Alev Kelter makes her eagerly-anticipated Loughborough Lightning debut in this weekend’s East Midlands Derby with Leicester Tigers.
The USA Olympic Sevens bronze medallist has been selected at inside centre alongside Red Roses star Emily Scarratt in an all-star midfield for the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens showdown on Saturday 23 November (kick-off: 2pm).
Kelter has made more than 70 appearances for America in both Sevens and in 15s, appearing in two Rugby World Cups and three Olympic games.
Co-captain Helen Nelson switches from inside centre to fullback, with Fran Goldthorp also swapping the 15 shirt for a role on the right wing as she seeks to pass the 400 metres-carried mark after gobbling up 393 metres in just three-and-a-half games.
Meg Davey and Helena Rowland remain as the half-back partnership and, fresh from her remarkable try against Exeter Chiefs, Canadian star Krissy Scurfield is on the left wing.
There’s a first Lightning start for loosehead prop Anne Young, who is one of two changes to the front row that featured from the start against Exeter Chiefs as Kathryn Treder – a tryscorer from the bench at Sandy Park – gets the nod over Elis Martin, who is included among the replacements.
The remainder of the pack remains unchanged as Laura Keates will be aiming to make it three tries in as many games as she keeps her role at tighthead prop.
Lilli Ives Campion and Abby Duguid are paired in the second row while the back row, that made 60 tackles between them against Exeter Chiefs, is unchanged.
Hallie Taufoou – the league’s joint-top lineout poacher – operates from blindside flanker, PWR’s second most prolific tackler (81) Kendall Waudby is at openside while Daisy Hibbert Jones anchors the pack at number eight. The co-captain is in the division’s top ten for carries (59) and gainline carries (33).
Versatile prop Isla Curphey rotates to the bench which includes Amelia Williams, who made her Lightning debut in this head-to-head last season at the Gardens.
Forwards Issy Winter and Becky Boyd retain their places among the replacements as does centre Carmela Morrall. Leia Brebner-Holden provides the alternative scrum-half option and Bulou Mataitoga wears the number 23 shirt.
“We’re delighted to let Alev loose on the PWR. She is a world class operator and has already brought so much to our environment,” said head coach Nathan Smith.
“There was so much for us to be proud of from our performance at Sandy Park. We’re locked in on delivering an 80-minute performance against Tigers in front of our fans at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.”
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs LEICESTER TIGERS
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 7
Saturday 23 November, 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Helen Nelson (cc)
14 Fran Goldthorp
13 Emily Scarratt
12 Alev Kelter – Lightning debut #141
11 Krissy Scurfield
10 Helena Rowland
9 Megan Davey
1 Anne Young – First Lightning start
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Laura Keates
4 Abby Duguid
5 Lilli Ives Campion
6 Hallie Taufoou
7 Kendall Waudby
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc)
Replacements:
16 Elis Martin
17 Amelia Williams
18 Isla Curphey
19 Issy Winter
20 Becky Boyd
21 Leia Brebner-Holden
22 Carmela Morrall
23 Bulou Mataitoga
Unavailable for selection: Emma Wassell, Sadia Kabeya, Rachel Malcolm, Cath O’Donnell, Catherine Wells, Ellen Scantlebury, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Christine Belisle, Grace Clifford, Alicia Maude.
With thanks to Loughborough Lightning
