Harlequins Women: (27) 42

Tries: Pena 2, C Powell, K Powell, Neumann, Phillips, Kildunne 2 Con: Tuima

Leicester Tigers Women: (7) 17

Tries: M Jones, Henrich, Sagapolu Con: M Jones

Harlequins ran in eight tries to move top of the Women’s Premiership with a commanding win over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham.

Tries from Claudia Pena, Connie and Kayleigh Powell and Lisa Neumann secured the bonus point for Quins in the first half after Meg Jones had given Tigers the visitors at the national stadium.

Second-half scores from substitute Carys Phillips and two from world player of the year Ellie Kildunne secured a win that moves Harlequins two points clear at the table summit.

Tigers, who had Meg Jones and Julia Omokhuale sent to the sin-bin during the match, failed to secure a losing bonus point despite Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele’s late try.

The two sides faced off at Twickenham as part of Harlequins’ annual “Big Game” at the home of the England national side.

The event was again a sell-out and though it was by no means full ahead of the men’s match between the two clubs due to follow, those who had taken their seats for the opening match were treated to a highly entertaining advert for the women’s game ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Everything in the build-up pointed to a “home” win for Harlequins, who had won their past seven league games in a row, while Leicester languished second from bottom with one win from eight.

But the visitors made a bright start and took the lead through Meg Jones.

However, Quins soon found their footing in the game and begun to dominate the ball and territory, responding with three tries of their own.

A yellow card shown late on in the first half to Meg Jones made the task even harder for Tigers, with Quins scoring twice more to lead by 20 at half time.

And the best was saved until last for Harlequins fans as their star player Kildunne, who was recently named the best player of 2024 by World Rugby, put on a late show to score two dazzling tries cap a fine performance that England fans will be excited to see more of in next year’s home World Cup.

Harlequins: Kildunne; Wilcock, Pena, Tuima, Neumann; K Powell, Packer; Turani, C Powell, Hanlon, Leaney, Bonar, Fleming, Callender, Konkel

Replacements: Phillips, Spurrier, Delgado, Brooks, Millar Mills, Swords, Parry, Torley

Leicester: Gallagher; Kenrich, M Jones, Wills, McGhie; N Jones, Relf; Bartlett, Cokayne, Benavent, Donaldson, Fray, Omokhuale, Childs, McBrien

Replacements: Simpson, Constable, Vincent, Richardson, Gordon, Maxwell, Feury, Sagapolu

Sin-bin: M Jones [32], Omokhuale [60]

Referee: Holly Wood