Ellie Rugman: Gloucester-Hartpury 'hungrier than ever' to retain Premiership Women's Rugby title

The Cherry and Whites begin their campaign at Kingsholm against Leicester Tigers on Saturday at 17:30 GMT.

The club finished top of the table in June before beating Exeter in the final to clinch the title for the first time.

"The team perspective is definitely to go out there and win it again," Rugman told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I know we're all more hungry than we've ever been because we've got a taste of that now and that was such an unbelievable experience for all of us.

"We definitely want to go out there and do it again, and why shouldn't we? We were good enough to do it once so why can't we do it twice?"

Gloucester-Hartpury reaped the benefits of an increase in funding last season, going on a massive recruitment drive to bring in a host of international players, a number of who all recommitted their futures to the club this summer.

However, long-standing head coach Sean Lynn has been putting the building blocks of the squad in place for years and a core team - that includes Rugman, Natasha 'Mo' Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft - still remains this season.

'We can be even better'

While they have lost England hooker Connie Powell to Quins and Sophie Bridger to Saracens, and Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap has retired, Red Roses prop Mackenzie Carson has been brought in to boost the front row further.

Prior to last season, the club had never finished higher than fourth in the league, but Rugman - who is the league's all-time top try-scorer, including 15 last season - said their success has put a target on the team's back, which they relish.

"You go out there, you win a title and everyone wants to beat you, everyone wants to play you," she added. "You create that extra pressure on yourself so I think everyone's going to be gunning for us and we're absolutely keen for that.

"We can't wait for every game that we get to play. All the girls absolutely love it. It's such a great squad of girls - a variety of girls as well - and we thrive in that environment so bring it on."

Saturday's opening match forms part of a double-header at Kingsholm that will see the men's side host the Tigers earlier in the afternoon (14:30 GMT) to compete for the Slater Cup, named after former player Ed Slater who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2022.

Rugman, who will miss the game through injury, said she believes the team can keep improving this season.

"We've got such a strong squad, I know we performed well last season but I know we can be even better and I think that's what's so exciting," she added.