If you’re looking for the best rarebit in Wales, the top sushi in Tokyo or the best hot dog in America you could do worse than asking Worcester Warriors Women.  

The Allianz Premier 15s side were especially active this off-season, hoping to improve on a seventh-place finish last year.  

The team looked near and far for reinforcements, from the home nations to the home of the Olympics in order to add depth to the squad.  

As Warriors’ Alex Matthews jetted off to Japan to represent Team GB in the Sevens this summer, she was inadvertently visiting the homeland of future team-mate Minori Yamamoto, a talented No.10 with 12 caps for her country. 

And captain Lyndsay O'Donnell thinks the new signing is settling in just fine.  

“Minori’s slotted right in,” she said. “Rugby is obviously an international language, isn’t it, so you know there’s not really been any language barriers there so that’s been brilliant. 

“Everyone’s just slotted in lovely. Off the pitch they’ve been invited down to do lots of things, see the sites of Worcester, which is really good. 

“Obviously we couldn’t do that last year with Covid restrictions, so they’re socialising really well with the rest of the team.” 

Yamamoto won’t be the lone new face at Sixways by any stretch of the imagination. 

Dual-code Wales international Ffion Lewis, Ireland fly-half Ellen Murphy, former Bristol Bears full-back Cat McNaney, and front-row Stef Evans have all inked deals with the club, who begin their season away at Sale Sharks on Saturday.  

Warriors fans will also have to quickly familiarise themselves with USA second-row Alycia Washington, who landed in Britain just two weeks ago, signing with the club in part because of Worcester itself, saying she appreciated its “smaller-city feel.” 

Washington’s new team-mates will hope she had room in her luggage for a scouting report. The Premier 15s has seen a recent influx of American players, with USA captain Kate Zackary among a four-strong contingent at Exeter Chiefs.  

The new season also sees the introduction of The Allianz Cup which has been created to give an opportunity to wider squad players to compete during international windows. Clubs will be ranked by their 2021/22 league finishing position and drawn in two pools of five, with clubs playing each other once in two home games, two away games, one BYE week over five rounds. 

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the semi-finals played at the highest ranked clubs’ venues (16 April 2022) as well a third-placed play-off and showpiece final (both 22 April 2022). The Allianz Cup final will be played at the home venue of the winning semi-finalist club with the highest points’ difference. 

And on a squad with so many internationals, O’Donnell agreed it could be a brilliant chance for homegrown talent to shine. 

She added: “It’s also a great opportunity for girls who aren’t playing international rugby to maintain that rugby.  

“In previous years you had a big gap, and some people’s bodies don’t like that. They want to keep playing rugby, keep their skills up, keep their form and fitness up. 

“You can do as much on a bike and running as you want, but match fitness is completely different, so I think it’s really important.” 

The Allianz Premier 15s is the top-flight women’s domestic rugby union competition in England. For all the latest news from the Allianz Premier 15s, you can follow @Premier15s on Twitter and Instagram. You can also watch live action on Premier15s.com throughout the 2021/22 campaign.