Welsh skipper Hannah Jones will be hoping to steer reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury into back-to-back finals, and they will have home advantage over Exeter Chiefs, who they beat to take the title in 2023.
Joining Jones in the Gloucester line-up will be Lleucu George and Bethan Lewis, while Sisi Tuipulotu and Kate Williams are on the bench.
Exeter Chiefs have the highly experienced Robyn Wilkins at No 10 for them as they seek to get past the champions and reach the final. They will have added incentive given the final is due to be played at their home ground, Sandy Park, on Saturday, 22 June.
Gloucester-Hartpury once again finished on top of the table to secure a home draw in the final four, but they lost their final game against Saracens to ruin their hopes of an unbeaten regular campaign. Saracens, champions in 2022, took the other home draw in the semis by finishing second.
They face last season’s runners-up, Bristol Bears, who were third overall. That game will see 2022 champions Georgia Evans and Donna Rose go head-to-head with three of their Welsh teammates, Keira Bevan, Alisha Butchers and Courtney Keight.
With Wales facing a vital WXV qualifying clash with Spain at the Arms Park on Saturday, 29 June (kick-off 2.00pm) Cunningham will be hoping for a clean bill of health from both semi-finals and then the final.
Allianz Women’s Premiership Semi-Finals
Saracens v Bristol Bears – StoneX Stadium, 2.00pm (Live on TNT Sports)
Saracens: Jess Breach; Coreen Grant, Sydney Gregson, Sarah McKenna, Paige Farries; Zoe Harrison, Ella Wyrwas; McKinley Hunt, May Campbell, Kelsey Clifford, Georgia Evans, Emma Taylor, Sophie de Goede, Marlie Packer (cc), Poppy Cleall
Reps: Bryony Field, Akina Gondwe, Donna Rose, Louise McMillan, Sharifa Kasolo, Leanne Infante, Sophie Bridger, Lotte Clapp (cc)Bristol Bears: Ella Lovibond; Reneeqa Bonner, Phoebe Murray, Holly Aitchison, Deborah Wills; Amber Reed (cc), Keira Bevan; Simi Pam, Lark Atkin-Davies, Hannah Botterman, Delaney Burns, Abbie Ward (cc), Alisha Joyce-Butchers, Evie Gallagher, Rownita Marston-Mulhearn
Reps: Jess Sprague, Holly Phillips, Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, Hollie Cunningham, Gabriella Nigrelli, Lucy Burgess, Meryl Smith, Courtney KeightGloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs – Kingsholm, 4.30pm (Live on TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer)
Gloucester-Hartpury: Emma Sing; Mia Venner, Hannah Jones, Tatyana Heard, Pip Hendy; Lleucu George, Natasha Hunt (cc); Mackenzie Carson, Neve Jones, Maud Muir, Sarah Beckett, Sam Monaghan, Georgia Brock, Bethan Lewis, Zoe Aldcroft (cc)
Reps: Amy Dale, El Perry, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Kate Williams, Carmen Castellucci, Bianca Blackburn, Millie Hyett, Rachel LundExeter Chiefs: Alex Tessier; Kate Buchanan, Merryn Doidge, Gabby Cantorna, Connie Clarke; Robyn Wilkins, Brooke Bradley; Hope Rogers, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Linde van der Velden, Poppy Leitch (c), Ebony Jefferies, Maisy Allen, Rachel Johnson
Reps: Cliodhna Moloney, Demi Swann, Lizzie Hanlon, Niamh Orchard, Maddie Feaunati, Harriet Millar-Mills, Taz Bricknell, Naomi Brennan
