Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol Bears to Battle for Women’s Premiership Glory
The stage is set for an exhilarating Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) final as defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury take on Bristol Bears at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday.
The Welsh contingent in both squads will be eager to end the season on a high note, having experienced contrasting fortunes at the international level. While Ioan Cunningham’s Wales side struggled in the Women’s Six Nations, finishing bottom of the table, their club counterparts now have the chance to lift the coveted trophy.
Gloucester-Hartpury Dominance
Gloucester-Hartpury have been the standout team in the league, winning 15 of their 16 matches, with their only defeat coming against Saracens last month. For Wales back-rower Bethan Lewis, the focus has been on quickly regrouping after the Six Nations disappointment and aligning with her club’s dominant form.
“The talent in the group is insane and that pushes everyone to be the best version of themselves,” Lewis said, highlighting the unity and camaraderie within the Gloucester-Hartpury squad.
Bristol Bears’ Underdog Mentality
Meanwhile, Bristol Bears are making their first-ever appearance in the PWR final, having gone on an impressive run leading into the play-offs. Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan believes the team’s clarity of roles and accurate execution will be key to causing an upset against the favorites.
“We’re more than happy being the underdogs, it suits us quite well,” Bevan said, acknowledging the challenge of facing the dominant Gloucester-Hartpury side.
The clash between the two West Country rivals promises to be a captivating affair, with the Wales internationals determined to leave the field with no regrets and potentially lift the trophy.
However, the Wales players must quickly shift their focus after the final, as they prepare to face Spain in a crucial WXV play-off match at Cardiff Arms Park on June 29. The outcome of this match will have a significant impact on their qualification for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
“Our mindsets have to flip and we have got to have full focus on Spain because there are no second chances,” Bevan stressed, highlighting the importance of the upcoming WXV play-off for the Welsh squad.
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