Head Coach Ross Chisholm announces 11 changes to his Starting 15, as Harlequins host Loughborough Lightning at The Stoop in The Game Changer.
It’s a completely new-look front-row from last week’s trip to Leicester, with Italian loosehead Silvia Turani packing down alongside England’s Connie Powell at hooker. South Africa’s Babalwa Latsha comes in to the side at tighthead.
Kaitlan Leaney gets the start at lock, following her brace in last Sunday’s match against Leicester Tigers. She’s partnered by Danelle Lochner in the second-row, making her first appearance of the season. Club Captain Jade Konkel starts at number eight alongside Welsh flanker Abbie Fleming. Alex Callender comes in at open side flanker to make her debut for the Club, completing the back-row.
Fresh off her WXV1 win, Lucy Packer re-joins the squad at scrum half, taking up the vice captaincy role. Kayleigh Powell slots in at 10, following a strong cameo off the bench last weekend. The midfield remains unchanged, with Lagi Tuima returning to the side at inside centre alongside Sarah Parry at 13.
It’s an electric back three, with Lisa Neumann and Katie Shillaker featuring on the wings, both having scored in the win at Welford Road last Sunday. Red Roses speedster Ellie Kildunne completes the back three, as she is named in the side at fullback.
The Impact Players are littered with international quality, including Wales’s Carys Phillips, Spain’s Laura Delgado and Scotland’s Sarah Bonar.
Club captain Jade Konkel said “I think Game Changer is massively important. I was involved in the very first one, and it will be a massive honour to hopefully run out for one again this weekend. We get a lot of support following The Game Changer once people have seen what we’re all about.”
“My niece plays for an under 15s team locally back home, whereas I had to do a 7 hour round trip to Glasgow to try and play some rugby, so it’s great to see how the game has changed.”
Ellie Kildunne added “I’m excited to be back playing for Harlequins, it’s been a while since I’ve been out there in the quarter’s and it’s even more special that my first game back will be The Game Changer.”
“The girls have really stepped up, we’re all fighting for our shirts. WXV had really high standards and that’s something that we want to bring back in to the Quins environment.”
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Harlequins Starting XV
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Katie Shillaker
13. Sarah Parry
12. Lagi Tuima
11. Lisa Neumann
10. Kayleigh Powell
9. Lucy Packer (vc)
1. Silvia Turani
2. Connie Powell
3. Babalwa Latsha
4. Danelle Lochner
5. Kaitlan Leaney
6. Abbie Fleming
7. Alex Callender
8. Jade Konkel (c)
Replacements
16. Carys Phillips
17. Laura Delgado
18. Lizzie Hanlon
19. Sarah Bonar
20. Maja Meuller
21. Freya Aucken
22. Ella Cromack
23. Izzy Mayhew
With thanks to Harlequins
