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Sale Sharks sign Harlequins' Freya Aucken after 81 appearances for West London club

Sale Sharks have signed versatile back Freya Aucken from Harlequins, where she made 81 appearances across five seasons. Head coach Tom Hudson called the 24-year-old, who can play wing or scrum-half, one of the PWR's most underrated players.

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Sale Sharks sign Harlequins' Freya Aucken after 81 appearances for West London club
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Sale Sharks have recruited Freya Aucken from Harlequins, with the Premiership Women’s Rugby club confirming the signing of the 24-year-old back after she made 81 appearances for the West London side since the 2020/21 Premier 15s season.

Aucken, who operates equally effectively on the wing or at scrum-half, scored five tries for Harlequins in the 2025/26 season and arrives at Sale with a PWR title already to her name.

Head coach Tom Hudson was effusive in his praise for the new arrival. “Freya is arguably one of the most underrated players in the PWR,” he said. “With her ability to be equally at home on the wing or at scrum-half and with one PWR title already under her belt, we are massively excited to be bringing her North and for her to join our Sharks family. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

Aucken’s rise through the game has been swift. She made her senior debut for Richmond as a 17-year-old, and that early promise earned her England recognition at Under-18 and Under-20 level. Most recently, she represented Great Britain at the first stage of the HSBC SVNS World Championship at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park in April.

The player herself cited Sale’s playing style and squad trajectory as key factors in her decision to move north. “Sale Sharks seem to have a really good plan and a really exciting squad going forward and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Aucken said. “The style of rugby Sale are playing really excites me but it’s not just about showing my ability on the field — I want to help the team and club grow and achieve its potential.”

Aucken also acknowledged the impression Sale had already made on her as an opponent. “For the last two seasons, but even more so in the past season, Sale has been a really tough place to go. The game last season was probably the muddiest game I’ve ever played in but all of our team loved the atmosphere in the stadium, so I can’t wait to run out with those fans on my side.”

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