USA superstar Ilona Maher retains her place in the Bristol Bears starting XV for the Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-final against Gloucester-Hartpury at Queensholm.
It promises to be a high-octane contest in the West Country as a rematch of last year’s final sees this season’s league winners face off with a fourth-placed Bristol outfit.
Maher remains in jersey number 11 for the Bears who ended the regular season with 10 wins and six losses from their 16 matches which was enough to make the semis.
Strong back three
The social media star is joined in the Bristol back three by Wales and GB Sevens legend Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, who returns to action for Sunday’s PWR last-four tie.
Joyce-Butchers’s comeback is the only change made by boss Dave Ward as they look to turn the tables on Gloucester-Hartpury who finished with 13 wins and three losses.
Courtney Keight continues at full-back after another impressive effort against Harlequins in Round 17 while Player of the Match Christiana Balogun remains at openside.
Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern complete an all-England front-row for the Bears while Amber Reed and Abbie Ward co-captain the side once again.
“We’re really excited for another huge PWR occasion in front of what promises to be a big crowd and atmosphere at Queensholm,” said head coach Ward ahead of the game.
“The girls have worked so hard and shown so much character to get us to this point and we’re relishing the opportunity to go head-to-head with the back-to-back winners for a place in the final.”
In the other semi-final taking place this weekend, Saracens will collide with Harlequins at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday with the final set to take place on March 16.
PWR semi-final team line-ups
Saracens v Harlequins
Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Emma Hardy, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp (cc), 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Ella Wyrwas, 8 Poppy Cleall, 7 Marlie Packer (cc), 6 Georgia Evans, 5 Louise McMillian, 4 Rosie Galligan, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 2 May Campbell, 1 Akina Gondwe
Replacements: 16 Byrony Field, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Bryony Cleall, 20 Gabrielle Senft, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Sarah McKenna, 23 Sydney Gregson
Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock, 13 Sarah Parry, 12 Lagi Tuima, 11 Claudia Pena, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Emma Swords, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Abbie Fleming, 6 Sarah Bonar, 5 Danelle Lochner, 4 Tyla Shirley, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 2 Connie Powell, 1 Silvia Turani
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Lauara Delgado, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Babalwa Latsha, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Lauren Torley, 23 Lisa Newmann
Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears
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), 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Zoe Aldcroft (cc), 4 Sarah Beckett, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Neve Jones, 1 El Perry
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
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, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Christiana Balogun, 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 5 Abbie Ward (cc), 4 Hollie Cunningham, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Hannah Botterman
Replacements: 16 Holly Phillips, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Ellian Clarke, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Meg Varley, 23 Millie David
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