Kendall Waudby is set to make her 50th Loughborough Lightning appearance in this weekend’s trip to Trailfinders Women.
The flanker/hooker, who was named in the Wales squad for the Six Nations earlier this week, is named amongst the replacements for Sunday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 16 encounter at Trailfinders Sports Club (kick-off: 12.15pm) – which is being screened live on TNT Sports.
There’s a first PWR start for Kaya Acton, 20, who made her debut earlier this year against Gloucester-Hartpury as a replacement, and takes the place of the injured Rachel Ehrecke.
She packs down alongside Lilli Ives Campion, who is one of the five Lightning players named in England’s Six Nations squad who start in West London, with Sadia Kabeya, Haineala Lutui, Helena Rowland and Bo Westcombe-Evans retained at openside flanker, No.8, fly-half and left wing, respectively.
The only Red Roses Six Nations squad member to miss out this weekend is captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones, who is rested after picking up a knock that forced her off the field in the narrow defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury. USA international Tahlia Brody takes her place at blindside flanker, and 21-year-old Carmela Morrall takes over the captaincy from the start for the first time in a PWR game.
Mae Sagapolu is restored to the front row at tighthead, alongside fellow Eagle Kathryn Treder and Scotland’s Anne Young.
There’s one change to the backs that delivered four tries against Gloucester-Hartpury, as Helen Nelson returns at fullback.
Head coach Nathan Smith retains the combinations of Lis Maude and Helena Rowland at half-back and Morrall and Alev Kelter in the centres, while Fancy Bermudez keeps her spot on the right wing following her try against the defending champions last weekend.
Amongst the replacements is 18-year-old second row/back row Tamsin Baynes, who is set to make her PWR debut if she enters the field of play, having appeared four times earlier this season during PWR: The Cup.
There are also squad recalls for versatile backs Lia Green and Lucia Scott, in addition to Meg Davey. Paige Stathopoulos, Isla Curphey and Christine Belisle complete the bench as Lightning’s alternative front row options.
“We took an enormous amount of pride from the Gloucester-Hartpury game, and there’s confidence in the group off the back of that going into this game with Trailfinders,” said head coach Nathan Smith.
“The last two games we’ve had with Trailfinders have gone right down to the wire. Both teams have plenty to fight for so it promises to be another great contest.”
TRAILFINDERS WOMEN vs LIGHTNING
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 16
Sunday March 29
Kick-off: 12.15pm
15 Helen Nelson (77)
14 Fancy Bermudez (10)
13 Alev Kelter (24)
12 Carmela Morrall (58) (c)
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans (60)
10 Helena Rowland (55)
9 Lis Maude (17)
1 Anne Young (24)
2 Kathryn Treder (40)
3 Mae Sagapolu (13)
4 Lilli Ives Campion (78)
5 Kaya Acton (1) – First PWR start
6 Tahlia Brody (13)
7 Sadia Kabeya (64)
8 Haineala Lutui (16)
Replacements:
16 Paige Stathopoulos (6)
17 Isla Curphey (48)
18 Christine Belisle (62)
19 Tamsin Baynes (4) – First PWR appearance
20 Kendall Waudby (49) – 50th Lightning appearance
21 Meg Davey (121)
22 Lia Green (31)
23 Lucia Scott (10)
(Lightning appearances)
Trailfinders: 15 Niamh Gallagher, 14 Grace White, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Emma Uren, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Claire Gallagher, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Maya Montiel, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Tanya Kalounivale, 4 Maia Roos, 5 Emma Wassell, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 7 Haidee Head, 8 Abi Burtin.
Replacements: 16 Cris Blanco, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Sally Williams, 21 Ella Amory, 22 Vicky Laflin, 23 Ellie Boatman.