Scrum-half Maude re-signs with Loughborough Lightning after first full season in 15s

Alicia Maude has signed a new deal with Loughborough Lightning, the Premiership Women’s Rugby club confirmed, after the 24-year-old scrum-half made herself a first-team regular across all 16 league matches in 2025/26 — the first full fifteens season of her senior career.

Maude had spent the bulk of her career as a rugby sevens specialist, making only two Lightning appearances in 2024/25 while balancing commitments with GB Sevens. Her decision to step away from the full-time sevens programme ahead of the 2025/26 campaign proved decisive, with head coach Nathan Smith’s side finishing sixth in the PWR table.

“This has been my first proper season back playing 15s,” Maude said. “I’ve spent a few years playing sevens, so I’ve enjoyed getting back into swinging things. It’s been a learning curve at times and easing myself back into the way things are done on a 15s pitch, but I’ve absolutely loved playing every week in competitive and tight games.”

Maude acknowledged the tactical adjustment required in the longer format. “I’m used to sevens being a very quick pace, and trying anything from anywhere, whereas I’m learning to be a bit more patient. The game time I’ve had has been very enjoyable this year; it has challenged my game awareness and game management.”

Smith was encouraged by what he saw across the season, particularly in its opening months. “Lis made a big decision at the start of the 2025/26 season to step away from the full-time sevens programme and commit to her 15s career,” he said. “I think we have seen the best of Lis because of that commitment, especially in the first half of the season. She has retained her instinct in attack and willingness to find space on the pitch from her time in Sevens, and has really grown as a 15s player during the course of the season.”

Smith added that competition for the scrum-half berth remains fierce at the club, framing Maude’s continued development as a key subplot heading into next season. Maude herself is focused on building on the platform her debut full campaign has provided.