Season opener against Exiles

An all Uppsala team

On 9 May, Uppsala RFC opened their Allsvenskan season at home against Exiles Ladies in an intense and hard-fought match. It was an especially exciting occasion for Uppsala, as it had been four years since the club last fielded a fully Uppsala-based women’s team. Around half of the squad made their Allsvenskan debut, with several players either new to rugby or stepping up from the youth teams.

Uppsala started off strong and controlled much of the possession during the opening 10 minutes. Their energy and physicality put Exiles under pressure early on, but the momentum shifted after a high tackle resulted in a penalty try for the visitors. From there, the game remained competitive, with both teams fighting hard and winning back possession several times. Alongside the many young players and rookies, Uppsala also welcomed back Angela Woolley, whose experience and communication brought valuable leadership from the bench. Exiles were more clinical in key moments, capitalising on mistakes and converting their chances efficiently to lead 31–0 at half time.

Exiles opened the second half with two more tries, while Uppsala began to tire and found it harder to break through with a flatter attacking line. Despite this, the home side continued to work hard and were eventually rewarded. After a strong break from Carley Fowler and good support play from Märta Metzén, Uppsala built pressure close to the try line. Following several phases and a penalty advantage, Iraide Toyos Marzo scored Uppsala’s first try, which Isolde Limé successfully converted. Uppsala added one more try before Exiles scored the final points of the match, with the second half ending 17–12 and the final score 48–12.

One of the biggest positives for Uppsala was how composed the inexperienced squad looked throughout the match. Across the pitch, the team produced several strong runs and tackles, showing both courage and potential against experienced opposition. Despite the final score, the performance highlighted a promising future for the club.

Player of the match: Märta Metzén

Dick of the day: Angela Woolley