Gloucester full of leaders, says stand-in captain Beckett

Sarah Beckett may be the one with the captain's armband on when Gloucester-Hartpury walk out for their Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) semi-final against Trailfinders on Sunday, but the forward says her team is full of leaders.

The 27-year-old is looking to help The Circus secure a fourth-straight PWR title - a fifth overall for Beckett - before she joins Sale for the start of 2026-27.

And, despite not having the on-field support of the likes of team-mates Natasha Hunt, Alex Matthews and Zoe Stratford, Beckett says the advice is never far away.

"I am getting a lot of support, I am captain on the pitch but there are a whole group of leaders behind me, and a lot of leaders off it too," Beckett told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I have had messages from Al (Matthews), Mo (Natasha Hunt) and Zo (Stratford), so I don't feel alone in what I am doing.

"It's difficult to not have them, but they are working really hard with us behind the scenes, working hard on the training pitch coaching, and they are trying to have an influence from off the pitch.

"I am very honoured and proud to captain the club and hopefully I can captain us to a final."

Beckett did also acknowledge that the absences within the squad had allowed chances for others, including herself, to develop.

"We lost Mo (Hunt) and Al during the Six Nations, and Zoe is pregnant, so it is tough for us who are out there, and we are devastated for the girls who are injured," she said.

"But it gives more fuel to the group to do it for them, and a challenge to the group for other leaders to step up.

"I am keeping the captaincy, but it has been a whole new skillset for me to learn, interacting with the referees on the pitch."

For some in the Gloucester squad, Beckett included, Sunday will be the final time they run out at Kingsholm - re-badged as Queensholm for the PWR play-offs - in Cherry and White.

Ireland international Sam Monaghan, who has extended her stay at the club into next season, believes providing a fitting send-off for those departing can provide extra motivation.

"The likes of Rachel Lund, who has played for his club for nine years, and Bianca (Blackburn) and El Perry as well have been amazing, and we just want to give these girls the best send-off we can," said Monaghan.

"This group has been through so much, and you have always looked at Gloucester and how tight of a group they are, how hard they work for each other and how connected they are.

"Those players deserve an amazing send-off and that's definitely a key motivator for us.

"The mentality of this group for me stands out, you never know what is around the corner so you just want to give everything into every game. It's never about the 23 who take to the pitch, it's about the whole group."