Loughborough Lightning have completed the double signing of two Scotland international forwards from rival Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs.
Hooker Elis Martin joins from Leicester Tigers and loosehead prop Anne Young arrives from Sale Sharks to bolster Nathan Smith’s squad ahead of the 2024/25 season. The pair have strong connections having played together at University of Edinburgh, Heriots Rugby Club, Scotland Under-18s and Under-20s as well as the senior Scotland side.
Glasgow-born hooker Martin started her rugby journey at Hillhead Jordanhill’s U18 section and spent time with DMP Sharks before joining Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2023/24 season, playing 13 times and scoring three tries.
The physical and dynamic front-rower has 10 senior caps for her country, scoring three tries. She said:
“Ever since I started talking about coming down to play in the Premiership, I was being things about Loughborough from people who have been here a long time. That was a big part of it. Everyone was singing Loughborough’s praises so I definitely wanted to give it a go."
“One of the big parts of my chats with Nathan was having that availability of such a prestigious, well-drilled pack. They know how to perform around the setpiece, and a big part of my development is being able to utilise all their skills, ask them questions, and hopefully it allows me to perform to a really high level as well.”
Hertfordshire born prop Young first played rugby at her local club Helensburgh and is a product of the Hermitage Academy.
She has been capped 10 times by Scotland and spent the last two seasons at Sale Sharks.
“With the World Cup coming up, I really want to put myself in the best possible position to be selected to go and hone my skills and keep my development moving forward,” Young said.
“Watching Lightning this season, they are team that have banded together and play for each other which is really cool. I am hoping to be a part of that and hopefully push on and get top four, then eventually win some silverware.”
The agile prop sees Lightning’s Scottish contingent return to six for the 2024/25 campaign, with fellow internationals Helen Nelson, Rachel Malcolm, Emma Wassell and Christine Belisle all signing contract extensions.
“We are really happy to sign Anne and Elis,” said Smith. “Elis is a really strong ball carrier and we’re really looking forward to seeing that around the park. She has also performed extremely well within the Tigers setpiece this season. We are hoping to develop that side of her game even further and it will take us, not only from a Lightning perspective but for Scotland moving forward.
“We feel that Anne is a young prop who can be developed and her performances for Sale and Scotland around the park have been exceptional and we know the setpiece is an area of her game that needs to be developed. However she will be in the right place to do that next season. That will leave her in the best possible place to not only perform for Lightning next year in the PWR but also for Scotland in the World Cup.”
Young and Martin follow Alev Kelter and Alicia Maude, who were previously announced as Lightning players ahead of the 2024/25 season.