Rowland to make 50th Lightning appearance against Leicester Tigers

Helena Rowland becomes the 22nd player in Loughborough Lightning history to hit the 50-appearance milestone in this weekend’s East Midlands Derby against Leicester Tigers.

The Red Roses back made her return to action in the stoppage time loss to Exeter Chiefs last time out and retains the No.10 jersey for the trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday 25 January (kick-off: 12.45pm) – which is being televised live on TNT Sports.

She is partnered at halfback by the Club’s record appearance maker Meg Davey as the starting scrum-half, with Leia Brebner-Holden rotated to a place among the replacements after making her first Premiership Women’s Rugby start in Round 14.

Davey’s return is one of three changes to the starting line-up as Kathryn Treder is picked at hooker and a further change to the front row sees tighthead prop Christine Belisle make her first start of the season after seven previous outings from the bench.

Second row Lilli Ives Campion – who missed out against Exeter Chiefs with a knock – returns to the squad among the replacements, which consists of six forwards and two backs.

Scotland loosehead prop Anne Young makes her ninth consecutive start while Courtney Holtkamp and Hallie Taufoou pack down in the second row together for a second week running.

Sadia Kabeya, whose 19 tackles made was the most of any player participating in last weekend’s game, is the openside flanker with co-captain Rachel Malcolm selected at blindside.

Co-captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones, who has made the most tackles (135) and the second-most carries (102) for Loughborough Lightning so far this season and has played more minutes than any other Lightning player (1,032), wears the No.8 shirt. 

USA star Alev Kelter landed her fourth try in five games last time out and is partnered by 116-times capped Red Rose Emily Scarratt in the Lightning midfield for a ninth time in a row.

PWR’s third-highest tryscorer this season, Krissy Scurfield, will look to add to her tally of ten from the left wing, with Bulou Mataitoga and Francesca Goldthorp completing the back three. 

Among the replacements is hooker Elis Martin, who goes up against her former club, and loosehead prop Amelia Williams, who was one of five Lightning players recently selected for the England Under-20 squad. 

Another member of that international age-grade squad, Carmela Morrall, provides cover in the backs after an impressive outing from the bench against Exeter.

Tighthead prop Laura Keates and lock Abby Duguid complete the replacements.

“We’re all excited to get back out there after the disappointment of a late loss against Exeter,” said head coach Nathan Smith. “We came incredibly close to another memorable victory and we know the areas where we need to tighten up this weekend.

“Tigers have got some major international stars and have shown recently against Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks they are a real threat, so we will need a top performance to get the right result.”

On Rowland hitting a half-century of appearances, he added: “I am delighted for Helena. She has had a frustrating time of it with injuries but has returned at a good time for us and Saturday is a great opportunity for her to showcase her undoubted qualities within our backs division.”

Saturday’s game is being broadcast live by TNT Sports.

LEICESTER TIGERS VS LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 15
Saturday January 25, 2025
Kick-off: 12.45pm

15 Francesca Goldthorp 
14 Bulou Mataitoga
13 Emily Scarratt  
12 Alev Kelter  
11 Krissy Scurfield
10 Helena Rowland – 50th Lightning appearance
9 Meg Davey 

1 Anne Young 
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Christine Belisle
4 Courtney Holtkamp
5 Hallie Taufoou
6 Rachel Malcolm (cc)
7 Sadia Kabeya 
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc) 

Replacements:
16 Elis Martin
17 Amelia Williams
18 Laura Keates
19 Abby Duguid 
20 Lilli Ives Campion
21 Kendall Waudby 
22 Leia Brebner-Holden
23 Carmela Morrall 

Unavailable for selection: Emma Wassell, Cath O’Donnell, Catherine Wells, Ellie Roberts, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Helen Nelson, Grace Clifford, Isla Curphey, Alicia Maude.

Tigers:  15 Gallagher, 14 Henrich, 13 Jones, 12 Wills, 11 McGhie, 10 Jones, 9 Relf; 1 Bartlett, 2 Simpson, 3 Benavent, 4 Donaldson, 5 Fray, 6 McBrien (c), 7 Gordon, 8 Brody.
Replacements: 16 Russell, 17 Constable, 18 Dunne, 19 Omokhuale, 20 Sagapolu Sanele, 21 Maxwell, 22 Childs, 23 Feury.