Gloucester will look to make it 10 wins on the bounce in all competitions when they take on Newport Gwent Dragons in the semi- final of the LV= Cup at Kingsholm on Sunday. Bryan Redpath’s side produced one of their best performances of the season against Bath last week, winning 34-22 to consolidate their place in the Premiership’s top three. And they are now just one game away from reaching the final of the Anglo- Welsh competition for the second year running.

Gloucester lost out to Northampton in a thrilling showpiece at Sixways Stadium last year, and will hope to go one better 12 months on. But first they will have to overcome a Dragons side that beat them 18-12 at Rodney Parade in the first game of the pool stages back in November. Wales’ sole representatives in the last four go into Sunday’s game bidding to make their first final in a major competition.

Friday evening’s semi- final is an all- English affair involving Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons.

The two sides met only last week in the Aviva Premiership, the Falcons turning in a superb second- half performance to win 33-18. The success came just five days after the Falcons had clinically dispatched relegation rivals Leeds Carnegie at Headingley and Newcastle will travel south in good spirits. However the Londoners have beaten Newcastle twice at home already this season, winning 23-12 in the Premiership on October 2nd and, six weeks later, by 28-20 in the pool stages of the LV= Cup.