All four of Loughborough Lightning’s Six Nations Grand Slam‑winning stars start against Saracens Women this weekend, in their final home Premiership Women’s Rugby fixture of the regular season at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Helena Rowland operates from fullback, while Lilli Ives Campion and Sadia Kabeya are selected at second row and openside flanker respectively for the Round 17 encounter on Sunday (kick-off: 12pm) – tickets are still available to purchase by clicking HERE.
Completing the quartet is PWR Breakthrough Player of the Season nominee in The Rugby Awards Haineala Lutui, who starts at No.8, with USA international Alev Kelter trading in her 13 shirt for a starting berth at blindside flanker, having impressed from the back row in the concluding minutes of Lightning’s last home game against Gloucester-Hartpury.
Since their last run-out two months ago, Head Coach Nathan Smith has made five personnel changes and three positional switches to his starting line-up, as his side goes in search of a victory that could – with results elsewhere – take their hunt for the PWR play-offs down to the final round.
On the occasion of their final home appearance for the Club, Isla Curphey runs out for her 50th outing from loosehead prop, and Helen Nelson captains from fly-half in the absence of the injured Daisy Hibbert-Jones.
Fancy Bermudez and Bo Westcombe-Evans remain on the wings, while Carmela Morrall continues a full PWR season from inside centre as vice-captain, and is partnered by USA international Bulou Mataitoga in midfield.
Scrum-half Meg Davey makes her first home league start since November’s big win over Leicester Tigers, while Ireland Under-21 international Aoibhe Kelly is the alternative in that specialist position.
Lightning’s starting pack sees Ives Campion partnered by Becky Boyd in the second row. Hooker Kathryn Treder and tighthead prop Christine Belisle complete the tight five.
Paige Stathopoulos, Amelia Williams and Grace Clifford provide the front-row cover, with the latter set for her first league minutes in 28 months, having appeared in PWR: The Cup earlier this season.
Keevy Fitzpatrick and Kaya Acton – who were amongst the players who featured for Loughborough University in their BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Final victory last month – are amongst the replacements, as is versatile back-row/hooker Kendall Waudby.
Scotland international Lucia Scott is the second back on the bench, which is weighted 6:2 in favour of the forwards.
Lightning will be wearing special pink shirts, sponsored by GRS Group, for the match as part of PWR’s Big Pink Weekend, in support of Breast Cancer Now.
“There is plenty left for us to play for. We want to push as hard as we can to stay in play-off contention, and we want to put on a performance for our fantastic supporters at cinch Stadium,” said Head Coach Nathan Smith.
“We will also be saying goodbye to a group of players after the game who will be leaving us at the end of the season, so we want to create one last memory together here.”
LIGHTNING vs SARACENS
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 17
Sunday, May 31
Kick-off: 12pm
15 Helena Rowland (56)
14 Fancy Bermudez (11)
13 Bulou Mataitoga (61)
12 Carmela Morrall (59) (vc)
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans (61)
10 Helen Nelson (78) (C)
9 Meg Davey (122)
1 Isla Curphey (49) – 50th Lightning appearance
2 Kathryn Treder (41)
3 Christine Belisle (63)
4 Lilli Ives Campion (79)
5 Becky Boyd (25)
6 Alev Kelter (25)
7 Sadia Kabeya (65) (vc)
8 Haineala Lutui (17)
Replacements:
16 Paige Stathopoulos (7)
17 Amelia Williams (29)
18 Grace Clifford (25)
19 Keevy Fitzpatrick (10)
20 Kaya Acton (2)
21 Kendall Waudby (50)
22 Aoibhe Kelly (1)
23 Lucia Scott (11)
(Lightning appearances)
Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 Zoe Harrison (c), 9 Tori Sellors; 1 Liz Crake, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Julia Omokhuale, 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sophie de Goede.
Replacements: 16 Daisy Fitzgerald, 17 Chloe Flanagan, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Jodie Verghese, 20 Georgia Evans, 21 Amelia MacDougall, 22 Emma Hardy, 23 Beth Blacklock.