Kabeya: Lightning’s hard work starting to pay off

Loughborough Lightning flanker Sadia Kabeya feels the hard work the African Violets are putting into training is starting to pay off in recent games on the pitch.

In their last two matches either side of Christmas, Lightning have faced the two Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby finalists from last season, coming up just short in both but showing signs of real improvement going into Saturday’s Round 8 trip to face Harlequins.

While Nathan Smith’s side ended up with no match points from the 27-19 loss to Exeter Chiefs, they did manage to land tryscoring bonus point in last weekend’s defeat to defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

England international Kabeya featured prominently across those games making 47 tackles and is pleased with the progress the side is making.

The 21-year-old said: “Playing the top two teams from last season in successive weeks, is a hard task for anybody in the league, and for us, we are still growing. We are coming off the back of two seasons where we haven’t really performed to the level of where we should be. 

“We have been training hard, and these last three games, we are starting to see that work from training paying off in the games, especially against Exeter.

“For us to come away with a losing bonus point is a huge win, especially coming up against a top-four side, it’s never easy, let alone playing the reigning champions,” the 21-year-old said. “Gloucester are a very strong side, really well drilled, and for us, we started really well getting on the score board first. 

“Gloucester are a side that capitalise on any small mistakes, so for us, we need to cancel those out. I don’t think the score really reflects our performance, so there were lots of positives in the game.”

Lightning secured a first-ever win at The Stoop in mid-October when they claimed a 38-29 Allianz Cup victory which Kabeya missed while she was rehabilitating from a hamstring injury that prevented her inclusion in the inaugural WXV tournament with the Red Roses. 

The two sides have identical records of winning twice and losing four times this term with the London side ahead in the table due to a superior points difference.

“It is a big game for us this weekend,” Kabeya said. “We are both on 11 points in the table, so we are really looking forward to the game.

Kabeya’s return to fitness and form is well timed as international selectors cast their eyes over players ahead of this season’s TikTok Six Nations which kicks off for the Red Roses on 24 March away against Italy.

“Coming off the back of what was a successful Six Nations for me last year, into a good preseason prep, but then to miss the WXV tournament through injury was quite gutting,” said the 13-times capped forward. “So now I’m back, I am aiming to have an even better Six Nations this time around.

“England selection is always in the back of players’ minds. Being able to be called into camp, just to be around the training squad is something that really ups players games. For me, I am always trying to focus on what’s next. I’m never someone who looks too far ahead, so hopefully the work I’m doing the in league will allow me to be pulled back into England camp.

“We all know there is the World Cup coming up in 2025, but we have stepping stones to get there, with the Six Nations being one of those. We want to do as well as possible in the Six Nations to start with and go from there.”