Lightning and Thunder name sides for Celtic Challenge
Celtic Challenge round six
Clovers v Brython Thunder
Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 12:00 GMT
Gwalia Lightning v Edinburgh Rugby
Venue: Ystrad Mynach Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch both games live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website
Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder have named their sides for round six of the Celtic Challenge.
Gwalia sit second in the league after last weekend's 29-27 win away to Edinburgh and make eight changes to face the same opponents at home.
Wales flanker Bryonie King leads a Lightning side which also sees internationals Gwennan Hopkins and Sian Jones return at number eight and scrum-half respectively.
Cana Williams is selected at prop while Lily Terry moves to the second row.
Rhodd Parry is selected as full-back, with Courtney Greenway moving to one wing and Caitlin Lewis on the other.
Kelsie Webster and Anwen Owen form a new centre partnership, with experienced centre Kerin Lake ruled out by a leg injury.
Thunder are still looking for their first win of this league campaign and face a mid-table Clovers side in Belfast.
Wales international Natalia John captains a Brython side which sees 10 changes and three positional moves.
Wales centre Hannah Bluck returns to partner Savannah Picton-Powell in a new-look midfield.
Another Wales international, Niamh Terry, is selected at fly-half to partner scrum-half Seren Singleton.
There is a new-look front row of Stella Orin, Chloe Gant and Cadi-Lois Davies. In the back row Katie Carr is selected alongside Finley Jones and Anna Stowell, with Lucy Isaac and Jess Rogers both ruled out by injury.
Fly-half Hanna Marshall is unavailable due to BUCS rugby commitments.
Gwalia Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin said: "We are well aware that Edinburgh will be hurting after last weekend and we will have to be aware of the threats they posed in our last game.
"We deserve to be second in the league but it does mean teams will raise their game against us and we have to deal with that. Ourselves and Edinburgh want to attack and play, and we expect it to be another close and exciting contest."
Brython Thunder head coach Ashley Beck said: "We are a young and new-look Brython Thunder squad and this is massive learning experience for the players as they adapt to the standard of rugby in the Celtic Challenge.
"The Irish sides have proved to be the dominant force in the league over the last few seasons and we are expecting a real test, but all of these experiences are good for the development of these players."
Line-ups
Gwalia Lightning: Rhodd Parry; Courtney Greenway, Kelsie Webster, Anwen Owen, Caitlin Lewis; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Wakely, Cana Williams, Lily Terry, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King (capt), Catrin Stewart, Gwennan Hopkins.
Replacements: Mollie Mae Crabb, Dali Hopkins, Danyelle Dinapoli, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Katie Bevans, Freya Bell, Carys Williams-Morris, Jenny Hesketh.
Brython Thunder: Hannah Lane; Ellie Tromans, Hannah Bluck, Savannah Picton-Powell, Amy Williams; Niamh Terry, Seren Singleton; Stella Orrin, Chloe Gant, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Natalia John (capt), Katie Carr, Finley Jones, Anna Stowell.
Replacements: Lowri Williams, Elan Jones, Emma Powson, Danai Mugabe, Bethan Adkins, Ffion Davies, Gabby Healan, Eleanor Hing.
