Helena Rowland is set to make her first Loughborough Lightning appearance of the season against Sale Sharks this weekend.
The Red Roses back underwent ankle surgery after playing her part in the 2025 World Cup triumph on home soil, but returns to club colours for Saturday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 13 encounter at Morson Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).
Rowland’s selection at fly-half is one of four personnel changes to head coach Nathan Smith’s starting line-up, prompting a reshuffle in the backs division as the league’s fourth-highest point scorer (59) this season, Helen Nelson, switches to fullback and Bulou Mataitoga reverts back to the right wing.
There’s one final change to the backs as Meg Davey plays her first Lightning minutes of 2026 from the start at scrum-half. Carmela Morrall and Alev Kelter extend their season-long midfield partnership, and Bo Westcombe-Evans operates from the left wing.
Amongst the forwards, there’s two further personnel and positional changes. Isla Curphey comes in at loosehead and Christine Belisle earns her first start of the 2025/26 season at tighthead, with Kathryn Treder the remaining front row from the loss to Bristol Bears.
Lilli Ives Campion and Rachel Ehrecke are retained in the second row, while the back row sees Becky Boyd come in at blindside flanker and Daisy Hibbert-Jones switch to open side in place of Sadia Kabeya, who is unavailable to play due to the ongoing airspace disruption in Dubai, meaning she has been unable to return from a holiday from during the PWR break week.
The PWR’s most prolific ball carrier, Haineala Lutui, finishes the pack at No.8.
“We’re delighted to welcome Helena back into the matchday squad,” said Smith. “She is a world class operator and brings so much to our team. To have MJ [Davey] alongside her brings so much experience to the team, and also means there’s some real impact amongst the replacements too.
“Sale are in good form, and their pitch presents a unique challenge which we have prepared accordingly for. It’s a challenge we are all looking forward to.”
Sale Sharks vs Lightning
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 13
Saturday, March 7
Kick-off: 3pm
15 Helen Nelson
14 Bulou Mataitoga
13 Alev Kelter
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans
10 Helena Rowland
9 Meg Davey
1 Isla Curphey
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Christine Belisle
4 Lilli Ives Campion
5 Rachel Ehrecke
6 Becky Boyd
7 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c)
8 Haineala Lutui
Replacements:
16 Paige Stathopoulos
17 Anne Young
18 Mae Sagapolu
19 Tahlia Brody
20 Kendall Waudby
21 Lis Maude
22 Fancy Bermudez
23 Lucia Scott
Sale Team: 15. Lizzie Duffy, 14. Rhona Lloyd, 13. Evie Wills, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Shona Campbell, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Olivia Ortiz ;1. Tysh Harper, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Nick James, 4. Morwenna Talling, 5. Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 6. Eva Donaldson, 7. Georgie Perris-Redding ©, 8. Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: 16. Milly Hyndman, 17. Gwen Pyrs, 18. Evie Roach, 19. Charlotte Fray, 20. Sharifa Kasolo, 21. Amy Relf, 22. Asia Hogan-Rochester, 23. Katie Childs.