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Canadian flanker Sara Svoboda has signed for Loughborough Lightning. She follows international teammates DaLeaka Menin and Courtney Holtkamp to the Premier 15s club in England.
Svoboda was a standout at the McMaster Marauders, lifting the Monilex Trophy as national university champions in 2015. She played her domestic club rugby for her hometown Belleville Bulldogs.
The 25-year-old is set to make her professional debut on Saturday against Sale Sharks. Svoboda is named on the bench, with Holtkamp starting at lock. Menin, a prop, will miss the season opener but will soon return for her second season with the club.
The Svoboda name is very familiar to Canadian rugby fans. Sara’s twin sister Katie is also capped for the senior women’s team, while younger sister Tia is also a promising player. Father Paul captained Canada’s national rugby league team, and uncle Karl played in Rugby World Cups 1987, 1991, and 1995.
There are now currently eight Canadian internationals signed to play in the Premier 15s, with quartet Olivia DeMerchant, Emily Tuttosi, McKinley Hunt, and Taylor Black at Exeter. Paige Farries signed for Worcester Warriors earlier this year. Several more are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
