Loughborough Lightning today confirm that Christine Belisle, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Kendall Waudby, Isla Curphey, Lia Green, Becky Boyd, Anne Young, Elis Martin, Leia Brebner-Holden, Lucia Scott and Paige Stathopoulos will leave the Club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
All of the players above will be involved in the annual leavers’ ceremony, that follows the conclusion of Sunday’s game at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens against Saracens (kick-off: 12pm).
“It’s always a sad time of the year when we have to say goodbye to players from the Lightning environment,” said Head Coach Nathan Smith.
“That is especially the case this year, as the changes to the centrally-contracted Scotland internationals making it harder for those players to continue to play their rugby away from the Celtic Challenge, and I fully understand and respect the decision they have had to make.
“We thank them all for their contribution to Loughborough Lightning and wish them all the best for the future. As well as the Scotland situation, we also have players who are making big life decisions that have made retaining some as Lightning players a difficult task.
“While we are losing some players who have made significant appearances for Lightning, I am pleased with the number of players we have already locked in for next season, including our three World Cup winning Red Roses stars, and I look forward to announcing more re-signings and new signings too as we build towards the 2026/27 campaign.
“What is important to highlight is this; as a club, we are working hard to secure players on multi-year deals, moving away from the one-year contract cycle which currently exists for many members of our squad. This will help us to lay down firmer foundations from which we can build success in the coming years, especially when you consider we have the country’s best women’s university team, brimming with exciting young players who are ready to stake their claim to compete for Premiership Women‘s Rugby minutes.“
CHRISTINE BELISLE
#097, 63 apps, 25 points
Tighthead prop Belisle made her 42nd and final appearance for Scotland in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to England.
She returned to Lightning duty after the tournament and has featured in 16 games so far this season, scoring tries against Gloucester-Hartpury and Harlequins.
Her journey with the club began way back in 2021, making her debut against Worcester Warriors, and she moved to 50 appearances on the opening night of the 2025/26 season, arriving from the bench against Harlequins at The Stoop.
BO WESTCOMBE-EVANS
#098, 61 apps, 220 points
Having missed the majority of the 2024/25 season with a ruptured ACL, winger Westcombe-Evans has scored ten tries in 15 appearances this season and earned a recall for the Red Roses’ Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad.
The 23-year-old remained with the squad throughout their Grand Slam winning campaign, without adding to her two senior caps which came in the WXV triumph in 2024.
Westcombe-Evans’ Lightning debut came as a teenager in October 2021 against Sale Sharks, and she passed the 50 appearance milestone against Leicester Tigers in November 2025, marking the occasion with four tries – taking her overall tally to 44 for the Club.
KENDALL WAUDBY
#110, 50 apps, 25 points
Waudby’s most recent Lightning game away at Trailfinders saw her become the 27th player in the club’s history to reach a half-century of appearances.
Her very first game came five days shy of her 20th birthday against Wasps in 2022, when she was primarily a hooker. But in recent years, her mobility and impact around the park has seen her transition to a flanker – where she enjoyed a fruitful spell in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, wearing the number seven shirt in Sadia Kabeya’s injury-enforced absence.
Waudby has also been a key performer for Loughborough University, and in more recent times, received a first senior international call-up for Wales, whom she qualifies for through her Welsh mother Lesley, for the 2026 Six Nations, but she has yet to be capped.
ISLA CURPHEY
#101, 49 apps, 5 points
Versatile prop Curphey has provided options on both sides of the front row for Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith, and his predecessor, Rhys Edwards.
The Isle of Man native made her Lightning debut as a replacement against Saracens in 2021, and if she features one more time this season, she will become the 28th Lightning player to play 50 times for the Club.
While she has only crossed the line once in her four seasons with Lightning, it was a memorable one as she raced over from inside her own half against Leicester Tigers in this season’s PWR: The Cup campaign.
Isla departs Lightning as she moves back to the Isle of Man.
LIA GREEN
#117, 32 apps, 109 points
Versatile back Green has provided options at fly-half and fullback for Lightning since she made her debut as a teenager against Harlequins in April 2023.
During this season’s PWR: The Cup campaign, the 22-year-old brought up a century of points in African Violet when she landed three conversions and a penalty against Bristol Bears.
Green, who previously played a key role for Loughborough University in BUCS Super Rugby and is capped for England at U20 level, has featured in nine Premiership Women’s Rugby matches so far this season.
BECKY BOYD
#126, 25 apps
Powerful second row/back row Boyd is another player who has progressed through the player development programme at Loughborough University.
Her Lightning debut came back in April 2023, whilst still a teenager, and her performances for Lightning and BUCS Super Rugby saw her attract the interest of England U20 selectors.
A back injury sustained in a road traffic collision whilst heading to an England U20 camp with Green, Molly Luthayi and Grace Clifford ended her 2023/24 season prematurely, but she bounced back with devastating effect in 2024/25, becoming a PWR force and receiving a call-up for Scotland.
Her senior international debut came in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, and Boyd was also selected in Scotland’s 2025 World Cup squad, as well as featuring in the 2026 Six Nations tournament.
ANNE YOUNG
#139, 25 apps
Scotland international loosehead prop Young arrived at Lightning for the 2024/25 season, making her debut against former club Sale Sharks as a replacement in October 2024.
She made 12 appearances in season one in African Violet, and added to her senior international caps in the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
Young has been a near constant presence in Lightning’s matchday squad this season, but unfortunately, picked up an injury against Trailfinders ahead of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, which ruled her out of the tournament.
LEIA BREBNER-HOLDEN
#137, 15 apps, 5 points
The scrum-half joined Lightning in October 2024 from Gloucester-Hartpury, making 12 appearances in that campaign, achieving a first PWR start against Exeter Chiefs and a maiden league try against Leicester Tigers a week later.
Her club form saw Scotland pick Brebner-Holden for a first Six Nations start in 2025, and she hasn’t looked back since, becoming her country’s first choice in her position.
Unfortunately, her second season at Lightning was cut short after just two games, after suffering an injury after Round 2, but her rehabilitation was completed successfully to return to action and play a prominent role for Scotland in the 2026 Six Nations.
ELIS MARTIN
#138, 13 apps, 5 points
Hooker Martin joined Lightning from East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Her debut came against Sale Sharks, and she completed season one by scoring her first Lightning try in the away victory against Bristol Bears.
After appearing for Scotland in the 2025 World Cup, the 26-year-old underwent knee surgery, which has ruled her out for the entirety of Lightning’s season so far, with her return to action coming in the Six Nations Round 1 victory over Wales.
LUCIA SCOTT
#148, 11 apps, 10 points
Fullback Scott joined Lightning from Gloucester-Hartpury ahead of the current season, and made her debut as a replacement in PWR: The Cup against Saracens in September 2025.
A PWR debut in Lightning colours followed against Leicester Tigers at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, an occasion she marked by scoring her first try for the club in a 50-15 victory.
Scott has been a regular presence in Nathan Smith’s matchday squads and was unfortunate to miss out on being involved in the 2025 Rugby World Cup, when an injury in the final warm-up game ruled out her participation. She has made up for lost time in the current Six Nations, scoring a fine try in the opening round success against Wales.
PAIGE STATHOPOULOS
#155, 7 apps
The USA International hooker arrived in early January after Lucy Calladine suffered a knee injury, with Head Coach also without Elis Martin at the stage too.
All seven of her appearances to date have been as a replacement, starting with her debut coming off the bench against Gloucester-Hartpury in February.
