Lynn's golden reign ends with third title triumph

Gloucester-Hartpury delivered a fairytale ending for their departing head coach, Sean Lynn, as they defeated Saracens in the London club's own back yard to win their third Premiership Women's Rugby trophy in a row.

- Sarah Rendell

Gloucester-Hartpury delivered a fairytale ending for their departing head coach, Sean Lynn, as they defeated Saracens in the London club's own back yard to win their third Premiership Women's Rugby trophy in a row. Lynn, who is leaving to become the new Wales women's head coach, has been at the club since 2019 and has transformed the team from a mid-table side to the first club to win the PWR three times consecutively.

Lynn's departure was on fans' minds from the outset. Gloucester supporters made a tunnel for the team as they arrived at the ground with the usual songs of "Gloucester" loud and clear. But when they saw Lynn the chants turned to repeated calls of "Lynny". Lynn described the gesture as "lovely" and that the trophy win was a moment he would "treasure for ever".

He said: "To have my family in that huddle, dreams do come true. To finish this five-year stint with Gloucester-Hartpury with the three-peat, it is very special. I cannot fault them. The players, the staff, it is a very special club."

The prop Maud Muir was named player of the match in an impressive performance but the co-captain Natasha "Mo" Hunt also led well and marshalled her team skilfully, despite a first-half yellow card.