Green relishing opportunity to play in PWR: The Cup

England age-grade international and Loughborough Lightning fly-half Lia Green is relishing her opportunity to steer the side through the PWR: The Cup, ahead of their final round against Bristol Bears this weekend.

Green came into the Cup period off the back of a successful Under-20 Summer Six Nations Series with England, where the Lightning contingent made up a third of England’s total squad, with ten players selected to represent the Red Rose in Wales.

“The Summer Series was a really enjoyable experience,” Green said. “We were already a close-knit group, and it helped that there were ten of us from Lightning in the squad.

“I think we’ve brought that tightness back, and also we’ve brought back what we learn through the 20s back into the environment as well.”

Green has been one of Lightning’s standout performers in the three fixtures so far in the opening three fixtures of the Cup, controlling the game well with her kicking game as well as her precision from the tee, with more than 90 per cent of her shots at goal hitting the target.

“I have a process that I go through before every kick, and I trust that,” Green added. “That process has changed over the years, having been able to learn from the people around me, like Emily Scarratt and Helena Rowland.

“I try to take everything in and practice when I can, and I feel at the moment it’s really paying off.”

Green has been entrusted with control of the reigns from fly-half for the Cup period, while experienced internationals Helen Nelson and Rowland are away on World Cup duty.

“I really enjoy training and learning from them,” the 21-year-old continued. “I just want to be better and want to learn what I can from them to try to be a better player. 

“When those players come back from the World Cup, hopefully I’ll be able to learn from their experiences that they’ve had at the pinnacle of the game.”

It was a difficult result last weekend for Nathan Smith’s young side in the 59-14 defeat to Saracens in Round 3 of the PWR: The Cup, despite Green remaining 100% from the tee yet again.

But the fly-half insists the side is taking the lessons on board heading into the final round against Bristol on Saturday 13 September (kick-off: 1pm) at Shaftesbury Park.

“Obviously, against the Saracens, it was a tough game, but we had positive moments that we can take from it,” said Green. “We’re a young group and we’re still learning, but we want to keep improving and keep pushing teams like Saracens. We haven’t focused too much on what Bristol are going to bring on Saturday.

“It’s obvious that they’re going to bring the physicality, and they’re going to be strong upfront, but like we’re really focusing on ourselves this week and focusing on our team identity and how we want to play.

“I think that feeling confident in ourselves and in our game plan and identity will bring that forward into the weekend.”

Loughborough Lightning’s next home game will be in Premiership Women’s Rugby action on Sunday 2 November (kick-off: 1pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. The match is included in a Lightning Season Ticket which 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.