Trailfinders Face Saracens in PWR Final After Upsetting Champions
By Sydney HarmonThe Trailfinders will make their Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) final debut against Saracens at the Stoop on Sunday, following their upset victory over three-time defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury. This finale closes out what many consider the most competitive season in the English top flight closing out the most competitive edition.
Saracens, who refer to themselves as the “big bad wolves” self-proclaimed “big bad wolves”, enter the match as considerable favorites. They have never lost to Trailfinders in PWR play and this marks their sixth final appearance since the new women's club rugby era began in 2017, having secured three titles in that period won three titles.
Underdog Ascent to the Final
Trailfinders, the fourth-placed team in the PWR table, carved a difficult path to the championship match. Their semifinal win against Gloucester-Hartpury on the road, where they knocked out the three-time defending champions, followed an earlier regular season victory against the same side. That prior win also ended Gloucester's league winning streak that had dated back to November 2023 ended a winning streak.
Despite their recent successes, the odds remain stacked against the Trailfinders; no team finishing fourth in the PWR table has ever gone on to win the title no team who have finished fourth. However, the team's back-row forward, Abi Burton, expressed strong confidence heading into the final. Burton, a World Cup winner with England, stated, “We aren’t scared,” adding, “there is not one ounce of fear in this room” “We aren’t scared,” said Burton.
Burton acknowledged previous losses to Saracens this season but emphasized the team's belief in their ability to win. She highlighted the confidence gained from their recent victories against two near full-strength Gloucester-Hartpury sides taken so much confidence. Burton also suggested previous tight losses earlier in the season were due to a “lack of game understanding” rather than a “lack of talent” lack of game understanding.