Loughborough Lightning have made five personnel changes and one positional switch to their starting line-up for this weekend’s East Midlands Derby with Leicester Tigers.
The African Violets fell to 28-37 defeat in their PWR: The Cup Round 1 against Sale Sharks – despite tries from Meg Davey, Ellen Scantlebury, Cieron Bell, as well as a try and four perfect conversions from Lia Green – and will be aiming to bounce back on Sunday 31 August (kick-off: 2pm) at Cooke Fields, home of Lichfield RUFC.
Daisy-Hibbert-Jones captains Lightning from blindside flanker after recovering from the illness that saw her withdrawn from the matchday squad on the morning of the Sale game. Carmela Morrall, who stepped up into the captaincy role in her place, operates from inside centre as vice-captain.
There’s a change in the front row with England Under-20 prop Amelia Williams coming in at loosehead, with Isla Curphey rotating to the bench.
In the second row, it’s a first Lightning start for Tamsin Baynes, who impressed off the bench on debut against Sale Sharks, and she’s paired with another England Under-20 international, Keevy Fitzpatrick.
Alongside Hibbert-Jones in the back row, Ellie Roberts remains at seven, while Haineala Lutui moves from the engine room to No.8 after making a big impact on debut last weekend. Kendall Waudby and Lucy Finch are among the replacements.
Fresh from scoring her first Lightning try, Bell starts on the right wing in one of two changes to the back three as Scotland Under-20 international Freya MacColl comes into the side at fullback to make her first Lightning start, in place of the injured Abbie Brown.
Loughborough University fresher, fly-half Ella Barnes, 18, wears the number 23 shirt and will make her Lightning debut if she is called into action on Sunday.
“There was plenty for us to be pleased about against Sale Sharks, and we’ve worked hard in the week on the areas where we came up a little short,” said Head Coach, Nathan Smith.
“We’ve had some fantastic games with Leicester Tigers since they came into Premiership Women’s Rugby and I am sure Sunday will be no different.”
Leicester Tigers vs Loughborough Lightning
PWR: The Cup, Round 2
Sunday 31 August, 2025
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Freya MacColl
14 Cieron Bell
13 Ellie Tromans
12 Carmela Morrall (vc)
11 Ellen Scantlebury
10 Lia Green
9 Megan Davey
1 Amelia Williams
2 Lucy Calladine
3 Christine Belisle
4 Tamsin Baynes
5 Keevy Fitzpatrick
6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c)
7 Ellie Roberts
8 Haineala Lutui
Replacements:
16 Polly Peterson
17 Isla Curphy
18 Grace Clifford
19 Lucy Finch
20 Kendall Waudby
21 Ashton Adcock
22 Molly Luthayi
23 Ella Barnes – Lightning debut
Loughborough Lightning 2025/26 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.
