Megan Davey will become only the second player in Loughborough Lightning history to reach 100 appearances when she runs out against Saracens this weekend.
The 24-year-old has been selected at scrum-half in an unchanged Lightning starting line-up as Premiership Women’s Rugby’s fifth and sixth placed teams meet in a Round 8 encounter at The StoneX Stadium on Saturday 30 November (kick-off: 2pm) – which is being streamed live on Saracens’ YouTube channel.
Stafford-born Davey made her Lightning debut against Richmond aged just 17 years and six months, when she became the 35th player to wear the African Violet shirt in a competitive front-line game.
She follows in the footsteps of Katie Trevarthen, who become the inaugural member of the Lightning 100 club towards the end of the 2023/24 season, before entering into retirement.
“It is absolutely incredible what Meg has achieved for somebody who is only 24 years of age,” said head coach Nathan Smith. “She is a Lightning original, someone who has been here since the start and seen it all in Loughborough shirt.
“It is testament to her dedication and professionalism to reach this landmark at such an early age and everyone here is extremely proud of her.”
“I hope she enjoys the moment and fingers crossed, we’ve got more than one thing to celebrate after the game on Saturday.”
Lightning have named an unchanged starting 15 from the side that defeated Leicester Tigers 36-24 last time out at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Alev Kelter, a tryscorer on her Lightning debut against Tigers, lines up against the club she helped to win the league title in 2022, kicking 13 points in the final to defeat Exeter Chiefs.
Canadian international Krissy Scurfield will be seeking out a third try in as many games, and also to showcase her breakdown prowess having produced two fine poaches against Tigers.
The big selection news comes among the replacements as Sadia Kabeya is set to make her first PWR appearance of the season after recovering from the hamstring injury and required surgery that ruled her out of Red Roses duty for the WXV campaign in Canada.
Fellow England international Laura Keates has recovered sufficiently from the illness that saw her withdrawn from the matchday squad that triumphed against Tigers, to feature among the replacements against Saracens.
“While the win over Tigers wasn’t perfect, we did a lot of things right and it was important for us to get the result our performances have been threatening,” added Smith.
“We know the challenge level has gone up, going away to Saracens, but we travel with an unchanged team which is a real rarity for us, and we’re delighted to welcome Sadia back onto the bench and look forward to her getting back out there on the pitch.”
SARACENS vs LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 8
Saturday 30 November, 2024
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Helen Nelson (cc)
14 Fran Goldthorp
13 Emily Scarratt
12 Alev Kelter
11 Krissy Scurfield
10 Helena Rowland
9 Megan Davey – 100th Lightning appearance
1 Anne Young
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Isla Curphey
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 Laura Keates
19 Becky Boyd
20 Sadia Kabeya
21 Leia Brebner-Holden
22 Carmela Morrall
23 Bulou Mataitoga
Unavailable for selection: Emma Wassell, Rachel Malcolm, Cath O’Donnell, Catherine Wells, Ellen Scantlebury, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Christine Belisle, Grace Clifford, Alicia Maude.
