With 12 minutes remaining of the opening game of the season, Loughborough Lightning’s Cup captain Ellie Roberts had a ‘pinch me moment’.
The game was in the balance at Sale Sharks’ Morson Stadium when she glanced over to the sideline and saw the person who inspired her to take up the sport: her little sister, 19-year-old Sasha. After strapping on her red scrum hat, she sprinted onto the pitch to become Lightning player #164, packing down in the back row alongside number #127 – big sister Ellie.
In doing so, they became the first sibling pairing to play for Lightning at the same time, and only the second pair of sisters to represent Lightning, following on from scrum-halves Lucy (#111) and Jess Weaver (#057), who appeared on the same team sheet, but never on the pitch at the same time.
“It’s a bit of a pinch‑me moment,” said 22-year-old, Ellie. “Sash got me into rugby. She started playing when she was eight; I didn’t start until I was 16. We’d actually never played together until last year at BUCS with Cardiff Met – that was the first time ever.
It was already a momentous occasion for Ellie, whose debut came three years ago, also as a 19-year-old. Having led Loughborough University to their first BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship title win in 21 years, and then helped lead England Students to a resounding victory over the UK Armed Forces, her leadership skills gained further recognition this summer.
Ahead of the 2026/27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup campaign, Lightning’s management team announced that Ellie would captain the side, with Carmela Morrall as her vice. And the first assignment was Saturday’s Round 1 encounter in the north west.
“Tails spoke to me a couple of weeks ago, and it was really easy to say yes,” said Ellie, reflecting on the approach from Interim Head Coach, Rachel Taylor.
“Progressing from BUCS to England and then coming into this environment, for me, with the support of Cam [Carmela Morrall] and Daisy [Hibbert-Jones] – who are both so experienced and offer real leadership within the PWR – it’s a really nice progression. It’s helping me kick on and develop my own skills.”
Hibbert-Jones, who was appointed as Lightning’s sole captain in 2025/26 after sharing the position with Rachel Malcom in 2024/25, played alongside Roberts against Sale Sharks and was there to support the side’s young leader.
“Daisy’s class,” explained Ellie. “She’s there to support me, and everybody wants a Daisy on their team, don’t they? She’s so knowledgeable about the game. She’s always whispering in my ear about things we can take onto the pitch, but she also definitely lets me take the lead and grow myself, and then she kicks on and does what she needs to do as well.”
Sasha was one of seven debutants who featured for Lightning against Sale, while ten more players – including the elder Roberts sibling – had played ten times or less in African Violet.
After conceding two early tries, Lightning fought back and were level entering the final ten minutes, but Sale Sharks ultimately came out on top with a 36-24 home win.
“I was really proud of the girls, massively proud,” added Roberts. “The experience in this group isn’t very high; most of us are still in the BUCS pathway. So, for them to go there and really front up, especially our 10, Ella Barnes, to play the way she did in the wind and the noise of a home crowd, it’s awesome.
“We’re really exciting to watch. We’ve come here fresh out of pre‑season, and we’re only going to get better.”
“I said to the girls at the end of the game: some of that was class. And there were areas where we just weren’t good enough or made it really hard for ourselves. So we’ll reflect on that, take it away, and get better – because there’s so much room to grow here.”
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