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England’s top women’s division – the Premier 15s – is set to kick off this weekend. The semi-professional competition will feature a number of North American players this season, with an impressive six names in Exeter’s lineup to face Gloucester-Hartpury.
New Canadian arrivals Emily Tuttosi, McKinley Hunt, and Taylor Black jump straight into the starting side at hooker, lock, and flyhalf respectively. USA captain Kate Zackary is on the flank, with fellow Eagles international Jennine Duncan on the right wing and Gabby Cantorna backing up Black on the bench.
Canada prop Olivia DeMerchant is still settling in so Japan tighthead Sachiko Kato makes her club debut. Netherlands No8 Linde van der Velden captains the Chiefs, with Wales scrumhalf and England center Lauren Cattell also named in the multi-national selection.
The Cherry and Whites are also loaded with internationals, albeit of the local variety. Scotland provide second row Sarah Bonar, with every other starter representing either England or Wales most notably star halfbacks Natasha Hunt and Ceri Large.
There will be modified laws in effect for the opening half of the season with Premier 15s unable to provide the rigorous COVID-19 testing protocols utilised by the Men’s Premiership. Halves will be 35 minutes in length while there will be an emphasis on avoiding scrums with free kicks given for forward passes.
One match in each of the first four weeks of the season will be streamed live. Tomorrow’s game will be available on the England Rugby YouTube and Facebook channels, with Premier 15s offering streams on their website and on Twitter.
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY
1 Ellena Perry, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Cerys Hale, 4 Sarah Bonar, 5 Zoe Aldcroft, 6 Gwen Crabb, 7 Sian Williams, 8 Shona Powell-Hughes, 9 Natasha Hunt (capt.), 10 Ceri Large, 11 Kelly Smith, 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Rachel Lund, 14 Ellie Underwood, 15 Hannah Jones
Replacements: 16 Robyn Locke, 17 Ellie Gilbert, 18 Kathryn Buggy, 19 Shya Pinnock, 20 B King, 21 Bianca Blackburn, 22 Millie Wood, 23 Daisy Fahey
EXETER CHIEFS
1 Michaella Roberts, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Sachiko Kato, 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 McKinley Hunt, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Linde van der Velden (capt.), 9 Ffion Lewis, 10 Taylor Black, 11 Garnet MacKinder, 12 Lauren Cattell, 13 Lottie Holland, 14 Jennine Duncan, 15 Marryn Doidge
Replacements: 16 Lauren Leatherland, 17 Jess Thomas, 18 Charlie Budge, 19 Rosanna Moynihan, 20 Daisy French, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Louise Burgess
Date: Saturday, October 10
Venue: Alpas Arena, Hartpury
Kickoff: 14:30 local (06:30 Pacific, 09:30 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Facebook, Twitter, Web Stream, YouTube
