As the annual Big Game 12 rolls around once again, this year will be the first Harlequins vs Saracens clash at Twickenham to feature women’s sides.

Heather Cowell, Harlequins winger believes that the inclusion of her side’s face-off with Leinster on the same ticket at Twickenham is a huge step forward.

“It’s so important to have women’s games on the back of men’s. To be able to put the women’s game on such a big platform will enable it to grow.”

The Twickenham native will be making her debut at the national stadium, beating her twin brother as the first in the family to do so.

“I think Harlequins are leading the way in terms of equality,” she explained. “We were there as a team to watch last year, so the fact that we will be playing there too this year is huge.

“It’s still about baby steps when it comes to closing the gap on the men’s game and it’s hard to put a time frame on how far we are off.

Anna Caplice, fellow Quins star, shares Cowell’s excitement for the upcoming fixture and agrees that playing in the iconic stadiums is important for building exposure for women’s rugby.

“We’re playing at one of the massive stadiums in world sport so that’s going to be really exciting.

“Building the momentum into Christmas will be great, I hope people will be able to come to watch us play Leinster my old rivals when I played in Munster. The match will be massively exciting.”

Harlequins Women will face Leinster Women on 28th December at Twickenham Stadium KO 7 pm