Bulou Mataitoga is set to make her 50th Loughborough Lightning appearance under the floodlights at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday evening (kick-off: 7.45pm).
The USA international retains her place on the right wing and will lead out the team to take on Trailfinders Women in the 18th and final round of the 2024/25 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.
Lightning’s first Friday night match at the Gardens is also the final time Lightning original Rachel Malcolm will wear an African Violet shirt, following confirmation earlier this week her eight-season stay at the Club is coming to and at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.
Head coach Nathan Smith makes four changes to the team that secured a fourth win in six games against Bristol Bears three weeks ago.
Alev Kelter is restored to the starting line-up as she looks to add to her seven tries in ten outings this term. The USA international wears the number 11 shirt vacated by Krissy Scurfield, who is away with the Canada Sevens team in Vancouver.
The backs division otherwise remains unchanged as Fran Goldthorp starts at fullback, Emily Scarratt and Carmela Morrall are partnered in the centres, and Meg Davey and Helena Rowland are the half-backs for a third successive game.
Loosehead prop Anne Young and hooker Kathryn Treder are joined in the front row by Christine Belisle, who starts at tighthead prop with Laura Keates rotated to the replacements.
Abby Duguid takes the place of fellow Canadian Courtney Holtkamp in the second row following the end of her short-term spell with the Club. She will pair-up with fellow lock Lilli Ives Campion.
Blindside flanker Malcolm is joined by No.8 and fellow co-captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones on the back row, with Hallie Taufoou completing the trio in the place of Sadia Kabeya, who is rested due to an injury niggle.
Amelia Williams, Kendall Waudby and Leia Brebner-Holden are the only surviving members from the replacements who defeated Bristol Bears in Round 16.
They are joined by Keates and Becky Boyd – fresh from her first call-up to the extended Scotland squad ahead of the Six Nations.
Haineala Lutui, aged 18, is in line to make her Lightning debut from the replacements, having caught the eye in recent weeks in BUCS Super Rugby action for Loughborough University.
Another player who has shone in BUCS, winger/centre Ellen Scantlebury, is set to play her first Lightning minutes since suffering an injury in the reverse fixture against Trailfinders four months ago. The bench is completed by another young back, Evelyn Clarke, who last featured against Gloucester-Hartpury in Round 9.
“We’re excited to play our first Friday Night Lights game at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens and we are focused on ending the 2024/25 season on a high,” said Smith.
“It promises to be an emotional occasion as we say goodbye to Rachel Malcolm after eight fantastic seasons of service. We hope to give her a fitting send off in front of our fantastic supporters.”
Tickets for Friday night’s game remain available priced from £7.50* adult and £3* juniors – click HERE to purchase now. For more information about Friday night’s game, including how you can have your photograph taken with the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy, click HERE.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs TRAILFINDERS WOMEN
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 18
Friday 21 February, 2025
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 Francesca Goldthorp
14 Bulou Mataitoga – 50th Lightning appearance
13 Emily Scarratt
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Alev Kelter
10 Helena Rowland
9 Meg Davey
1 Anne Young
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Christine Belisle
4 Abby Duguid
5 Lilli Ives Campion
6 Rachel Malcolm (cc)
7 Hallie Taufoou
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc)
Replacements:
16 Kendall Waudby
17 Amelia Williams
18 Laura Keates
19 Becky Boyd
20 Haineala Lutui – Lightning debut (#142)
21 Leia Brebner-Holden
22 Ellen Scantlebury
23 Evelyn Clarke
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