By her own admission, the 24/25 PWR season has been ‘up and down’ for Sharks fly-half Lizzie Duffy after an ankle injury ruled her out of the campaign’s early exchanges. But now fit again, and taking on the role of co-captain, the 21-year-old is determined to build on the positives from last week’s narrow defeat to Exeter, and lead her team to a first win of the season in the opening match of a historic double-header.

“We’re really excited about the game against Leicester on Sunday and the chance to play in the club’s first double-header,” she said. “I was injured but the girls played at the Salford Stadium last season against Ealing and it was amazing. There’s a bigger crowd, bigger pitch, the turf is like a carpet and that’s the kind of stage you want to play on.

“Leicester are a new team but we’ve played them a couple of times and we know what to expect. They’ve got some really big name international players but our focus is on us and making sure we enjoy and relish the environment and the occasion….and come out with the win.

“I had a four week injury that I picked up right before our first game of the season but I’m getting up to speed and it feels great. Last season was really tough, not playing because of injury, but I’ve loved getting back involved with the group again. Now we all want that first win.

“For us, it’s about our performance. We want the full five points.”

Lizzie started last week as Rachel Taylor’s team pushed high-flying Exeter Chiefs close, eventually slipping to a 19-29 defeat. But despite the result, Lizzie says there were plenty of positives to take into this week’s game.

“It was a top of the table side against a bottom of the table side, but it didn’t feel that way,” she says. “We scored first, which was massive, but then I felt like we let it slip as we approached half time.

“We made it hard for them and we didn’t give them easy wins and we made that last the full 80 minutes. It was big for proving to ourselves and to the people watching that we’re in this competition and we can take on the big teams.

“We had a lot of injuries last year and we’ve had our fair share this season too. Losing players like Moz (Morwenna Talling) and Georgie (Perris-Redding) was big on and off the pitch because they’re real leaders for us. That’s when you need people in the squad to put their hand up and take charge and do a job.

“I think last week, from 1-23 that’s what we did.

“Being co-captain won’t change too much. I’m still going to manage the game in the same way I do every week. It might just change how much I’m in the ref’s ear. I’m only 21 and I haven’t had loads of experience, but I’m learning to manage the referees. I’ve had captaincy roles in England U20s and I’m looking forward to the responsibility.”

Lizzie’s Sale Sharks Women kick off a historic day for the whole club on Sunday, when they take the field for the first part of a double-header. Alex Sanderson’s men follow at 3.15pm and Lizzie says being part of such a huge day shows what makes Sale Sharks so special.

“The men have been in to coach us, we try and watch their games and it really does feel like we have their support. It’s genuinely one club and a day like this is our chance to showcase that.

“We’re coming off a few losses and they’re coming off a disappointing result in their last Premiership game so it would be brilliant to put on a show and get two wins on Sunday.”

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