Full previews and team news for this weekend’s PWR semi-finals

Saracens v Harlequins

3pm - StoneX Stadium

Live on TNT Sports

Saracens Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry makes five changes from the side that beat Sale Sharks last Friday night. One of which is in the front row, Akina Gondwe and May Campbell are reunited with Kelsey Clifford who returns to the match day squad at tight head. 

The second-row partnership remains unchanged with Red Roses lock Rosie Galligan starting alongside Louise McMillan after her impressive score and performance against the Sharks. One change in the back-row sees Georgia Evans return to the starting XV, she's alongside co-captain Marlie Packer at openside and Poppy Cleall who rounds off the pack at number eight. 

Ella Wyrwas swaps with Tori Sellors to start alongside Zoe Harrison. Sophie Bridger also returns to the fold in the midfield taking up a place alongside Emma Hardy who continues at 13. Co-captain Lotte Sharp is fit to start on the left wing, with Corrigan returning on the right. Jess Breach rounds off the team starting at full-back for the third consecutive match.

Saracens: 15. Jess Breach; 14. Alysha Corrigan, 13. Emma Hardy, 12. Sophie Bridger, 11. Lotte Sharp (co-captain); 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Ella Wyrwas; 1.⁠ ⁠Akina Gondwe, 2.⁠ ⁠⁠May Campbell, 3.⁠ ⁠⁠Kelsey Clifford, 4.⁠ ⁠⁠Rosie Galligan, 5.⁠ ⁠⁠Louise McMillan; 6.⁠ ⁠⁠Georgia Evans, 7.⁠ ⁠⁠Marlie Packer (Co-captain), 8.⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall. Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 17.⁠ McKinley Hunt, 18.⁠ ⁠⁠Carmen Tremelling, 19.⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Cleall, 20.⁠ ⁠⁠Gabrielle Senft, 21.⁠ Tori Sellors, 22.⁠ ⁠⁠Sarah McKenna, 23.⁠ ⁠⁠Sydney Gregson

Harlequins make four personnel changes in the starting XV ahead of Quins' first semi-final since 2022.

In the pack, Tyla Shirley comes in to start in the second-row alongside Danelle Lochner, as Abbie Fleming moves to openside flanker. She is joined in the back-row by Sarah Bonar and returning captain, Jade Konkel, as part of an all-international trio.

Emma Swords comes into the side to start at scrum-half, with Clàudia Peña moving to the left wing and Sarah Parry starting at outside centre, after her try-scoring cameo off the bench last weekend.

Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock, 13 Sarah Parry, 12 Lagi Tuima, 11 Claudia Pena, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Emma Swords; 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Tyla Shirley, 5 Danelle Lochner, 6 Sarah Bonar, 7 Abbie Fleming, 8 Jade Konkel (c). Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Babalwa Latsha, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Lauren Torley, 23 Lisa Neumann.

Match Officials

Referee: Holly Wood

Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and James Cornell

TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Oval Insights Match Facts

• Gabrielle Senft scored two tries, made 97 metres, and won two turnovers last weekend. Her match rating was a round-high 9.1.

• Zoe Harrison scored as many points as any other player in Round 18, a total of 16. Her success rate off the tee is higher than any of the other top five point-scorers in the league (77.8%).

• Marlie Packer made the joint-most carries last weekend (22) – seven of which were dominant – beat seven defenders, scored a try, and won two turnovers.

• Harriet Millar-Mills made more dominant tackles than any other player last weekend, a total of four.

• Jade Konkel-Roberts has made the second-most dominant carries this season, a total of 61. Her gainline success rate is 60%.

• Ellie Kildunne has made the second-most metres (1,497) and clean breaks (25) this season. She has also scored 13 tries in 12 matches.

Sunday 2 March

3pm - Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears - Queensholm 

Live on TNT Sports and BBC Sport

Gloucester Hartpury have named the same backline that started in their victorious 2024 PWR final. Emma Sing starts at full-back and is flanked by Mia Venner and Pip Hendy on the wings. The experienced partnership of Hannah Jones and Tatyana Heard start are set to start in the centres. 

Natasha 'Mo' Hunt and Lleucu George line up at number nine and ten to complete a star-studded backline. Hunt will share the captain's responsibilities with Zoe Aldcroft. 

In the pack, El Perry comes into the starting XV and is joined by Neve Jones and Maud Muir in the front row. Muir is set for her first appearance in Cherry and White since the two side's last meeting in January. 

Sarah Beckett and Aldcroft start in the locks. Sarah Beckett is in red hot form of late, securing the Player of the Match award in the last two outings for the club. 

Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, and Alex Matthews take the back row spots to cap off a formidable Gloucester Hartpury pack. 

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha 'Mo' Hunt (cc); 1 El Perry, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Zoe Aldcroft (cc), 6 Kate Williams, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews. Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Kathryn Buggy, 19 Steph Else, 20 Georgia Brock, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Millie Hyett, 23 Rachel Lund

Jasmine Joyce-Butchers returns to action for  Bristol Bears. The Wales and GB Sevens star is named on the wing for the re-run of last season’s final, as Dave Ward makes just one change for the West Country derby.

Courtney Keight continues at full back after another impressive display against Harlequins in Round 17, while Player of the Match Christiana Balogun keeps her place on the openside flank.

Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern complete an all-England front row, while Amber Reed and Abbie Ward co-captain the side once again.

Bristol Bears: 15 Courtney Keight, 14 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 13 Phoebe Murray, 12 Amber Reed (cc), 11 Ilona Maher, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Abbie Ward (cc), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Christiana Balogun, 8 Evie Gallagher. Replacements: 16 Holly Phillips, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Meg Varley, 23 Millie David

Match Officials

Referee: Alexa Thomas

Assistant Referees: Nikki O'Donnell and Calum Howard

TMO: David Rose

Oval Insights Verdict

• Emma Sing made nine dominant carries, 191 metres, 61 post-contact metres, beat 14 defenders, and made five clean breaks in Round 18. No player has beaten as many defenders in a match this season as she did last weekend.

• Mia Venner made four clean breaks, 111 metres, beat 11 defenders, and scored a try in Round 18.

• Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) made a round-high 27 tackles - three of which were dominant - and scored two tries last weekend.

• In Round 17, Sarah Bern made the most carries (23), dominant carries (11), and post-contact metres (55). She also beat eight defenders and scored a try.

• Pheobe Murray has made as many carries as any other player this season, a total of 202 and an average of 14 per 80 minutes.

• Millie David has made the most clean breaks (28) and scored the joint-most tries so far this season (16).