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Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby: Semi-final previews

Two blockbuster semi-finals take place on Sunday as four sides battle it out for a place in the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby final.

Saracens take on Bristol Bears at the StoneX Stadium before a rematch between last year's finalists sees Gloucester-Hartpury welcome Exeter Chiefs to Kingsholm.

Sunday 9th June

Saracens v Bristol Bears - StoneX Stadium, 2pm, live on TNT Sports

Sarah McKenna will run out for her 100th appearance, with Poppy Cleall notching her 150th game in black.

There are international stars as far as the eye can see with Canada’s McKinley Hunt packing down in the front row alongside Red Roses Kelsey Clifford and May Campbell.

England captain Marlie Packer returns with Ella Wyrwas partnering Zoe Harrison in the half-backs.

Wales’ Donna Rose is among the replacements with a potential 50th appearance if she comes off the bench.

Try machine Deborah Wills is back for Bristol Bears as they go in search of a first PWR final while England’s Hannah Botterman has switched to tighthead prop.

Simi Pam is in at loosehead and Lark Atkin-Davies completes the front row as hooker, meanwhile the back row is made up of three powerhouses with Alisha Joyce-Butchers, Evie Gallagher and Row Marston-Mulhearn named to start.

Team News

Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sarah McKenna, 11 Paige Farries, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Ella Wyrwas; 8 Poppy Cleall, 7 Marlie Packer (cc) 6 Sophie de Goede, 5 Emma Taylor, 4 Georgia Evans, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 2 May Campbell, 1⁠ ⁠McKinley Hunt

Replacements: 16⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 17⁠ ⁠⁠Akina Gondwe, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Donna Rose, 19⁠ ⁠⁠Louise McMillan, 20⁠ ⁠⁠Sharifa Kasolo, 21⁠ ⁠⁠Leanne Infante, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Sophie Bridger, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Lotte Clapp (cc)

Bristol Bears: 15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Phoebe Murray, 12 Holly Aitchison, 11 Deborah Wills, 10 Amber Reed (cc), 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Simi Pam, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Hannah Botterman, 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Abbie Ward (cc), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Rownita Marston-Mulhearn

Replacements: 16⁠ ⁠Jess Sprague, 17⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 18 ⁠Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 19⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 20 ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21⁠ ⁠Lucy Burgess, 22⁠ ⁠Meryl Smith, 23⁠ ⁠Courtney Keight

Match Officials

Referee: Alex Thomas

Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and Nikki O'Donnell

Match Stats

Check out the pre-match stats by clicking here.


Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs - Kingsholm, 4.30pm, live on TNT Sports and BBC iPlayer

Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury have named co-captain Zoe Aldcroft at No.8 for a rematch of the final against Exeter Chiefs.

Alex Matthews has been ruled out with injury while Sam Monaghan returns for the first time in a month as the Ireland international joins Sarah Beckett in the second row.

No changes have been made in the backs after their first defeat of the season with Natasha Hunt keeping her place at scrum-half alongside fly-half Lleucu George.

Exeter Chiefs are putting trust in their youth with 21-year-old Maisie Allen making her 50th appearance for the away side.

Connie Clarke and Katie Buchanan line up on the wings while Canada international Alex Tessier moves to full-back with Merryn Doidge taking Kanako Kobayashi’s place at outside centre.

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha Hunt (cc); 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Sam Monaghan, 6 Georgia Brock, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Zoe Aldcroft (cc)

Replacements: 16 Amy Dale, 17 El Perry, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Kate Williams, 20 Carmen Castellucci, 21 Bianca Blackburn, 22 Millie Hyett, 23 Rachel Lund

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Alex Tessier, 14 Kate Buchanan, 13 Merryn Doidge, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Connie Clarke, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Linde van der Velden, 5 Poppy Leitch (c), 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Rachel Johnson

Replacements:16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Demi Swann, 18 Lizzie Hanlon, 19 Niamh Orchard, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Harriet Millar-Mills, 22 Taz Bricknell, 23 Naomi Brennan

Match Officials

Referee: Harry Walbaum

Assistant Referees: Richard Gordon and Holly Wood

Match Stats

Check out the pre-match stats by clicking here.

Tickets from £10 are now on sale for the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby Final 2024 at Sandy Park on 22 June, kick off 3pm. Buy tickets here.


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