Loughborough Lightning have made two changes to their starting line-up ahead of the East Midlands Derby against Leicester Tigers this weekend.
Interim Head Coach Rachel Taylor has reshuffled her half-backs to bring in 19-year-old Ashton Adcock at scrum-half, and Ella Barnes, 20, operates from fly-half for Saturday’s game at Loughborough University – tickets are still available by clicking HERE.
The rest of the backs division remains unchanged as vice-captain Carmela Morrall moves to 65 Lightning appearances at the tender age of 21, and is partnered in midfield by Molly Luthayi once more. The back three of wingers Ellie Tromans, Alice Bennett and fullback Amy Layzell complete an ever-present run in the Cup this season.
Fresh from scoring a try-of-the-season contender last time out against Exeter Chiefs, Amelia Williams is the only other member of the matchday squad to have played 30 or more Lightning games as she packs down in a front row that includes another Cup ever-present, hooker Harli Stanton, and tighthead prop Grace Clifford.
The second row combination of Kaya Acton and Tamsin Baynes remains once again, while the back row is formed by sisters Sasha Roberts and captain Ellie Roberts at blindside flanker and No.8 respectively, with Sarah Shrestha completing the pack at openside flanker.
There are further changes amongst the replacements as Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere returns to the squad for the first time since round one, Aoibhe Kelly comes in as an alternative scrum-half option, Abbie Brown, who started last week against Exeter, rotates to the bench, and Alice Redfern wears the number 22 shirt.
Churchy Knight, Catherine Wells, Emily Peters and Mary McDonagh – who made her debut at Sandy Park last time out – retain their places on the bench from last week.
“While results haven’t gone our way during the Cup so far, this has been a hugely enjoyable period as a group, and I feel we have made tremendous steps forward both as a team and individually as players,” said Taylor. “We have seen 11 players make debuts, others return from long periods out injured or long spells out of the Lightning programme. So many invaluable experiences have been gained for a group of players, that in the main, are at the very start of their senior rugby journey.
“Saturday’s match presents us with one more opportunity to put into practice what we’ve been working so hard to achieve together, and we’re looking forward to getting out there at Loughborough University against Leicester Tigers.“
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs LEICESTER TIGERS
JAECOO Next Gen Cup, Round 5
Saturday 17 October, Kick-Off: 2pm
Loughborough University
15 Amy Layzell (3)
14 Alice Bennett (3)
13 Molly Luthayi (15)
12 Carmela Morrall (64) – vice captain
11 Ellie Tromans (9)
10 Ella Barnes (3)
9 Ashton Adcock (4)
1 Amelia Williams (34)
2 Harli Stanton (3)
3 Grace Clifford (29)
4 Kaya Acton (7)
5 Tamsin Baynes (8)
6 Sasha Roberts (3)
7 Sarah Shrestha (5)
8 Ellie Roberts (13) – captain
Replacements:
16 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere (8)
17 Churchy Knight (4)
18 Catherine Wells (10)
19 Emily Peters (2)
20 Mary McDonagh (1)
21 Aoibhe Kelly (4)
22 Alice Redfern (2)
23 Abbie Brown (16)
TIGERS: 15 Isobel McGuire‑Evans, 14 Eve Slater, 13 Jemima McCalman, 12 Lagi Tuima, 11 Halley Derera, 10 Tess Feury ©, 9 Eneka Labeyrie; 1 Coco Lindelauf, 2 Alicia Watkins, 3 Nadine Vincent, 4 Charlotte Seale, 5 Hermione Farmer, 6 Cara Brincat, 7 Morgan Richardson, 8 Lucy Finch.
Replacements: 16 Beth Cregan, 17 Ellie Smith, 18 Clodagh Dunne, 19 Ali Coleman, 20 Summer Reeves, 21 Lucy Weaver, 22 Leah Brough, 23 Grace Deane.
Loughborough Lightning 2026/27 Season Tickets are still on sale priced from £70 adult and £25 child. To purchase yours or for more information, please click HERE.