Loughborough University have made four changes to their starting line-up for the BUCS National Championship final against Hartpury University on Wednesday (kick-off: 7pm).
Amelia Williams, Lilli Ives Campion, Ellie Roberts and Lia Green all started the semi-final success away at Exeter but miss out on the StoneX Stadium showpiece event due to their England U20 involvement.
Into the run-out 15 come Katherine Baverstock, Issy Winter, Alex Baker and Sally Williams while among the replacements, Erin Proctor, Freya Greensmith and Freya MacColl are included.
Loughborough go in search of their first BUCS title triumph since 2005, when future Rugby World Cup winning Red Roses Claire Allan, Sarah Hunter and Becky Essex were all in the squad.
“We’ve absolutely used that as a motivation for the girls heading into the final,” said head coach Katie Trevarthen. “Sarah sent in a little video message to the girls wishing them good luck. Our message to the girls has been go out there and be brave and make some history for themselves.”
There has been plenty to juggle in preparation for the final with the England U20 contingent not available for selection, as well as Loughborough Lightning’s Allianz Cup victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday.
But Trevarthen knows that both camps heading into the final have had plenty to content with.
“There have been some incredibly difficult selection calls and training has been super competitive,” she said. “What has been great is, the girls have spent a lot of time together training during the Easter break when everyone else has returned home for Easter. They are a really tight group who spend time together away from training too.
“The players we do not have available creates opportunities for others and I know Hartpury are impacted too. We are in the same boat. So it is all about us expressing ourselves, putting in an 80-85 minute performance and giving it a really good crack.”
Loughborough University team to play Hartpury University
Wednesday 17 April 2024
StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
15 Georgina Tasker
14 Ellen Scantlebury - captain
13 Becca Lawn
12 Molly Anderson-Thomas
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans
10 Alex Baker
9 Lucy Weaver
1 Katherine Baverstock
2 Kendall Waudby
3 Isla Curphey
4 Keevy Fitzpatrick
5 Issy Winter
6 Maisie Johns
7 Lucy Finch
8 Sally Williams
Replacements:
16 Cerys Shrewsbury
17 Erin Proctor
18 Steph Atkinson
19 Emily Peters
20 Poppy Phillips
21 Amelie Anstead
22 Freya Greensmith
23 Freya MacColl
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