Harlequins v Loughborough Lightning
Friday 24 October, 7.30pm, The Twickenham Stoop
Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online
Premiership Women’s Rugby returns this weekend with Harlequins hosting Loughborough Lightning under the lights at The Stoop in the 2025/26 season opener.
Both sides welcome back their international stars following the Rugby World Cup, and the Lightning side have a few debuts after some exciting summer signings.
Harlequins Head Coach Ross Chisholm includes World Cup winners Ellie Kildunne and Lucy Packer in a strong starting XV. Jade Konkel captains from No.8, with Lagi Tuima moving to fly-half and Clàudia Peña joining Sarah Parry in midfield.
Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith gives a team debut to Mae Sagapolu and a PWR debut to Haineala Lutui, while World Cup winner Sadia Kabeya starts at openside flanker and captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones leads the side from blindside.
The two sides are eager to gain a win and start strong in the most anticipated PWR season yet. Friday’s game will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online.
iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l0057jr6
Sport Online: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union
Harlequins:
15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Lauren Torley, 13. Clàudia Peña, 12. Sarah Parry, 11. Beth Wilcock, 10. Lagi Tuima, 9. Lucy Packer; 1. Silvia Turani, 2. Connie Powell, 3. Lizzie Hanlon, 4. Fi McIntosh, 5. Abbie Fleming, 6. Nicole Wythe, 7. Sara Svoboda, 8. Jade Konkel ©.
Replacements: Phillips, Sims, Delgado, Shirley, Brooks, Burgess, Cromack, Shillaker.
Loughborough Lightning:
15. Lia Green, 14. Bulou Mataitoga, 13. Alev Kelter, 12. Carmela Morrall (vc), 11. Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10. Helen Nelson, 9. Leia Brebner-Holden; 1. Anne Young, 2. Lucy Calladine, 3. Mae Sagapolu, 4. Becky Boyd, 5. Lilli Ives Campion, 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones ©, 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Haineala Lutui.
Replacements: Treder, Williams, Belisle, Brody, Waudby, Maude, Brown, Scantlebury.
Match Officials
Referee: Andy Wigley
Assistant Referees: Mike Woods, Gareth Holsgrove, Melanie Sutton
Oval Insights Verdict
• In 2024/25. Harlequins led the league with 27 lineout steals and the second-most carries (2,605) last season.
• Ellie Kildunne scored 14 tries and made over 2,000 carry metres.
• Jade Konkel ranked 4th for carries (212) and 3rd for post-contact metres (327).
• Lucy Packer is ranked third in the league for try assists (12) and seventh for box kicks (20), balancing Harlequins’ offensive threat.
• Loughborough were ranked 2nd in goal-kicking accuracy (66.7%), with Helena Rowland leading the league at 77.3%.
• Helena Rowland led the league in goal-kicking accuracy (77.3%) and ranked second for kick metres per 80 minutes (312.2).
• Alev Kelter beat 72 defenders (2nd) and made 85 defensive ruck entries (7th).
