'I love playing for this club' - Poppy Cleall discusses making 150th Saracens appearance in crucial play-off semi-final
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Published 08/06/2024 at 12:28 GMT+1
Poppy Cleall has discussed the excitement of making her 150th Saracens appearance in an Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby play-off semi-final. The forward will be part of the Saracens side that takes on Bristol Bears on Sunday after finishing second in the league during the regular season. Sarries are the favourites for the clash, but Bears head coach Dave Ward is embracing being the underdogs.
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Poppy Cleall insists the focus will be on progressing to the Premiership Women's Rugby play-off final and not her 150th Saracens appearance during Sunday's clash with Bristol Bears, which will be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Women in Black host Bears at StoneX Stadium, with table-toppers Gloucester-Hartpury taking on Exeter Chiefs in the other semi-final also shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Cleall has helped Saracens reach the pinnacle of domestic women's rugby before, while fellow club stalwarts Sarah McKenna and Donna Rose are also set to make milestone appearances for the club.
Cleall missed out on a Red Roses central contract earlier this month, and she emphasised how important playing for Saracens is to her ahead of Sunday's crucial semi-final.
"I'm really excited for Sunday.
"We've worked hard to earn the right to have a home semi-final and we want to put on a performance in front of our home crowd.
"Bristol are a quality side and, whilst I'm buzzing to make my 150th appearance for the club, securing the result is the most important thing this weekend.
"I love playing for this club.
"It really is my home and to know that I've played 150 times is something I don't take for granted.
"This is a special club and a special group of players and it means the world to be a part of it."
Saracens finished the regular season behind Gloucester-Hartpury in second, 12 points ahead of Bears who ended the season in third.
The Women in Black are the favourites for the clash, but Bristol Bears head coach Dave Ward is embracing being the underdogs.
"I don't think I've seen one person predict a Bristol win yet but that's music to my ears," he added.
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"The fact that people aren't giving us a chance means we can go under the radar, no problem and then hopefully shock and awe a few people on Sunday.
"We've also got to lean on the experience of a couple of players we brought in, they are perennial winners as well.
"If you look at the likes of Hannah Botterman, Holly Aitchison, they've won titles, they've played at Saracens, they know what it takes."
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