MAE THE FORCE

'Devastating' ball-carrier is loving life with Lightning

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'THE GIRLS PUSH ME': Loughborough Lightning's Mae Sagapolu in action against Harlequins and, inset taking the game to Australia Wallaroos while representing the USA this summer

"FRIGHTENING and devastating" was how Loughborough Lightning head coach Nathan Smith described Mae Sagapolu’s ball-carrying ability when her signature was confirmed in June.

Given how the USA international has taken to life in an African violet shirt, Smith cannot be accused of exaggerating.

The 25-year-old has brought carnage into the carry and devastation to the defence of a Lightning side that head into their bye week where they want to be - in the Premiership Women's Rugby top four.

Sagapolu’s geographical leap was not a seismic one, as she swapped one East Midlands Premiership Women’s Rugby club for another.

But since ending her time with Leicester Tigers and playing her part in the Rugby World Cup for the Eagles, the 19 times-capped forward is relishing an environment that is pushing her game to new levels.

“It is a group of hardworking women that just want to win,” she said after her team's 33-33 draw with Exeter Chiefs last weekend.