England captain Sarah Hunter returns to the Loughborough Lightning side for the first time this season as Rhys Edwards’ team head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this weekend.
Loughborough remain without a win in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s despite pushing Bristol Bears close last time out, and are looking to kick 2023 off on the front foot as they take on winless Wasps on Sunday (8 January, kick-off: 3pm).
Having led the Red Roses all the way to the Rugby World Cup Final in November, 138-time international Hunter dons Lightning colours again this weekend as Loughborough head to Northampton for their second outing of the season at the Gardens.
The No.8 comes back into the starting line-up alongside Red Roses teammate Cath O’Donnell, as the England pair join an otherwise unchanged Lightning side.
Leah Bartlett, Bryony Field and Christine Belisle pack down in Lightning’s front row for the third week running, while Scotland international Emma Wassell is joined by incoming O’Donnell in the engine room.
Scotland skipper Rachel Malcolm leads Loughborough from the back row for the fifth consecutive week, while England duo Sadia Kabeya and Hunter complete the forward pack.
And Lightning’s backs remain unchanged in the first clash of 2023: with Jess Weaver and Emily Scarratt steering the ship from the half-back berths, Helen Nelson and Emma Hardy again in Loughborough’s midfield, and Carys Williams-Morris, Lauren Bolger and Bulou Mataitoga rounding off the back three for the second week running.
Tickets for the clash on Sunday are still available from just £7 adult / £3 junior*. While Sunday’s match is not included in Saints’ 22/23 Season Ticket package, Northampton Season Ticket Holders can enjoy discounted prices for Loughborough’s matches. These can be accessed by signing into your Season Ticket account before purchasing.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs WASPS
Allianz Premier 15s, Round 6
Sunday 8 January, 2023
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 Bulou Mataitoga
14 Lauren Bolger
13 Emma Hardy
12 Helen Nelson
11 Carys Williams-Morris
10 Emily Scarratt
9 Jess Weaver
1 Leah Bartlett
2 Bryony Field
3 Christine Belisle
4 Emma Wassell
5 Cath O’Donnell
6 Rachel Malcolm (c)
7 Sadia Kabeya
8 Sarah Hunter
Replacements:
16 Phoebe Andrews
17 Katie Trevarthen
18 Detysha Harper
19 Morwenna Talling
20 Daisy Hibbert-Jones
21 Sara Svoboda
22 Lucy Weaver
23 Bo Westcombe-Evans
