The matchday squad for Friday night's Premiership Women's Rugby home game against Exeter Chiefs Women has been named.
Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele makes her first start of the season, at flanker, partnering Tahlia Brody and Katie Childs in the back row which sees captain Roisin McBrien move into the second row to partner Eva Donaldson.
Amongst the replacements, Leah Heath and Amanda Swartz return for the side's final game of the 2024/25 season.
Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Tom Hudson said: "Last week was, for 90% of the match, our most complete performance and so we need to make sure we carry that momentum into our final game."
"Exeter Chiefs are an excellent side that deservedly lead this league for the majority season and so there's no doubt we'll have to be at our best.
"We have been delighted with the home support we've received this season and we're sure this Friday will be no different."
STARTING XV
15 Claire Gallagher [20]
14 Emily Henrich [13]
13 Meg Jones [21]
12 Evie Wills [16]
11 Francesca McGhie [25]
10 Natasha Jones [52]
9 Amy Relf [54]
1 Leah Bartlett [28]
2 Nikki Simpson [16]
3 Sophie Benavent [13]
4 Eva Donaldson [27]
5 Roisin McBrien (c) [48]
6 Katie Childs [46]
7 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [16]
8 Tahlia Brody [22]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Jordan Russell [13]
17 Ellie Smith [8]
18 Nadine Vincent [14]
19 Leah Heath [6]
20 Morgan Richardson [53]
21 Jenny Maxwell [17]
22 Tess Feury [27]
23 Amanda Swartz [23]
Get your tickets now for our final Premiership Women's Rugby match of 2024/25, when we welcome Exeter Chiefs on Friday, February 21 (7.45pm).
The match is part of a Double Header with an academy fixture preceding the women's match under the Friday Night Lights.
Commentary
FULL-TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
We are full-time here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and it's Exeter Chiefs who come away with the win in the final minute. With a final score of:
Leicester Tigers 19 - 24 Exeter Chiefs
TRY │ EXETER CHIEFS
A hard-fought battle from our Tigers, but a rolling maul from Exeter pushes over to give them the final score of the match.
75
TRADING HANDS
A change in conditions leaves the game at a stalemate, with the ball changing hands consistently, but neither team breaking through to the tryline.
CONVERSION MISSED │ EXETER CHIEFS
It's neck and neck here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with a missed conversion putting the score at 19-19.
TRY │ EXETER CHIEFS
A rolling maul pushes the Tigers back towards their try line, for Number 2 Emily Tuttosi to touch down.
SUBSTITUTION │LEICESTER TIGERS
Keia Mae Sagapolu is off the field, with Number 20, Morgan RIchardson off the bench.
CONVERSION MISSED │ LEICESTER TIGERS
A missed conversion for the Tigers side.
TRY │ LEICESTER TIGERS
The Tigers side push Exeter back into the corner, for Meg Jones to break-away with the ball for another Tigers try.
43
PUSHED BACK
Tahlia Brody makes a break for it, gaining a number of metres before she is stopped just shy of the Exeter 22.
41
BACK UNDERWAY
We're back for the second-half here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Natasha Jones kicking us back off.
HALF-TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
We're half-time here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and the score sits at:
Leicester Tigers 14 - 14 Exeter Chiefs
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL │ LEICESTER TIGERS
Claire Gallagher converts her own try, to bring both teams to 14-14.
TRY │ LEICESTER TIGERS
The Tigers side has been fighting hard, continuously breaking through the Exeter line to push them back into their 22, all for Claire Gallagher to make a break to the try line.
YELLOW CARD │ LEICESTER TIGERS
Tigers side Sophie Benavent has been awarded a Yellow Card.
24
A HARD-FOUGHT GAME
Both sides have been dominating possession of the ball, but it's the Tigers side who are slowly creeping into Exeter Chief's half.
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL │ LEICESTER TIGERS
A successful conversion from Number 15, Claire Gallagher.
TRY │ LEICESTER TIGERS
Just moments after a scrum penalty, it's Captain Roisin McBrien who breaks through the Chiefs line for the first Tigers try of the game.
SCRUM PENALTY │ TIGERS
Best scrum in the league gets yet another Scrum Penalty.
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL │ EXETER CHIEFS
A successful conversion from Number 10, Liv McGoverne.
TRY │ EXETER CHIEFS
The Tigers side defend hard, but it's Number 5 Dorothy Wall who manages to slip away.
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL │ EXETER CHIEFS
A successful conversion by Number 10, Liv McGoverne.
10
TRY │ EXETER CHIEFS
Hope Rogers from the Chiefs side makes the opening score.
KICK-OFF
We are underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for our final game of the Women's Premiership Rugby Cup against Exeter Chiefs!
0
FIFTEEN MINUTES TO GO!
A slight delay to kick-off here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for our final game of the women's season, with just under fifteen minutes to go.