Harlequins' 18-14 win over Bristol Bears at Principality Stadium in Cardiff ended a league victory drought dating back to October, with Rodrigo Isgro scoring a try in the 58th minute and Jamie Benson sealing it with a last-minute penalty. The team was without key players Marcus Smith and Chandler Cunningham-South for the match, but the result provided a morale boost amid a dire campaign. However, this win does little to salvage a season that has seen Harlequins collapse early in the year, with their overall performance remaining dismal.
Harlequins' Champions Cup exit to Sale Sharks in the last 16 at Twickenham Stoop was marked by large swathes of empty seats and more than 6,000 unsold tickets. They were the only home team not to win in the Champions Cup last 16, with Sale Sharks progressing to the quarter-finals after a match where George Ford kicked three penalties and converted a try, and Luke Cowan-Dickie scored two tries. For Harlequins, Alex Dombrandt scored two tries and Chandler Cunningham-South added one, but the poor attendance underscored growing apathy among fans.
In the Premiership, Harlequins are ninth with only three wins from 12 games, a position that reflects their calamitous season. The team has appointed Jason Gilmore as permanent head coach for the coming years, and Robbie Deans will join as performance director in the summer, though not on a full-time basis. These coaching changes aim to address the team's struggles, but with the season effectively over, the focus shifts to rebuilding for future campaigns.
Bristol Bears, despite their loss to Harlequins, had previously recorded a convincing seven-try win over Gloucester at Ashton Gate, breaking their record for highest-ever points tally against them. The team is two points off Exeter Chiefs in fourth place, boosting their playoff hopes. 1 million, raising questions about their financial stability.
Gloucester have won just twice in 13 attempts this season, highlighting their own struggles in the Premiership. In another match, Sale Sharks lost to Bath 31-26 in soggy conditions, a setback after their Champions Cup success. In Premiership Women's Rugby, Gloucester-Hartpury beat Saracens to return to the top of the table, with Alex Matthews scoring a hat-trick in the match.
Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens are considered the teams to beat this season, with Saracens having retaken the top spot earlier after a win over Harlequins in Round 13 where May Campbell scored a hat-trick. Harlequins' women's team continues to struggle, losing their sixth game in a row against Bristol Bears, where Emma Orr scored two second-half tries. They also fell to Loughborough Lightning 43-33, with Bo Westcombe-Evans scoring a hat-trick for Loughborough.
Recent Round 13 results in Premiership Women's Rugby saw Gloucester-Hartpury beat Exeter Chiefs 38-20, Bristol Bears defeat Leicester Tigers 68-0, and Sale Sharks edge Loughborough Lightning 31-29. Harlequins have picked up just one win since the winter break as of Round 13, while Sale Sharks have three wins in their last three games. Key player returns added intrigue, as Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya returned to play for their teams after being stranded in Dubai.
There are five more rounds of the 2025/26 Premiership Women's Rugby season to go, which is the ninth season of England's top-flight domestic women's rugby union club competition. Historically, the PWR Cup returned in 2025–26 following a hiatus in 2024–25, with Saracens winning the 2025 PWR Cup by defeating Harlequins in the final at StoneX Stadium on 11 October 2025, retaining their title from 2023–24. Amelia MacDougall of Saracens was Player of the Match in that final.
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester–Hartpury, Leicester Tigers, and Sale Sharks each announced changes to their head coach positions. Unknown factors affecting Harlequins' attendance and Bristol's finances remain topics of speculation. Uncertainties also surround player contracts and travel disruptions.