Harlequins Women v Exeter Chiefs Women

Merryn Elworthy will make her 100th appearance in a Chiefs jersey as domestic women’s rugby returns with the PWR Cup on Saturday.

Having made her 99 previous appearances as Merryn Doidge, Elworthy will make her milestone appearance under her new surname following her wedding in the summer.

The 24-year-old played in her first game for Chiefs against in Gloucester-Hartpury in October 2020 after making the move to Sandy Park from Bristol Bears Women.

Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “Merryn is, first and foremost, a wonderful person. She is very humble and engages with everyone. She has been incredibly consistent over the years and has the versatility to play numerous positions.

“She works very hard on both her strengths and her development areas and despite still only being 24, is very much one of our senior players. To get to 100 caps is a fantastic achievement, but I wouldn’t bet against her getting to 200.”

In contrast, nine players will make their Chiefs debut this weekend against Harlequins, including former Barbarian Sammy Wong, who has been around the Chiefs squad for two years but has never had the opportunity to play in a league or cup game.

In the backs, Irish winger and University of Exeter student Eva Sterritt makes her first start amid a changed line-up that sees Elworthy move from full-back to centre with Eilidh Sinclair in the 15 jersey. Danielle Preece, often seen at centre, will start on the wing.

In the pack, hooker Sofia Bekir Fuente, prop Alessia Skeates, lock Lola Whitley and No 8 Gabriella Nigrelli also make their debuts in the first XV with captain Emily Robinson stepping in at lock from her usual spot in the back row.

Along with Wong, debutants hoping to make an impact from the bench include Exeter University’s Anna Woodman, plus flanker Zoe Dare, fresh from her England Students’ success, and most recent signing winger Eleanor Hing.

Salvin added: “The Cup is a great opportunity for us to get valuable game-time for both our senior players and our U23s. We have not played since February and have been in pre-season since the beginning of June, so everyone is very excited to pull on the Chiefs shirt and rip in.

“We have nine players making their debuts this weekend, mostly young players with very bright futures. We do have an outlier in Sammy Wong who is at the other end of her career, but her debut is no less special.”

“Quins have a good number of very senior players in and around their group this weekend,” continued Salvin. “We expect to see the likes of Lizzie Hanlon,

Connie Powell and Lagi Tuima, all of which have England caps to their name, and some very exciting youngsters looking to stake a claim in a Quins shirt. Games against Quins are always physical and with plenty of talent on both teams, I am sure we will see a great game.”

Chiefs will travel to Cobham RFC for the first round of the PWR Cup. They will head to 4ED Hartpury Stadium to face Gloucester-Hartpury on 7 September (KO 13:00) in round two before playing their first home game against Trailfinders in the final match of the pool stages. Tickets available here.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 ⁠Eilidh Sinclair

14 ⁠Eva Sterritt

13 ⁠Merryn Elworthy

12 ⁠Naomi Brennan

11 ⁠Danielle Preece

10 ⁠Liv McGoverne

9 ⁠Flo Robinson (vc)

1 Demi Swann

2 ⁠Sofia Bekir Fuente

3 ⁠Alessia Skeates

4 ⁠ Lola Whitley