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Domestic Rugby returns with the Women’s Six Nations approaching

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This weekend marks the last round of domestic action before the Women’s Six Nations gets underway at Energia Park, when England face off against Ireland on Friday night.

This weekend marks the last round of domestic action before the Women’s Six Nations gets underway at Energia Park, when England face off against Ireland on Friday night.

As such, players will no-doubt be desperate to make the most of their final chance to build up a head of steam, with rugby to be played in England, Italy, Wales and Ireland.

In what promises to be another busy weekend across Europe, here’s what to keep an eye out for.

Wasps look to sting Quins

A top-four clash beckons in Round 16 of the Tyrrells Premier 15s as Wasps host Harlequins, looking to reel in their opponents.

With both sides coming off the back of comprehensive wins – Harlequins beating Richmond 59-7 and Wasps downing Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 43-12 – something has got to give, with a high-scoring affair certainly on the cards.

Elsewhere, league leaders Saracens welcome Bristol Bears to Allianz Park after they were pushed all the way by Gloucester-Hartpury last time out as they search for their tenth win on the spin.

Third-place Loughborough Lightning head to Worcester Valkyries off the back of a crushing 76-8 triumph over Firwood Waterloo, with the chance to capitalise on any slip-up from Harlequins a healthy incentive.

All-Ireland returns to the fore

After a hardworking 29-19 win over Wales in last weekend’s Six Nations warm-up fixture, domestic rugby is back in Ireland.

It’s a full complement of fixtures this time around, with Blackrock’s trip to Galwegians the pick of the bunch.

Just four points separate the two sides in mid-table, with a win just what both sides need to mount a challenge for the top-three.

Elsewhere, second-place Railway Union welcome bottom side St Mary’s College, while Cooke make the trip to third-place Old Belvedere.

Villorba dream of a dozen

Villorba Rugby sit top of Italy’s Serie A Pool 1 with an unrivalled record: 11 wins from 11 so far this season.

Verona are the challengers to their supremacy this week, as they look to stem the tide against a side who have scored 673 points while conceding only 25, with the league’s bottom side facing a tough ask.

In Pool 2, leaders Unione Rugby Capitolina – also possessing an as-yet untarnished record – go to Etruscan Rugby, looking to maintain their nine-point advantage over CUS Ferrara Rugby at the summit.

Pacesetters face off in Wales

In Wales, the Women’s Premiership season has been somewhat disrupted, with sides having played varying number of fixtures as the table begins to take shape.

But this weekend sees two of the league’s strongest starters go head-to-head, as third-place Pencoed welcome Llandaff North on Sunday, the hosts looking to gain ground on the second-place side.

In the other fixtures of the round, Swansea Women play Caernarfon, with Gwernyfed heading to Whitland.