Bo Westcombe-Evans will lead Loughborough Lightning out for their East Midlands Derby with Leicester Tigers as she makes her 50th appearance this weekend.
The Red Roses winger is set to clock-up the appearance milestone at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens as the Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign moves into Round 5 on Saturday 29 November (kick-off: 3pm) – tickets are available by clicking HERE.
Westcombe-Evans will have a new starting partner on the opposite wing as Canada international Fancy Bermudez is given her chance from the off, having made two appearances as a replacement so far since joining from Saracens following the Rugby World Cup.
USA international Bulou Mataitoga switches from wing to fullback in the other change to the backs division that claimed a 33-33 draw with Exeter Chiefs last time out, as Carmela Morrall and Alev Kelter partner up in the centres for a fourth consecutive game and Helen Nelson and Alicia Maude start together as the half-back pairing.
There’s three personal changes amongst the forwards as loosehead prop Amelia Williams and openside flanker Kendall Waudby make their first starts of the league season, and Scotland international Becky Boyd comes into the second row to partner Red Roses lock Lilli Ives Campion.
Mae Sagapolu and Tahlia Brody, who left Leicester Tigers to join Lightning in the off-season, pack down against their former club at tighthead prop and openside flanker, respectively.
Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year nominee Sadia Kabeya is set to make her impact as a replacement, as is tighthead prop Grace Clifford – who is in-line to play her first PWR minutes in 98 weeks having made her playing return in the summer for England U20 and during Lightning’s PWR: The Cup campaign.
Also included on a Lightning PWR teamsheet for the first time this term is lock Keevy Fitzpatrick and Scotland international Lucia Scott – with the latter set to play her first PWR minutes for Loughborough since making the summer switch from Gloucester-Hartpury.
Scott is one of only two backs options on the bench which is a 6:2 split in favour of the forwards, with Lightning’s all-time leading appearance maker Megan Davey also poised to enter proceedings.
Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith said: “We’ve had a two-week break, so the squad are well rested, but we’re looking forward to getting back to action at home this weekend.
“I was pleased with how we fought back in the game against Exeter to get the draw and felt there were some strong performances across the squad.
“A derby game at home is always special, and we can’t wait to play in front of our fans and put in a performance they can be proud of.”
Loughborough Lightning vs Leicester Tigers
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 5
Saturday 29 November, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 Bulou Mataitoga
14 Fancy Bermudez – First Lightning start
13 Alev Kelter
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans – 50th Lightning appearance
10 Helen Nelson
9 Lis Maude
1 Amelia Williams
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Mae Sagapolu
4 Lilli Ives Campion
5 Becky Boyd
6 Tahlia Brody
7 Kendall Waudby
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones ©
Replacements:
16 Lucy Calladine
17 Isla Curphey
18 Grace Clifford
19 Keevy Fitzpatrick
20 Rachel Ehrecke
21 Sadia Kabeya
22 Megan Davey
23 Lucia Scott
Leicester Tigers: 15 Feury (c), 14 Daley, 13 McCalman, 12 Lingham, 11 Henrich, 10 Bitter, 9 Labeyrie; 1 Smith, 2 Bainbridge, 3 Dunne,4 Farmer, 5 Allen, 6 Russell, 7 Richardson, 8 Gordon.
Replacements: 16 Watkins, 17 Cregan,18 Vincent, 19 Heath, 20 Sinclair, 21 Maxwell, 22 Priestnall, 23 Kacirkova.