Loughborough Lightning have locked in England Under-20 internationals Lia Green and Carmela Morrall on extended contracts.
Both players featured in the Red Roses’ victory over Wales at the weekend and have committed their Club futures to the African Violets beyond the 2023/24 campaign.
The pair of 19-year-olds add to the growing number of players committing their futures to Lightning, who resume their Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign against Gloucester-Hartpury at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday 12 May (kick-off: 3.00pm). Tickets are available priced from £7.50 adults and £3 children by clicking HERE.
Green and Morrall follow announcements that Sadia Kabeya, Rachel Malcolm, Christine Belisle, Megan Davey, Lilli Ives Campion and Bo Westcombe Evans have agreed contract extensions.
“I have really enjoyed working with Carmela and Lia this season and have both become important players in our squad and both have huge growth areas in their games,” said Lightning head coach, Nathan Smith.
“We want to be in a position where we are about to recruit and retain players, developing them into top international and Premiership quality players who can move the Club forward.”
Hong Kong-born Morrall grew up in Dubai and represented UAE Under-18s before moving to the United Kingdom to study at Loughborough College and joined Loughborough Lightning.
The Sports Science student made her debut as a replacement against Harlequins in November 2022 and the 19-year-old has gone on to make 20 appearances, scoring four tries.
“I think that Lightning has been a great place for me to develop,” said Morrall. “Training and playing with some of the best players in the game helps me grow and learn.
“I have decided to stay longer because I think that the pathway at Loughborough is very good and I feel like it is the best place to be to develop my rugby even further.
“The performance of the team this year has made a massive improvement from last year and we are constantly building. I hope that in the future we keep pushing to make top four in the league.”
Carmela Morrall
Smith was delighted to retain the services of the powerful centre.
He said: “Through growing up in Dubai, Carmela was exposed to a lot of Sevens and you can tell that in the way she plays. Her skills are exceptional, her catch-pass and her scanning in attack ticks all the boxes skills required to play at this level.
“We have used Emily Scarratt as a mentor for younger players and she has spent time with Carmela to develop her game and the habits she needs to exhibit, which can only be beneficial moving forward.”
Green grew up in Sandhurst, Berkshire before moving to near Glastonbury in Somerset. Her rugby journey took in Millfield School and Bristol Bears’ Centre of Excellence.
She joined Loughborough University in September 2022 to study Human Biology and made her debut against Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup a year later.
“I’ve had a really positive experience so far and think Lightning has been the best place for my development as a player. It has given me lots of opportunities to play which I might not have got at other clubs.”
Lia Green
“Lightning has made a lot of progression this year and there is constant energy around reinforcing and building on our performances. I hope to keep developing as a player to be more involved and have a positive impact over the next season.”
Green, who has featured at both fly-half and fullback for Lightning, has made seven appearances for the African Violets scoring 32 points far.
“Lia’s game has grown phenomenally throughout the year and she has been a bit unlucky to not get more Premiership exposure,” added Smith.
“We definitely see her as a 10 moving forward, she has an exceptional kicking game. The next part of her game to develop is her running came.
“In the same breath as Scaz with Carmela, Lia has Helen Nelson and Helena Rowland, two extremely knowledgeable and talented fly-halves to learn from.”
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