Loughborough Lightning have made only two changes to their starting line-up as they seek to sign off 2025 with a home victory over Trailfinders Women.
Nathan Smith’s side enter Sunday’s contest at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off: 2pm) off the back of a bonus-point victory over Bristol Bears, knowing another success will see them enter the new year placed third in the Premiership Women’s Rugby standings.
USA international Kathryn Treder starts at hooker for the first time in three games, as she seeks to extend her prolific strike rate having scored 21 tries in 33 Lightning outings.
The only other change also comes in the front row as versatile prop Isla Curphey makes her first PWR start this term at loosehead – with last weekend’s two-try hero Mae Sagapolu completing the front row.
Carmela Morrall – who was one of eight Lightning players who trained with England U21 in midweek – extends her partnership with PWR’s top defender beater (37) Alev Kelter in midfield to a seventh-straight round this season.
Red Roses winger Bo Westcombe-Evans goes in search of the try that will take her to 200 points in a Lightning shirt, and is joined in the backfield by USA winger Bulou Mataitoga, while Scotland fullback Lucia Scott wears the 15 shirt once more.
Lis Maude – a tryscorer against Bristol – partners the PWR Built Differently Player of the Match from that game, Helen Nelson, for a fifth consecutive match.
Having walked the red carpet in Thursday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards as part of the Red Roses’ side nominated for Team of the Year, Lilli Ives Campion treads the cinch Stadium turf as she packs down with American lock Rachel Ehrecke in the second row.
PWR’s top ball carrier (91), 19-year-old Haineala Lutui, wears the No.8 shirt in an unchanged back row with captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones and Sadia Kabeya operating as the flankers.
Smith reverts back to a 5-3 split on the bench with prop Amelia Williams coming back into the matchday squad, as does her England U21 colleague, lock Keevy Fitzpatrick.
The final personnel change sees Canada back Fancy Bermudez return as a replacement, while Kendall Waudby provides cover at hooker and in the back row as she moves to within six outings of a half-century in Lightning colours. Lucy Calladine’s unbroken run of featuring in all ten Lightning games comes to an end after picking up a knock in midweek.
Experienced international forwards Christine Belisle and Tahlia Brody await their turn to make an impact at cinch Stadium, as do half-backs Meg Davey and Lia Green.
Head coach Nathan Smith said: “We were happy with the win over Bristol Bears but we know we will have to be even better to defeat a Trailfinders side that has recruited hard over the past six months and will be expecting to finish in the play-off places with the talent they have in that squad.
“This is our last game until 1 February and we don’t play at home again for nearly nine weeks after Sunday’s game, so we want to sign off 2025 in style with a performance that our fantastic supporters will enjoy at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.”
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING VS TRAILFINDERS WOMEN
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 8
Sunday 21 December, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2pm
15. Lucia Scott
14. Bulou Mataitoga
13. Alev Kelter
12. Carmela Morrall
11. Bo Westcombe-Evans
10. Helen Nelson
9. Alicia Maude
1. Isla Curphey
2. Kathryn Treder
3. Mae Sagapolu
4. Lilli Ives Campion
5. Rachel Ehrecke
6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones ©
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Haneala Lutui
Replacements:
16. Kendall Waudby
17. Amelia Williams
18. Christine Belisle
19. Keevy Fitzpatrick
20. Tahlia Brody
21. Meg Davey
22. Lia Green
23. Fancy Bermudez
With thanks to Lightning
