Trailfinders held off Gloucester-Hartpury as they beat the reigning champions 29-26 to reach their first Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) final.
They will play Saracens for the title on Sunday, 28 June, who emerged as narrow 40-38 winners against Exeter Chiefs in the other semi-final.
Hosts Gloucester-Hartpury had won the title for the past three seasons and took the lead at Kingsholm – rebadged as Queensholm for the PWR play-offs – through a Tatyana Heard try.
However, Trailfinders, who only joined the PWR in 2023 and had never finished higher than sixth, responded with four unanswered tries in their first PWR semi-final.
Maya Montiel, Meg Jones, Isla Norman-Bell and Emma Uren each went over the line as the visitors went into half-time with a 24-7 lead.
Gloucester-Hartpury launched a comeback after the break and a Rachel Lund try reduced the deficit to 10 points.
Georgia Brock was next to touch down for the home side as they closed to within three points of their opponents.
But Norman-Bell scored her second try of the match to give Trailfinders a 29-21 lead and some much-needed breathing space.
And, despite Hannah Dallavalle’s try for Gloucester-Hartpury, Trailfinders kept their hosts out to secure a hard-fought victory.
