Domestic clubs across Europe were pleased to welcome back their international stars after the conclusion of the Autumn Internationals, as a busy weekend of women’s rugby ensued.
With league seasons now heating up all around the continent there was plenty to play for, with top-of-the-table clashes, fiery derbies and big wins all making headlines.
Here’s how the action unfolded.
Tight at the top in the Tyrrells
Just four points separate the top three in England’s Tyrrells Premier 15s after 10 games played, with Saracens edging out Loughborough Lightning and Harlequins by the narrowest of margins.
After defeat last week to the league’s leaders, Loughborough had a point to prove, and they did just that with a statement 28-10 win over Wasps.
Sarah Hunter made a welcome return to the Lightning’s ranks, grabbing two tries after starring for England on international duty.
But the win wasn’t enough to leapfrog Saracens, who ran in 11 tries, including a hat-trick from Georgie Lingham to beat Worcester Valkyries 63-0, while Harlequins kept the pace thanks to a 39-10 win at Bristol Bears.
Elsewhere there were wins for Gloucester-Hartpury over Darlington Mowden Park Sharks and Richmond over Firwood Waterloo.
Perfect starts continue in France
Montpellier and Stade Toulousain maintained their thus-far flawless campaigns as France’s Elite 1 passes the halfway mark.
Defending champions Montpellier made it eight from eight in Pool 1 with a 53-point triumph at Stade Francais, making it 399 points scored to just 60 conceded in the league this season.
Blagnac keep things tight, however, with a 42-5 win at Stade Rennais, meaning that the points gap to the top stays at just five.
In Pool B Stade Toulousain ground out a 19-0 win at Stade Bordelais to maintain their advantage over AS Bayonnaise, who beat Lille Metropole 29-3.
Old rivalries reignited in Ireland
Despite consigning Railway Union to their first defeat of the All Ireland season, Old Belvedere found themselves falling in the table rather than climbing.
A late Gemma Matthews penalty sealed an 18-15 win on the road for Old Belvedere in the Dublin derby, but UL Bohemian’s 45-17 win over St Mary’s sent them second with a try-scoring bonus-point.
Bohemians capitalised on a two-player advantage at the end of the first-half to grab four tries, two of them through Chloe Pearse, as the visitors made a match-winning contribution.
Ton-up for Villorba
Villorba Rugby’s 122-0 victory at Cus Milano Rugby saw them leapfrog Rugby Colorno in Serie A’s Group 1 by virtue of points difference.
Both sides have won seven from seven, with Colorno edging out third-place Valsugana Rugba Padova 8-3, but Villorba’s result leaves them with a points difference of 419, 29 better than that of their rivals.
In Group 2 Union R Capitolina got the better of Rugby Bologna 1928, running out 48-11 victors, with second-place CUS Ferrara Rugby beating CUS Pisa 35-0.
Pontyclun benefit from reduced programme
With three of the weekend’s four fixtures in the Welsh Women’s Premiership called off, second-place Pontylcun gained ground on leaders Llandaff North with a hard-fought 31-24 win at Pencoed.
A losing bonus point sees Pencoed climb above Whitland into third, with sides looking to make up for postponed matches when action returns next weekend.
