Preview | The Tigers travel south for another clash between Leicester and London

Leicester Tigers return to Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby action this weekend on Saturday 11 May as they return to London to take on Harlequins Women.

The reverse gear, at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, was the first Tigers of 2024 and it was an interesting affair, up close.

A scoreline of 24 – 33 saw the day’s visitors score in the last minute trying to catch their breath, but with just two points to go, the Tigers were left to rue their missed chances against their experienced opponents.

Their first score of the second half was a rolling maul from Elis Martin, and the return of the Tigers’ Scotland internationals will be key to success: as well as a try in the previous match, Martin boasts a tenacity at the breakdown (sitting second on the side for runs won, with four); Eva Donaldson brings a constant threat to the lineout, with the second highest lineout steal of all Allianz PWR players at a rate of 0.7 per 80 minutes; out, Francesca McGhie is both Leicester’s joint top scorer in the league and ninth in the league for defenders beaten (38).

The match will also see the debut of Olympic and Team GB 7 star Celia Quansah. Having signed for the club in the summer, the former national heptathlete will line up on the wing and will be keen to make an impact on her first appearance for the club, having returned to rugby with the recent 7s tournaments in Los Angeles and Hong. Kong.

In terms of how the game will play out, Saturday’s hosts possess one key identity: Harlequins are a team that likes to attack.

The last time the two sides met, the ‘Quins enjoyed three times the tally of the Tigers, with 18 to Leicester’s six. Over the course of the season so far, the Londoners are second overall in average disposals per game (10.5) and are clearly looking to use their speed out wide, finishing second in passes per game (175).

They love to run the ball just as much, as they are second overall in carries per game (138.3) and yards per game (874.7). Interestingly, despite their penchant for spreading the ball, the Tigers have used their backs more effectively throughout the season, having scored 19 tries through the backs, one to Quins’ 18.

However, the key advantage for the hosts on Saturday was their depth, with eleven tries coming from substitutes, the joint-highest in the league.

The Tigers back row must be prepared to be at their most tenacious. Tigers leading tacklers Becky Noon (17.8 tackles) and Morgan Richardson (16 tackles) are fourth and tenth in tackles per 80 minutes in the league and both must be ready to work from hard at Twickenham Stoop.

Leicester Tigers as a whole have the highest rate of tackle dominance of any team in this season’s Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (8%) and have also made the second highest number of winning tackles per match in any team this quarter (3.7).

However, the team will miss the tackling dominance provided by Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele (18 dominant tackles), Tahlia Brody (13 dominant tackles) and Catha Jacobs (13 dominant tackles).

In fact, both sides will be missing critical players. Earlier this week, news broke that Leicester will miss Meg Jones, who is joining the GB 7s squad ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Jones provides a threat wherever he is on the park and is fifth for try involvements in this year’s Allianz PWR with a combined 12 tries and assists.

She will be joined in camp by Harlequins’ Ellie Kildunne, who scored in the reverse fixture and was key for the quarters. Kildunne has made over 300 more carry meters than any other player this Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby season (1565) and has beaten more defenders than any other player in the league this season (76).

Tomorrow’s return to Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby action will see the side look to end a first Premiership season on a high and it looks like the trip to Twickenham is sure to bring excitement.