Team news: Fryday’s 50 up for Lightning game

Lock Nichola Fryday will play in her 50^th game for Exeter Chiefs Women as they run out against Loughborough Lightning in the 14^th round of the Allianz PWR.

The former Ireland captain played her first game for Chiefs against Worcester Warriors Women in December 2021. Since then, Fryday has played 41 league and eight cup games for the club and scored seven tries.

Fryday said: “There have been a few girls who have got this honour so far this year, so to join that list is really nice and I’m really chuffed with that.

“It’s been a busy few years! I always said, when moving over here, that I was going to give my full attention to rugby, and I knew this place would be the place I would grow the most as a person and a player. When I moved over here, it was only on a short-term six-month cover and Susie said that if at any point I did not like it, I could go home. Three years later…I think I like it!

Fryday will start tomorrow’s game at Sandy Park amid a XV that sees a few changes in the backline.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “We have changed our centre field. Merryn is going to slide up to the centre and we have got a bit of a mix up in the backs. Robyn is starting at 10, who’s a very good fly-half, and Tess is going to slide in at 15. Bit of a change but nothing significant.”

Demi Swann also returns from Celtic Challenge duty to start the game on the bench.

Chiefs go into tomorrow’s match on the back of a loss against league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury but they have won five of their last six Allianz PWR matches against Loughborough Lightning.

Appleby said: “We know we can beat any side on any given day. That’s the trouble, this league is incredibly competitive and what’s coming tomorrow is a huge battle against Loughborough who have got all their players back and are much, much improved.”