The matchday squad for our PWR Cup opener against Bristol Bears at Burton RFC has been named.
Jenny Maxwell captains a side featuring twelve debutants, with six included in the starting side for Sunday's match.
In the pack, Danni Solly (prop) and Hermione Farmer (flanker) are the new faces, while in the backline, the wing duo of Amelie Anstead and Karolina Kacirkova, and the centre-pairing of Abbie Lamb and Abileigh Priestnall are the debutants.
Partnering Maxwell is fly-half Ellie Turner, who returns to action for the club to add her to 12 appearances, while Tess Feury, who was unlucky to miss out on selection for the USA squad in the Women's Rugby World Cup, starts at full-back.
Solly is joined up front by Alana Bainbridge (hooker) and Nadine Vincent (prop), while the second row features Leah Heath and Kat Turner, with the latter to make her first appearance for two seasons after missing the 24/25 campaign through injury.
The starting back row includes debutant Farmer, Jordan Russell (flanker), and Tiana Gordon.
On the bench, six players - Alicia Watkins, Lauren Poole, Beth Taylor, Summer Reeves, Eneka Labeyrie, Grace Deane - are in line for their club debuts, with Ella-Mae Fereday and Sarah Nicholas the only players with previous experience for the Tigers included among the replacements.
Speaking ahead of the game, Director of Women's Rugby Fraser Goatcher said: "We are thrilled to get going. The players have worked incredibly hard over the pre-season, and I have been delighted with their effort, commitment, and the connection this new group has built in such a short time."
"With so many new players, it is even more important that we translate the work rate and togetherness they have shown in training into a competitive match environment."
On taking the game to Burton RFC, Goatcher added: "The opportunity to take our PWR Cup home games to the local community is brilliant for us as a group and the renewed energy and commitment to the women's programme at Leicester Tigers. It's going to be a great day out at a proud club, which we are all excited to be a part of to kick off a new season."
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, August 24
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Burton RFC (DE13 9FF)
STARTING XV
15 Tess Feury [28]
14 Amelie Anstead *
13 Abbie Lamb *
12 Abileigh Priestnall *
11 Karolina Kacirkova *
10 Ellie Turner [12]
9 Jenny Maxwell (c) [16]
1 Danni Solly *
2 Alana Bainbridge [23]
3 Nadine Vincent [15]
4 Leah Heath [6]
5 Kat Turner [19]
6 Jordan Russell [14]
7 Hermione Farmer *
8 Tiana Gordon [10]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Alicia Watkins *
17 Lauren Poole *
18 Ella-Mae Fereday [12]
19 Beth Taylor *
20 Summer Reeves *
21 Eneka Labeyrie *
22 Sarah Nicholas [20]
23 Grace Deane *
* Leicester Tigers debut
