Bo Westcombe Evans Eyes England Six Nations Spot After Injury Return

Bo Westcombe Evans, the Loughborough Lightning winger, is working toward securing a starting position with the England Red Roses following a comprehensive recovery from a long-term injury.

The 23-year-old’s journey back to the pitch followed a devastating ACL rupture in October 2024. The injury occurred at a pivotal moment in her career, coming shortly after she had earned her first senior international caps during England’s successful WXV 1 campaign in Canada, where she became Red Rose #264.

The road to recovery

The recovery process spanned nearly a year and represented the most significant physical challenge of Westcombe Evans’ career. Before the ACL rupture, her longest period away from the game due to injury had been only a few weeks, meaning she had never previously undergone a rigorous rehabilitation program.

During her time on the sidelines, Westcombe Evans focused on developing resilience and learning to manage her intensity. She noted that she typically operates at 100 miles per hour all the time, and the injury forced her to take a step back, listen to her body, and reflect on the meaning of rugby in her life.

Westcombe Evans first returned to competitive action on September 5, 2025, appearing for Loughborough Lightning in a PWR: The Cup Round 3 match against Saracens, where she wore the number 11 shirt.

A full-circle return at The Stoop

Her return to Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) league action took place during the opening round of the 2025/26 season in a match against Harlequins. The fixture was particularly symbolic, as it was held at The Stoop—the exact venue where she had suffered the ACL rupture exactly 365 days earlier.

Westcombe Evans marked her return to the league by scoring a try just 11 minutes after entering the pitch. She described the experience as amazing and noted that she had been waiting for that specific moment for a year.

It has been very tough. I’ve had a couple setbacks along the way, which made it even harder, but it makes coming out here just even better, and especially coming back to The Stoop where I ruptured my ACL and being able to walk off the pitch in one piece is great.

Bo Westcombe Evans

The winger admitted that the location of the match was on her radar, stating that returning to the site of her injury made her want to play even more to get that bad, negative energy out the way.

Career trajectory and statistics

Westcombe Evans has a history of prolific scoring since entering the senior game. She made her debut as a teenager in October 2021 in a match against Sale Sharks.

Reporting from the Leicester Mercury indicates that she has scored 31 tries in 45 appearances for the African Violets. Her form during the 2023/24 campaign was especially notable, as she scored 14 tries in 20 matches, a performance that forced her way into the England squad for the WXV 1 tournament in autumn 2024.

Personal interests and future goals

Beyond her athletic achievements, the winger is named after an ancient tribal queen and is a fan of war films.

Now fully recovered, Westcombe Evans has set clear objectives for the remainder of her current campaign and her international career. These goals include:

• Helping Loughborough Lightning secure a place in the PWR top four.
• Regaining her place within the England Red Roses squad.
• Securing a starting spot in the Six Nations.