New Wales women’s head coach Sean Lynn will be trying to lead his Gloucester-Hartpury into a third straight final to make it a hat-trick of titles before he switches his attentions full-time to his new job as a national coach ahead of the Women’s Guinness Six Nations.
The reigning champions will take on west country rivals Bristol Bears in a repeat of last season’s final with Gloucester-Hartpury enjoying home advantage after once again topping the table atj the end of the regular season.
Wales skipper Hannah Jones will start at centre for the champions an Lleucu George wears the No 10 jersey. Kate Williams and Beth Lewis pack down in the back row and scrum half Meg Davies is on the bench.
Bristol have Jasmine Joyce-Butchers back on one wing with the US superstar Ilona Maher on the other flank. Courtney Keight starts at full back, Keira Bevan is at scrum half, Alisha Joyce-Butchers is in the back row and Ffion Lewis is among the replacements.
Georgia Evans starts in the back row for Saracens and will go head-to-head with Welsh teammate Abbie Fleming, who is picked at openside for Quins. Kayleigh Powell will direct operations at outside half for Quins, who have Carys Phillips and Lisa Neumann on the bench.
The second semi-final sees former champions and London rivals Saracens tackle Harlequins at StoneX Stadium on Saturday. The west country derby takes place on Sunday.
The final is on 16 March – the week before Wales open their Six Nations account against Scotland in Edinburgh.
PWR SEMI-FINALS
SARACENS V HARLEQUINS (Saturday, 1 March – StoneX Stadium 3.00pm)
Saracens: Jess Breach; Alysha Corrigan, Emma Hardy, Sophie Bridger, Lotte Sharp; Zoe Harrison, Ella Wyrwas; Akina Gondwe, May Campbell, Kelsey Clifford, Rosie Galligan, Louise McMillian, Georgia Evans, Marlie Packer (captain), Poppy Cleall
Reps: Byrony Field, McKinley Hunt, Carmen Tremelling, Bryony Cleall, Gabrielle Senft, Tori Sellors, Sarah McKenna, Sydney Gregson
Harlequins: Ellie Kildunne; Beth Wilcock, Sarah Parry, Lagi Tuima, Claudia Pena; Kayleigh Powell, Emma Swords; Silvia Turani, Connie Powell, Lizzie Hanlon, Tyla Shirley, Danelle Lochner, Sarah Bonar, Abbie Fleming, Jade Konkel (captain)
Reps: Carys Phillips, Jessie Spurrier, Laura Delgado, Harriet Millar-Mills, Babalwa Latsha, Freya Aucken, Lauren Torley, Lisa Neumann
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY V BRISTOL BEARS (Sunday 2 March – Kingsholm 3.00pm)
Gloucester-Hartpury: Emma Sing; Mia Venner, Hannah Jones, Tatyana Heard, Pip Hendy; Lleucu George, Natasha Hunt; El Perry, Neve Jones, Maud Muir, Sarah Beckett, Zoe Aldcroft, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Alex Matthews
Reps: Gillian Boag, Mackenzie Carson, Kathryn Buggy, Steph Else, Georgia Brock, Meg Davies, Millie Hyett, Rachel Lund
Bristol Bears: Courtney Keight; Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Phoebe Murray, Amber Reed, Ilona Maher; Holly Aitchison, Keira Bevan; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hollie Cunningham, Abbie Ward, Alisha Joyce-Butchers, Christiana Balogun, Evie Gallagher
Reps: Holly Phillips, Simi Pam, Ellian Clarke, Delaney Burns, Row Marston-Mulhearn, Ffion Lewis, Meg Varley, Millie David
* Welsh internationals in bold
