Trevarthen: University’s semi-final success will help ‘springboard’ players into Allianz PWR

Loughborough University’s tense BUCS National Championships semi-final success will help even more players ‘springboard into Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby’, according to BUCS 1 Head Coach, Katie Trevarthen.

A brace of tries from hooker Kendall Waudby and lock Lilli Ives Campion, plus an effort from prop Amelia Williams, were all improved from the tee by fly-half Lia Green – who also added a penalty to claim a 38-34 victory away at Exeter University.

“It is a massive advert for the game and it is great for the girls. You want University rugby to be as competitive as possible because the more competitive it is, and the tougher it is, the more it helps them springboard into the Allianz PWR,” said Trevarthen.

“There were things that we did that made it hard for ourselves and there’s things that Exeter did that made it hard for themselves. 

The victory in Devon sets up a winner-takes-all final at StoneX Stadium on Wednesday 17 April, when regular-season table-toppers Hartpury will be the opponents, after they overcame Cardiff Met 45-31 in the other semi-final clash.

“I was really impressed with how we built into the game,” added Trevarthen. “Exeter brought so much emotional energy to the game, it was a class game of rugby and they really turned up.

“We actually showed a lot of really good composure and stuck in it for 80 minutes and kept building as we went. If we can start off well in the final against Hartpury it is going to be really exciting.”

Loughborough were able to select a squad with a number of players with Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby experience, or who have cut their teeth at senior level in the Allianz Cup.

Trevarthen pointed to the strength of the squad as an example as to how the programme at Loughborough is working, and tipped even more of her young stars to make the Lightning grade in the not-so-distant future.

“Players like Georgina Tasker and Bo Westcombe Evans came through the BUCS programme, they pretty much played exclusively for the BUCS before being given them the opportunity for Lightning,” she said.

“Then you’ve got a Keevy Fitzpatrick in the second row who has come to us as a fresher, has played a lot of BUCS 2 and has started every BUCS 1 game after Christmas. I would be very surprised if she is not in an Allianz Cup squad by pre-season next season – and that is the example of it happening this year. 

“Ellie Roberts, Amelia Williams and Lucy Finch will be examples of exactly the same, those three are Under-20s and will springboard from the Premiership Cup and into the Premiership.”