I think it just all adds to the entertainment and the excitement around the final and ultimately, what Gloucester is trying to achieve, and Sarries being back in the mix at home like it is a kind of perfect story." 

With it being a final, more eyes will be on the game than the average PWR match, some new fans may be unfamiliar with both teams. The former Red Rose gave her insight into what kind of game to expect and gave a few players to watch. 

"I think it’s going to be a classic final. I think both Gloucester and Sarries are going to go after this game for different reasons. We’re going to see a bit of a battle of the packs. 

"I think we’re going to see a real physical, niggly game. And then what I’m really hoping for is we get that, and we get a bit of the physical stuff, and the opportunity for people like Jess Breach and Emma Sing to really unleash and I think if we get a little bit of all of that, I think we’re going to have an awesome game."  

While it is an exciting time for women's rugby, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the experience for players. Daly-McLean spoke about one of the key issues that she still sees. 

"The big one for me is around support for the dual career girls. We were just talking about May Campbell earlier, how the form she’s in is amazing, and her call up is so well deserved, but the fact she’s also a dual career job. 

"That sounds like it sounds exciting and fun, but all it means is just pretty much working, like, two full time jobs, almost, you know, playing rugby at Sarries, full time, and then delivering work to pay the bills.  

"And I think we’ve got to do more to keep supporting that group, because we know our internationals are well looked after. We know how important they are, and they drive the quality of the league. But I think without those players underneath these games don’t happen because the player base still isn’t big enough. " 

Speaking about how improvements could come about for the non-internationals, Daly-McLean said: 

"Clubs have still got responsibility to provide a program that is attainable for not just your full time girls, I think we’ve still got to accept that we might be an afternoon into an evening program to allow those that work in the day, they’ll be able to come and play, I’m not sure we're at a level yet, where we can go into a professional model, as in in daytime training. 

"Continuing to work on finance and resourcing clubs to be able to buy time for those girls and being aware that realistically, playing rugby probably isn’t a full-time job unless you do it internationally.  

"So yeah, you’re going to be able to work, but you probably shouldn’t have worked like almost a combined 70 hours a week. You could, probably should be able to do that for 35 hours, half rugby, half of work, I think would, for me, would be, we can get some of those for that, that’d be pretty special." 

A lot of change has happened to the sport in such a short time, with it bursting in popularity over the past few years.  

Reflecting on how she thinks this boost has happened, England's former fly-half said: 

"What the Red Roses have done, and I only use them because they’ve gone first, is creating a fan base. And a fan base of that’s more about a family feel and being connected. 

"I think with that, a lot more of those people are starting to become interested in PWR, and therefore, I think because they feel connected to it, they’re more likely to stand up for it. And I think that’s a really, really important difference.  

"Whereas you might not take your young son or your daughter to the football, for example, because it feels quite hostile, whereas women’s rugby might be a place where there’s still a really good sport and spectacle going on, but people can feel safe too. That's something to be proud of." 

Giving her score prediction for the final, she said:  "I think Gloucester by seven points." 

Watch Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens in the PWR Final, live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 2pm on Sunday 16th March 

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