Loughborough Lightning have announced a Development Group that will bolster the squad during preseason and the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup 2026/27 period.
The 11-strong group of current Loughborough University players will gain vital senior rugby experience in the early months of the season, during a period when Lightning have a large number of senior players away on international duty.
Many of the Development Group will be familiar faces within the Lightning set-up, having previously trained with Lightning in recent seasons. Included within them is 23-year-old Sarah Shrestha, who has already appeared for Lightning on three occasions, played a key role in Loughborough University’s BUCS Super Rugby title-winning team and more recently scored a try for England Students in their victory over UKAF.
Also included in the group is; Abbie Griffiths, Bayley Jurkowski, Emily Peters, Jemima Mitchell, Lily Hart, Mary McDonagh, Meg Jones, Millie Walker, Summer Smith and Sylvia Gallagher-Ball.
The latest announcement follows on from last week’s confirmation that 12 members of the victorious Loughborough BUCS team have joined the senior squad ahead of the 2026/27.
Lightning returned to preseason training this week, and their first competitive fixture is in Round 1 of the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup away at Sale Sharks on Saturday 19 September (kick-off: 2pm).
“It is massively important to the development of our young players in the pathway at Loughborough to gain as much exposure as they can to the senior squad,” said Smith.
“The JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup gives us that opportunity to look at these players in this environment and support them with the transition into senior rugby. It is something we have done consistently in recent seasons and is a great opportunity for them to make that step up into the Lightning set-up and gives helps the coaching team in preparing for the games we have during this period.
“Some players within the Development Group will be much further down this journey than others, but every one of them will play a valuable role during a time when it is no secret that we are without a large group of internationals.
“You don’t have to look too far back for success stories of players who have cut their teeth in the Cup then progressed into PWR and onto international honours, within this group there could be the next Haineala Lutui or Carmela Morrall making the next big step of their rugby careers.”