Francesca Goldthorp has received her first Red Roses call-up as one of five Loughborough Lightning players named in the first training squad of 2025.
The versatile back rejoined the African Violets for a second spell in October 2024 and has scored two tries in nine games so far in the 2024/25 season.
Goldthorp is in the league’s top ten metre makers (648) and only five players have beaten more defenders (32). The 21-year-old is on course to become a dual code international having represented England eight times in Rugby League, scoring seven tries.
Joining her in the 38-player training squad that will meet for three days on Monday 13 January are her clubmates Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Helena Rowland and Emily Scarratt.
Red Roses Training Squad for January Camp
Prop
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 51 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 9 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Hooker
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Lock
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 58 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 19 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 69 caps)
Back Row
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 18 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 108 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
Scrum-half
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 76 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 26 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Fly-half
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 54 caps)
Centre
Fran Goldthorp (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 116 caps)
Wing
Reneeqa Bonner (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 43 caps)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 48 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
Full-back
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 48 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Only two opportunities remain to watch Lightning’s Red Roses in action during the 2024/25 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.
First up is the visit of Exeter Chiefs to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday 19 January (kick-off: 3pm), tickets are available by clicking HERE. Then in the final round of the campaign, Trailfinders Women are the opponents on Friday 21 February (kick-off: 7.45pm) – tickets are available by clicking HERE.
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