Westcombe-Evans out for rest of PWR season

Bo Westcombe-Evans has scored 31 tries in 44 Loughborough Lightning appearances

Loughborough Lightning winger Bo Westcombe-Evans will miss the rest of the Premiership Women's Rugby season because of a "significant knee injury", head coach Nathan Smith said.

Westcombe-Evans came off in the first half of the team's 22-19 loss against Harlequins on 26 October.

The 22-year-old, who made her debut for England in September, has scored three tries in two games this season.

"[It] is disappointing from her perspective and from ours," Smith said.

"We will support her in her journey back to getting fully fit."

Loughborough already have players like Cath O'Donnell, Emma Wassell and Sadia Kabeya unavailable for selection.

In better news for the club, Red Roses player Helena Rowland is in line to start against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday in her first PWR game back after WXV1 duty.

Exeter are top of the PWR table and unbeaten after five games. Loughborough, meanwhile, sit in seventh with one win from four games.

'Goldthorp only player who can challenge Kildunne'

Smith was also asked about Fran Goldthorp, who has returned to rugby union with Loughborough after competing in rugby league.

Goldthorp, 21, is a full-back and the head coach believes she can give Red Roses number 15 Ellie Kildunne good competition for her shirt.

Smith added: "She is the only person that can do that.

"We saw a couple of moments from Ellie for Quins when we played them [in October] but I thought Fran was exceptional in that game.

"In my opinion she is the only person who can really challenge Ellie - one, for her shirt but [two] for her to keep improving as well."