Ugo Monye hails 'tremendous' quality of Premiership Women's Rugby - 'It’s the best domestic league on the planet'

The newly rebranded Premiership Women’s Rugby competition is back and it's better than ever says Ugo Monye.

The top tier of domestic rugby in England gets underway on Saturday as Bristol Bears welcome Sale Sharks live on TNT Sports ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster season of action.

Gone is the Premier 15s brand and in its place is Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) which will see nine teams battling it out for top honours.

Gloucester-Hartpury are the defending champions but there is plenty of intrigue wherever you look. Fresh off victory over New Zealand in the inaugural WXV1, the stars of England’s Red Roses return to club action, while there are two new teams in Leicester Tigers Women and Trailfinders Women.

The PWR is also now being run as a private company and has been boosted by a fresh TV deal with TNT Sports.

But it’s on-pitch matters that remain most important. We spoke to Monye about what people can expect from this season’s PWR.

“There is so much momentum in the women's game,” Monye said. “We saw the Red Roses go down to New Zealand [and] won WXV1 which was just tremendous, battering New Zealand. I woke up early and watched that game and they were phenomenal.

“All of those players that took part in that game from an English perspective will be a part of the PWR. Looking at someone like [Natasha] 'Mo' Hunt who played at nine, she wasn't included in the Women's World Cup squad a year previous and started at nine and she was absolutely outstanding. She goes back into Gloucester-Hartpury as they try and defend their title, which is amazing.

“You've got Marlie Packer [who] got named best women's rugby player on the planet, well she's playing in the PWR so you get to see her and the galaxy of superstars that the Saracens have.

“You've got Bristol Bears who got to the semi-finals last year who have recruited really well with Holly Aitchison and Hannah Botterman and they'll certainly add a huge amount of experience, creativity and leadership around the pitch.

“Harlequins have gone through a bit of a transition phase. Shaunagh Brown, who retired, has now come back into their ranks, and they've added some personnel to them, and they'll certainly be looking just to kick on a little bit more. Rachel Burford has been there for a number of years, a World Cup winner just re-signed for another season.

“The quality of what we've seen over the last couple of years, and the level of competition, I think is tremendous.

“Ultimately to describe the PWR, the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby, it’s the best women's domestic league on the planet. If you want to play high quality, competitive, domestic rugby every single week, you have to play in the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby competition.

“We have players from around the world that come to be a part of it because it's that good, because it's that competitive. And we get an opportunity to be able to display and tell the stories as well as show the quality of these phenomenal women every single weekend, which is great.”

To kick-start this new era of Premiership Women’s Rugby, Sale Sharks travel to Bristol Bears for a 12:30 kick-off on Saturday, which is live on TNT Sports 1.

Both sides have been boosted by several new additions. The hosts have added Aitchison and Botterman to their ranks while Abbie Ward also returns, remarkably just 17 weeks after giving birth to her first child.

They will be up against a Sharks outfit that has also been bolstered by a number of international stars. Among them, the standout is Italy centre Beatrice Rigoni, who is renowned as one of the most flamboyant players in the world.

How, then, does Monye see the opening clash of the season playing out?

“I think considering the year Bristol had last year they'll be going into it confident,” he added. “I know their coaches up there. Dave Ward, a player I played with, and Tom Luke, who grew up playing with that organisation.

“They'll also have Abbie Ward back into the mix this season. She's an incredible player first and foremost, and a phenomenal woman. She gave birth earlier this year and wants to get herself back up to speed and back in doing what she can for Bristol Bears and then obviously back into the Red Roses.

“Not only have they recruited well, but they’ve also got some quality coming back into it.

“My prediction would be for Bristol Bears with their unique style of rugby. For people who are uninitiated but appreciate Bristol Bears men, well the women play in a very similar style.

“They throw the ball around, they back their fitness, their skills, their talents, and that seems to be the only way they want to play which is brilliant to watch. So I think Bristol for the win.”

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media