Lightning and Thunder name teams for play-off hunt

Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder have named their sides for round nine of the Celtic Challenge as the hunt for a play-off place gathers pace.

Lightning, whose hopes for a home semi-final were dealt a blow with defeat by Glasgow last weekend, make three changes for the visit of league leaders Wolfhounds.

Victory at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday (13:00 GMT) would ensure a top-four finish with just one round remaining.

Experienced Wales forwards Bethan Lewis and Abbie Fleming have been drafted in from their Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) clubs to make their Celtic Challenge debuts.

Number eight Gwennan Hopkins will make her first Lightning start of the season, with fellow Wales internationals Molly Reardon and Catherine Richards named as co-captains in the absence of injured skipper Bryonie King.

Wales scrum-half Sian Jones is also called up to partner fly-half Carys Hughes.

Thunder stunned reigning champions Wolfhounds with victory in Llanelli last weekend as they make a late push for the play-offs.

They travel to Scotstoun Stadium to take on Glasgow (13:00 GMT) knowing victory would see them leapfrog the Scottish side into fourth.

Wales captain Kate Williams and fellow internationals Lisa Neumann and Courtney Keight again feature as Thunder look to extend their three-match winning streak.

Gwen Crabb captains the side and partners fellow Wales lock Natalia John.

Wales Under-20s hooker Shanelle Williams comes into the front row alongside props Stella Orrin and Elan Jones.

Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin said: "We have been in the play-off places all season and we know what we have to do to qualify and secure our place in the semi-finals.

"The reigning champions, Wolfhounds, will provide us with a real challenge but this is all about how we perform and prove our quality in the run in for the play-offs.

"The experience of Wales internationals Kate Williams, Abbie Fleming and Gwennan Hopkins will give us a real boost against the best side in the Celtic Challenge."

Thunder head coach Ashley Beck said: "We have built some real momentum with our last three wins and travel with real confidence to face Glasgow.

"Glasgow are a place ahead of us in the table and have two more points than us and a victory would keep our play-off ambitions alive.

"The players know they can compete and beat the best in the Celtic Challenge, but we also recognise that we need to focus on our performance against Glasgow."

Gwalia Lightning team (v Wolfhounds)

N Prothero; C Richards, K Webster, M Anderson-Thomas, C Lewis; C Hughes, S Jones; J Scoble, M Reardon, E Hill, A Pyrs, C Pearce, B Lewis, A Owen, G Hopkins

Replacements: F Korsak, C Thomas Bradley, C Cuming, A Fleming, C Stewart, I Shide, L Hawkins, C Greenway

Brython Thunder team (v Glasgow Warriors)

L Neumann; M Evans, M Wilkinson, C Keight, S Singleton; H Marshall, S Lockwood; S Orrin, S Williams, E Jones, G Crabb, N John, K Williams, L Isaac, B Metcalfe

Replacements: R Bowden, L Williams, A Watkins, R Davies, F Jones, J Rogers, F Davies, E Tromans