USA EAGLES STAR ALEV KELTER SIGNS FOR LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

Loughborough Lightning have swooped to sign USA Eagles star Alev Kelter ahead of the 2024-25 Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby season.

Kelter recently became the first American woman and fifth player in World Rugby Sevens Series history to reach the 1,000-point career benchmark.

In her long and decorated career, the 33-year-old has appeared in two 15-a-side Rugby World Cups and two Olympic Games, and is expected to appear in a third in Paris this summer.

The talented centre, who can also play on the wings and at fullback, will be embarking upon her second spell in the top flight of English women's rugby having played for Saracens during the 2022/23 season.

“I’m excited to continue my 15s journey with Loughborough,” said Kelter. “They have a massive amount of talent and I’m grateful to have another opportunity to play in Premiership Women’s Rugby.

“I’m pumped to be running around with them in the African Violet.”

Kelter is Lightning’s first summer signing to be announced ahead of next season, with others to follow in the coming weeks.

Head coach Nathan Smith, who has already retained the likes of Sadia Kabeya, Rachel Malcolm and Bo Westcombe-Evans on contract extensions, is excited to add international quality to his squad.

He said: “We were really keen to get Alev across the line for a number of reasons. She is a world-class player and she has proven that in Sevens, in international rugby and previously in the PWR for Saracens.

“She is an extremely good ball carrier, a very powerful player but most of all she knows how to win and I want that sort of mindset in the Loughborough environment.

“Alev has the ability to play multiple positions. I think we need to make sure we are not just pushing her into different positions, we have to make sure she is playing in the best position for her so we can get the performance for Lightning.

“We have got a number of internationals within our team and we want to be in a position where we put them in the shop window for their international side. But also we want them to go to the World Cup and be best prepared to perform on the world stage as well.”

Loughborough Lightning season tickets for the 2024/25 season are available now from just £40* for adults and £20* children, click HERE for more information.