Loughborough Lightning’s Leia Brebner-Holden and Elis Martin are set for their Women’s Rugby World Cup debuts against Wales this weekend, with Helen Nelson also named in Head Coach Bryan Easson’s first matchday squad for the tournament.
The Pool B clash takes place at Manchester’s Salford City Stadium on Saturday (23 August, kick-off: 2.45pm) with the match being broadcast live on BBC 1 and iPlayer.
Brebner-Holden, 23, starts her first Rugby World Cup match and earns her 12th international cap in the process – partnering experienced clubmate Nelson (who picks up her 72nd cap at her second World Cup) to make up an all-Loughborough half-back pairing for Scotland.
Meanwhile hooker Martin will hope to make her first appearance at a World Cup from amongst the replacements, as Easson opts for a 6-2 split on the bench and also selects former Lightning players Chloe Rollie, Emma Wassell and skipper Rachel Malcolm in the starting line-up.
Scotland Women vs Wales
Women’s Rugby World Cup, Pool B
Saturday 23 August
Salford City Stadium, Manchester
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST
15 Chloe Rollie – Toulon Provence Mediterranee (77)
14 Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (59)
13 Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (30)
12 Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (71)
11 Francesca McGhie – Trailfinders Women (22)*
10 Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (71) – vice-captain
9 Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (11)*
1 Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (45)
2 Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (81)
3 Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (22)
4 Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (69)
5 Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (47)
6 Rachel Malcolm – Trailfinders Women (58) – captain
7 Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (53)
8 Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (37)*
Replacements:
16 Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (22)*
17 Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (24)
18 Lisa Cockburn – Gloucester Hartpury (34)*
19 Jade Konkel – Harlequins (71)
20 Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (17)*
21 Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (13)*
22 Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (33)
23 Beth Blacklock – Saracens (4)*
Caps in brackets.
*Denotes Rugby World Cup debut.
Lightning’s Women’s Rugby World Cup stars will be back at Loughborough in time for the start of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign. Season Tickets are still available HERE, priced* from just £65 (adult) and £30 juniors.
*Season Ticket prices are subject to a booking fee of £2.50 per Season Ticket, plus £10 admin fee for Direct Debit.
