Loughborough Lightning will take their number of debutants to 12 across the JAECOO Next Gen Cup pool stages, with four uncapped players named among the replacements for this weekend’s Round 4 trip to Exeter Chiefs.
Interim Head Coach Rachel Taylor has already seen eight players make their Lightning bows across the fixtures against Sale Sharks and Saracens, and this week includes India King, Mary McDonagh, Emily Heaps and Imogen Mockford in the matchday 23 for Saturday’s game at Sandy Park (kick-off: 3pm).
Following Daisy Hibbert-Jones’ call-up to the Red Roses’ WXV Global Series touring squad, Sasha Roberts earns her first Lightning start in the back row alongside her sister – Lightning Cup captain Ellie Roberts – who moves to No.8 in the absence of fellow England call-up, Haineala Lutui.
Having made her first appearance for the club in nearly three years last time out, Sarah Shrestha starts at openside flanker. The only other change to the pack sees Grace Clifford return at tighthead prop, joining Amelia Williams and Harli Stanton in the front row, with Kaya Acton and Tamsin Baynes restored in the second row.
There’s a new half-back partnership with strong Sevens pedigree, as Alicia Maude is selected at scrum-half and Abbie Brown makes her first Lightning start in more than a year – and her first-ever appearance for the club at fly-half.
Carmela Morrall, aged 21, remains at inside centre and as vice-captain on her 64th outing for the club – which is almost double the amount of the second highest appearance maker in the matchday squad, 22-year-old Amelia Williams. Morrall’s centre partner is Molly Luthayi, who makes her first Lightning start in nearly four years having featured off the bench last time out.
The back three that ran out at Goldington Road against Saracens last weekend remains as the combination of Ellie Tromans, Alice Bennett and Amy Layzell.
Props Churchy Knight and Ashton Adcock are the only replacements to keep their spots on the bench from last week, with four new arrivals entering the mix. Catherine Wells – who made her return from a lengthy injury lay-off against Saracens – provides prop cover, while Emily Peters is set for her second Lightning appearance after debuting in Round 1.
“This competition has a strong focus on the next generation of young rugby players, and we are proud to reward the efforts of our young squad by providing them with opportunities to wear a Lightning shirt and begin their senior rugby journeys,” said Taylor.
“This week is about bringing together a blend of youth and experience, creating opportunities for players to learn from one another and contribute to the team. We’ve taken some important learnings from the Saracens game into our preparation this week, and from what we’ve seen in training, I’m confident we’re ready to put those learnings into practice. Exeter is a challenge we’re looking forward to embracing as a group.”
EXETER CHIEFS VS LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
JAECOO Next Gen Cup, Round 4
Saturday 10 October, Kick-Off: 3pm
Sandy Park
15 Amy Layzell (2)
14 Alice Bennett (2)
13 Molly Luthayi (14)
12 Carmela Morrall (63) – vice captain
11 Ellie Tromans (8)
10 Abbie Brown (15)
9 Alicia Maude (19)
1 Amelia Williams (33)
2 Harli Stanton (2)
3 Grace Clifford (28)
4 Kaya Acton (6)
5 Tamsin Baynes (7)
6 Sasha Roberts (2)
7 Sarah Shrestha (4)
8 Ellie Roberts (12) – captain
Replacements:
16 India King – Lightning debut
17 Churchy Knight (3)
18 Catherine Wells (9)
19 Emily Peters (1)
20 Mary McDonagh – Lightning debut
21 Ashton Adcock (3)
22 Emily Heaps – Lightning debut
23 Imogen Mockford – Lightning debut
CHIEFS: 15 Merryn Elworthy, 14 Danielle Preece, 13 Gabby Cantorna, 12 Naomi Brennan, 11 Sammie Harris, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Lucy Nye, 1 Lilly Plowman, 2 Sofia Bekir Fuente, 3 Alessia Skeates, 4 Ellie Wood, 5 Kate Smith, 6 Lola Whitley, 7 Zoë Dare, 8 Emily Robinson (c).
Replacements: 16 Kayleigh Priest, 17 Hannah Sams, 18 Amelia Lambourn, 19 Izzy Newnes‑Smith, 20 Lizzie Lander, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Frankie Welsher, 23 Deborah Wills
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