Premiership Women’s Rugby final: Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears team news and key battles

Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol Bears will renew their fierce West Country rivalry in the biggest game of the season on Saturday as the two sides meet in the Premiership Women’s final.

Gloucester have been almost perfect in the defence of their title and finished top of the table after the regular season.

The reigning champions lost just one of their 16 league matches to former winners Saracens, and cruised through their semi-final with Exeter Chiefs.

Gloucester head coach Sean Lynn is confident of further success and says his side are full of “winners”.

“It’s a great challenge, a cup final and everyone wants to be in those big games,” said Lynn.

“As a group we’ve taken huge confidence from our performance against Exeter, so it’s worth getting excited for.”

Bristol, meanwhile, will make their debut in the showpiece game of English women’s rugby after an impressive run of six wins in their last seven matches, including a stunning performance to shock Sarries in their semi-final.

Gloucester will be favourites to join Saracens as only the second club to win back-to-back titles, while Bristol will draw strength from making history as the first side to win an away semi-final.

However, Bears head coach Dave Ward knows his side will have to be at their best.

“It’s going to be about us being the best team,” said Ward.

“If you go player for player, Abbie Ward versus Zoe Aldcroft et cetera, it’s a 50/50 toss up the whole way.

“The individuals will not win the game, the best team will win the game.

“We did that brilliantly against Saracens and we need to do that again against Gloucester.”