We have recently received the exciting news that we will be sponsoring two Loughborough Lightning athletes in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s, the elite women’s rugby competition.
Loughborough Lightning continues to be the number one
Loughborough Lightning continues to be the number one Women’s Premiership Rugby side in the East Midlands. The team boasts a wealth of talent including international players Sarah Hunter MBE and Helen Nelson; both of which we will have the pleasure of sponsoring this season.
So why are a tech company sponsoring a women’s rugby team I hear you ask? Well firstly as a company we love the sport. But secondly, and most importantly, both women in tech and women’s rugby are still massively underrepresented. We plan to work the players to get our voices heard and inspire younger generations about the many different opportunities available in both STEM roles and women’s sports.
About Helen Nelson
Nelson was called up to join Scotland back in 2016 for the Six Nations match against France at Broadwood Stadium. She was awarded player of the match in the first Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Spain at Scotstoun Stadium in November 2016. Nelson scored eight points, one try and a penalty, in Scotland’s first away Six Nations victory in the 2018 championship against Ireland. She was named as one of eight ‘2021’ contracted players by Scottish Rugby ahead of the 2018/19 season moving from Murrayfield Wanderers to French Top 8 club, Montpellier.
Born in Inverness, she first played rugby at the age of six at Lochaber Rugby Club. More recently she was part of the successful Murrayfield Wanderers team who won the 2016/17 league and cup double. While studying Geophysics and Meteorology at Edinburgh University, she played for the university alongside Murrayfield Wanderers. Helen now plays for Premier 15 side Loughborough Lightning.
About Sarah Hunter MBE
An MBE for Services to Rugby and becoming the 2016 Rugby Women’s Player of the Year have duly rewarded Sarah Hunter for her skill, dedication, determination and persistence to become the second most-capped England Women’s player of all time.
Hunter led the England team to victory in the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and won her hundredth cap in November 2017 as England played Canada in the semi-finals of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. As of April 2021, Hunter is the second most capped England Player of all time.
Her Rugby hero is Richard Hill and she has the following match day superstitions:
1) Always eats a peanut butter and jam sandwich 3 hours before kick-off
2) Always has her warrior keyring on her match bag
3) Always packs her bag the night before a match
We are so proud to be sponsoring these two incredible athletes and role models and are very excited for the season ahead! #LetsGo