Team news: McGoverne returns to the starting line-up for Quins' visit

Exeter Chiefs Women’s Liv McGoverne has returned from injury to start Sunday’s game against Harlequins Women (KO 12:45) at Sandy Park.

The New Zealander, who has played at both fly-half and centre this season, will pull on the No 10 jersey this weekend in the place of Taylor Perry who picked up a hamstring strain amid the wind and rain against Sale Sharks in round 15.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “We have missed Liv. She is a class player and she is a calm player. I think that’s what we have missed in the last couple of weeks. She is pleased to be back, and we are really pleased to have her.”

Round 16 of the PWR sees scrum-half Flo Robinson, centre Nancy McGillivray and wing Katie Buchanan all return to the back-line with Merryn Dodge moving to full-back. The front row welcomes Hope Rogers back at loosehead prop alongside Emily Tuttosi and DaLeaka Menin. Captain and lock Poppy Leitch slots back into the second row alongside Linde van der Velden with Dorothy Wall moving into the back row.

On the bench, flanker Maddie Feaunati returns from injury leaving flanker Maisy Allen, hooker Cliodhna Moloney and prop Mikiela Nelson in the physio room.

Both sides will be smarting from league losses last weekend and will be hoping to cement their place in the top four.

Appleby continued: “Last week was really disappointing. Sale fully deserved their win. Fair play to Sale…Tails (Sale’s head coach Rachel Taylor) and the players have had a tough old season. In one team’s sadness comes another team’s joy.

“But top two is still achievable. That’s what we are going after, but all focus has been on Quins this week, who are a really good side. They have suffered a few injuries too. Some if it is a war of attrition at the moment, and some of it is the survival of the fittest. We all knew this was coming. It’s an incredibly competitive league and the jeopardy is exciting for the neutrals, just not so exciting for me!

“The season is not over; we are still in it. We’re not losing faith in ourselves. We are excited to go out and play rugby again.”

Exeter Chiefs Women’s game against Harlequins Women will kick off at 12:45 on Sunday. This round 16 PWR game is included in all season ticket packages or is just £11 for adults and £5.50 for 16s and under.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Merryn Doidge
14 Claudia MacDonald
13 Nancy McGillivray
12 Gabby Cantorna
11 Katie Buchanan
10 Liv McGoverne
9 Flo Robinson (vc)
1 Hope Rogers
2 Emily Tuttosi
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Poppy Leitch (c)
5 Linde van der Velden
6 Dorothy Wall
7 Edel McMahon
8 Rachel Johnson

16 Clara Nielson
17 Demi Swann
18 Flo Long
19 Emily Robinson
20 Maddie Feaunati
21 Lucy Nye
22 Alexandra Tessier
23 Georgina Tasker