Two of Loughborough Lightning’s summer signings, Mae Sagapolu and Tahlia Brody, are set to make their debuts for the Club in Friday night’s Premiership Women’s Rugby 2025/26 season opener against Harlequins (kick-off: 7.30pm) – which is being streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
Tighthead prop Sagapolu goes from the start at The Stoop with her fellow USA compatriot, back row Brody, poised to enter proceedings from among the replacements.
After impressing during PWR: The Cup, 19-year-old Haineala Lutui makes her PWR debut from No.8, as part of an all-action back row that features player of the match in the 2025 Rugby World Cup final, Sadia Kabeya, at openside flanker and captain Daisy Hibbert-Hones at blindside.
Another World Cup winning Red Roses star, Lilli Ives Campion, packs down in the second row alongside Becky Boyd, who was part of Scotland’s squad for the tournament following a breakthrough 2024/25 campaign.
Joining Sagapolu in a new-look front row is loosehead prop Anne Young, fresh from her summer exploits for the Thistles, and England U20 hooker, Lucy Calladine.
After combining brilliantly to help steer Scotland into the quarter-finals, the half-back partnership between Leia Brebner-Holden and Helen Nelson continues in club colours on Friday evening.
Bo Westcombe-Evans, who made her return from injury earlier this season, makes a welcome return to a PWR team sheet on the left wing.
She is joined in the back three by USA international Bulou Mataitoga and fullback Lia Green, who impressed during PWR: The Cup, scoring 45 points across four games.
Following Emily Scarratt’s retirement announcement, there is an exciting new centre partnership as Carmela Morrall operates from inside centre and as vice-captain at just 20 years of age. She is joined by PWR Team of the Season 2024/25 inclusion, Alev Kelter, at outside centre.
Amongst the replacements, Christine Belisle is set to make her 50th Lightning appearance when the Scotland tighthead enters proceedings in the Round 1 encounter. USA hooker Kathryn Treder and England U20 loosehead prop Amelia Williams complete the alternative front row options, with Kendall Waudby offering versatility as a back row and hooker option at Head Coach Nathan Smith’s disposal.
Former GB7s stars Lis Maude and Abbie Brown are primed to make their first PWR appearances in 13 and 43 months respectively as backs replacements, with winger/centre Ellen Scantlebury completing the squad off the back of scoring four tries in as many games during the Cup period.
“It is certainly a tough game to start the season with away at The Stoop but it is one we are excited for and I am confident we will be able to fire shots at them,” said Smith.
“Like last season, we want to play quickly, have high possession and keep opposition teams moving. If teams give a penalty away, we will kick it to the corner and generally speaking, we will score a try from it.
“Quins had an exceptional year last season, they have got some big, strong ball carriers which gets them on the front foot and they’ve added to that with the signing of Aoife Wafer, it’s fantastic for the PWR that she has come in.
“Our kicking game has got to be on point. If you kick the ball loosely, Ellie Kildunne will run the ball back the length of the pitch and score a try. We’ve just got to be extremely accurate with everything we do defensively and in attack.”
HARLEQUINS VS LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 1
Friday 24 October, 2025
The Stoop
Kick-off: 7.30pm
15 Lia Green
14 Bulou Mataitoga
13 Alev Kelter
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans
10 Helen Nelson
9 Leia Brebner-Holden
1 Anne Young
2 Lucy Calladine
3 Mae Sagapolu – Lightning debut
4 Becky Boyd
5 Lilli Ives Campion
6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones ©
7 Sadia Kabeya
8 Haineala Lutui – PWR debut
Replacements:
16 Kathryn Treder
17 Amelia Williams
18 Christine Belisle – 50th Lightning appearance
19 Tahlia Brody – Lightning debut
20 Kendall Waudby
21 Alicia Maude
22 Abbie Brown
23 Ellen Scantlebury
With thanks to Loughborough Lightning
