The Premiership Women's Rugby competition has reached the semi-final stage and it will be a treat. Both games are derbies and will be absolute blockbusters. Harlequins will travel to North London to face their rivals, Saracens and Bristol Bears will go away to Gloucester for the semi-final. Whatever happens. these games will be big spectacles to kick off a huge period of women's rugby with the Six Nations and World Cup coming up later this year.
Saracens vs Harlequins
Kickoff: 3pm Saturday afternoon on TNT Sports
Saracens
1.Gondwe 2.Campbell 3.Clifford 4.Galligan 5.McMillan
6.Evans 7.Packer(CC) 8.P.Cleall 9.Wyrwas 10.Harrison
11.Sharp(CC) 12.Bridger 13.Hardy 14.Corrigan 15.Breach
16.Field 17.Hunt 18.Tremelling 19.B.Cleall
20.Senft 21.Sellors 22.McKenna 23.Gregson
Harlequins
1.Turani 2.Powell 3.Hanlon 4.Shirley 5.Lochner
6.Bonar(VC) 7.Fleming 8.Konkel(C) 9.Swords 10.Powell
11.Pena 12.Tuima(VC) 13.Parry 14.Wilcock 15.Kildunne
16.Phillips 17.Spurrier 18.Delgado 19.Millar-Mills
20.Latsha 21.Aucken 22.Torley 23.Neumann
Saracens finished second after sixteen games in the league phase of the season, one place above Harlequins. This should be a very close game between two rivals but Saracens will be the favourites having not only finished higher than Quins, but also beating them just a few weeks ago by a score of 33-10. The West-Londoners hadn't made the playoffs since 2021 so, frankly, simply reaching this game is a success. Saracens will have loftier expectations and are definitely favourites but this being a playoff game against a rival makes the game much more unpredictable.
For Saracens, there are some key players to watch. In the back row, England duo Poppy Cleall and Marlie Packer will look to cause chaos. They are a physical pair of players who bring unique power to the Saracens back row. At fly-half, Zoe Harrison is currently England's number two fly-half behind Bristol's Holly Aitchison and is a massive running threat from the 10 channel. Jess Breach, who often plays on the wing, will line-up at fullback in a match-up against England teammate Ellie Kildunne.
There are several Harlequins players to keep an eye on. Spanish star, Claudia Pena, will start on the wing. At just 20, she is already lighting up the English premiership and is a player to keep a close eye on over the next few years. Tuima, the vice captain, at inside centre has been a key piece of the Harlequins back-line; she brings power and the ability to straighten up and get over the gain-line which is something Harlequins have missed in recent years. The big changes for Harlequins this year, which were brought in by new head coach Ross Chisholm, have been a stouter defence and more attacking structure. These have made a big difference but sometimes it's simply not enough. That is where Ellie Kildunne comes in. The Yorkshire-born speedster was named World Rugby's player of the year in 2024 and has continued that form into 2025 including a crucial hat-trick away at Exeter in a must-win game they won 31-30.
In the end, as much as I have enjoyed watching Harlequins this season, I can't look past Saracens. I expect Harlequins to make life difficult but the home team will have too much for the visitors.
My prediction: Saracens win
Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears
Kickoff: 3pm Sunday afternoon on TNT Sports
This game is going to be incredible. Gloucester-Hartpury have set the pace this season as was expected and finished top of the table. Their west country rivals, the Bristol bears, have had to battle hard to make the playoffs and did so with the big-name addition of Ilhona Maher, who has impressed on the wing since playing her first game which was at home in a loss against Gloucester-Hartpury earlier this year.
Gloucester-Hartpury
1.Perry 2.Jones 3.Muir 4.Beckett 5.Aldcroft(CC)
6.Williams 7.Lewis 8.Mathews 9.Hunt(CC) 10.George
11.Hendy 12.Heard 13.Jones 14.Venner 15.Sing
16.Boag 17.Carson 18.Buggy 19.Else
20.Brook 21.Davies 22.Hyett 23.Lund
Bristol Bears
1.Botterman 2.Atkin-Davies 3.Bern 4.Cunningham 5.Ward(CC)
6.A.Joyce-Butchers 7.Balogun 8.Gallagher 9.Bevan 10.Aitchison
11.Maher 12.Reed(CC) 13.Murray 14.J.Joyce-Butchers 15.Keight
16.Phillips 17.Pam 18.Clarke 19.Burns
20.Marston Mulhearn 21.Lewis 22.Varley 23.David
Gloucester-Hartpury have a team packed with stars. Co-captain Zoe Aldcroft brings massive experience and strength to the second row alongside Sarah Beckett. Aldcroft's fellow co-captain, "Mo" Hunt, is a key player for England and brings both experience and control to the Gloucester attack. Tatyana Heard, who plays inside centre, is in a battle for the 12 shirt for the red roses this year and is a huge ball-carrier, bringing significant power to the midfield. She is a big-hitter so watch out for huge collisions all over the pitch in this game.
The Bristol Bears are a team of incredible athletes, held together by a quality half-back pairing. In the front row, Sarah Bern and Hannah Botterman are huge, powerful runners who often send would-be tacklers flying as they tear through opposing lines. There is more power out wide in the form of Ilhona Maher. The iconic American has settled to life in 15-a-side rugby very quickly. Her size and power cause massive mismatches on the wing leading to her scoring multiple tries. This power balances out the raw pace of the right winger - the returning Jasmine Joyce-Butchers. Not only will the Welsh international be the quickest player on the pitch, she also punches well above her weight in defence. Some people might remember her massive tackle on her now teammate Ilhona Maher during the Olympic sevens. The halfbacks, Bevan and Aitchison, will look to control the game around their spectacular athletes. Aitchison will probably start for England in the up-coming Six Nations and is a player to keep an eye on at a crucial position.
Bristol will bring a big challenge to Queensholm on Sunday afternoon but Gloucester-Hartpury will be very confident of returning to another final. As much as I like the Gloucester team, I have a feeling the Bears are well-placed to pull off an upset in Gloucestershire. Their game-breaking ability could make the difference in this game.
My prediction: The Bears win a close game and progress to the final
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