Harlequins Women

Harlequins Ladies were founded in 1995 as the women's team of Harlequin F.C. They initially played their home games at Centaurs RFC, Grasshoppers RFC, Old Isleworthians RFC{{cite web|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/aylesford-bulls-ladies-77-0-harlequins-ladies-10-10-2011/ |title=Aylesford Bulls Ladies 77–0 Harlequins Ladies |work=Kent Sports News |date=10 October 2011 |access-date=3 September 2020}} and at Harlequins' previous training base at Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields in Roehampton. They won their first league title unbeaten and were subject of a Channel 4 documentary.{{cite news|date=24 November 1996|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anguish%3f+They+all+had+a+bawl+in+the+Square!%3b+LANNING+ON+THE+BOX.-a061153077 |archive-url= |url-status= |title=Anguish? They All Had a Bawl in the Square! |newspaper=The People (London, England)|via=TheFreeLibrary |access-date=}}

In 2000, they were promoted to Rugby Football Union for Women Division 1.{{cite web|url=http://official.sportnetwork.net/main/s463/st79614.htm |title=Player profile – Mel Antao |publisher=Official.sportnetwork.net |date=23 April 2006 |access-date=31 March 2017}} However, they were later relegated from top flight.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s98/st107001.htm |title=Harlequin Ladies Fixtures 2006/7 |publisher=Rugbynetwork.net |date= |access-date=31 March 2017}} Following the RFUW restructuring the leagues in 2007, Harlequins Ladies were placed in Championship 2 South East.{{cite web|url=http://official.sportnetwork.net/main/s463/st75744.htm |title=How it all began: A brief history of HLFC |publisher=Official.sportnetwork.net |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=31 March 2017}} In 2017, they competed in the National 2 South East league.{{cite web |url=http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/rugby/east_london_women_launch_recruitment_drive_1_4456410 |title=East London women launch recruitment drive |publisher=Newham Recorder |date=16 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330162358/http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/rugby/east_london_women_launch_recruitment_drive_1_4456410 |url-status=dead }}

In 2016, Harlequins announced a partnership with Women's Premiership club Aylesford Bulls Ladies. The agreement stated that Aylesford Bulls would become a part of Harlequins and would wear their colours but initially retain their name and at first split their matches between Aylesford, Kent and Harlequins' Twickenham Stoop.{{cite web|last=Tucker |first=Craig |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/sport/bulls-aiming-to-conquer-europe-97173/ |title=Aylesford Bulls Ladies Rugby Club announce partnership with Harlequins and set sights on European domination |publisher=Kent Online |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=31 March 2017}} However the elite squad later moved to be permanently based at Surrey Sports Park at the University of Surrey in Guildford, with the 3s maintaining their links with the local area and keeping Old Isleworthians RFC as their training and playing base.{{cite web|url=http://womenspremiership.co.uk/aylesford-bulls-ladies/ |title=Aylesford Bulls Ladies |publisher=Women's Premiership |date=24 March 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017}} Although in 2021, Harlequins Women 3XV moved to Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club and formed Harlequin Amateurs Women. In 2017, Harlequins Ladies were awarded a franchise for the new Women's Super League, later renamed Premier 15s. In doing so, Harlequins fully took over Aylesford Bulls Ladies with Harlequins being confirmed for the new league in a full merger and would cease using the Aylesford Bulls name.{{cite news|author=Richard Parry |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/harlequins-ladies-offered-place-in-the-newly-formed-women-s-super-rugby-competition-a3478471.html |title=Women's Super Rugby: Harlequins Ladies offered place in the newly formed competition |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scrumqueens.com/news/england-reveal-top-new-women%E2%80%99s-competition |title=England reveal top new women's competition |publisher=Scrum Queens |date=6 January 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SWL-e-zine-March-final.compressed.pdf |title=Girls Rugby catching on |publisher=SW Londonder |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709022353/http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SWL-e-zine-March-final.compressed.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/guest-columnists/29135/catherine-spencer-litchfield-will-get-new-chance-to-join-in-2019/|title=Catherine Spencer: Litchfield will get new chance to join in 2019|last=admin|date=14 September 2017|website=The Rugby Paper}}

In July 2019, they changed their name to Harlequins Women.{{cite web|url=https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-ladies-renamed-harlequins-women/|title=Harlequins Ladies renamed Harlequins Women|work=Harlequin F.C.|date=30 July 2019|access-date=24 September 2019|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924161648/https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-ladies-renamed-harlequins-women/|url-status=dead}}

On 10 March 2018, Harlequins Women played in front of a crowd of 4,545 spectators during a game against local rivals Richmond Women at Twickenham Stoop, establishing a record attendance for a British women's club rugby match.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43358079 | title=Harlequins 14-12 Richmond: Record crowd watches women's club game|publisher=BBC | date= 10 March 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.quins.co.uk/team/harlequin-women/|title=Harlequins Women and Girls Rugby|work=Harlequin F.C.|date=|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=21 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821195720/https://www.quins.co.uk/team/harlequin-women/|url-status=dead}}

The following season, on 30 March 2019, they beat their own record with an attendance of 4,837 for their last regular season league match of the Premier 15s season against Gloucester-Hartpury.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47760987 | title=Tyrrells Premier 15s: Record crowd sees Quins into play-offs|publisher=BBC | date= 30 March 2019 |access-date=2 April 2019}}

Harlequins Women play their home league matches at Twickenham Stoop

In their early years they played most of their home matches at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, Surrey. However, each season they played an increasing number of fixtures at Twickenham Stoop with four times in the 2017–18 season and a further six times in 2019–20. For the 2023–23 season, Twickenham Stoop became their home for league matches.

On 30 August 2018, it was announced that the Harlequins Women 3rd XV squad would be playing their home matches at the brand new facilities at Grasshoppers RFC.{{cite web| url=https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-ladies-3rd-xv-set-for-new-home| title=Harlequins Ladies 3rd XV set for new home| date=30 August 2018| work=Harlequin F.C.| access-date=3 September 2020| archive-date=24 June 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202834/https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-ladies-3rd-xv-set-for-new-home| url-status=dead}}

{{update section|date=July 2024}}

{{for|player movements before or during the 2023–24 season|List of 2023–24 Premiership Women’s Rugby transfers#Harlequins}}

The Harlequins Women squad for the 2021–22 season is:{{cite web | url=http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/#women | title=Current Players | work=Harlequin F.C. | access-date=3 September 2020 | archive-date=27 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827165622/http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/#women | url-status=dead }}

{{rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=HK | name=Gillian Bourke}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=Lauren Brooks}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=Davinia Catlin}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=Amy Cokayne}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=Chloe Edwards}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=HK | name=Leah Lyons}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=Shaunagh Brown}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=Sheree Cooper}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=Vickii Cornborough}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SWE | pos=PR | name=Tove Viksten}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=Rosie Dobson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Megan Brodie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Courtney Dobson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Jenny Eyre}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Fiona Fletcher}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Katy Mew}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Rebecca Piddlesden}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=Abbie Ward (née Scott)}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=LK | name=Alice Sheffield}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=Sarah Beckett}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=BR | name=Jade Konkel}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=BR | name=Anna Caplice}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=BR | name=Kiri Lose}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=BR | name=Samantha McCarthy}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=BR | name=Bethan Dainton}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=Emily Robinson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=N8 | name=Kate Jenkins}}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=Bobbie Haywood}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=Lucy Packer}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=Leanne Riley}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=Ellie Green}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SWE | pos=FH | name=Victoria Petersson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=Emily Scott}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=Rachael Burford}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=CE | name=Laura Dowsett}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=CE | name=Izzy Mayhew}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=CE | name=Jade Mullen}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=Beth Wilcock}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=Lagi Tuima}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=Samantha White}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=Jess Breach}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Megan Brown}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=WG | name=Laura Venclova}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=WG | name=Charlotte Wellbelove}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= BEL | pos=WG | name=Ella Amory}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=Heather Cowell}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FB | name=Chloe Rollie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat= | pos=FB | name=Emogene Sutton}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=UB | name=Ellie Miles}}

{{rugby squad end}}

Gold background denotes champions
Silver background denotes runners-up
Pink background denotes relegated

• Premier 15s
• Champions 2020–21
• Runners–Up: (2) 2017–18, 2018–19

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Premiership Women's Rugby}}

Category:Women's rugby union teams in England

Category:Sport in Guildford

Category:Harlequin F.C.

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1995

Category:1995 establishments in England

Category:Rugby union clubs in Surrey

Category:Women's sports clubs and teams in London

Category:Premiership Women's Rugby teams