With 22 international caps to her name, Nelson joins Loughborough Lightning from Montpellier Rugby who won the 2018/19 French Elite title, their sixth championship win in seven years.
Making her first senior International start in 2016 against Spain, Nelson became a regular starter in the Scotland starting line-up, notably scoring eight points against Ireland in their first away win in the 2018 Six Nations Championship.
Alongside Nelson, Scottish forwards Rachel Malcolm and Sarah Bonar return to Lightning for the upcoming season.
Scotland scrum-half Jenny Maxwell and Winger Rhona Lloyd have also signed for another year, after helping Scotland Women’s 7’s Rugby finish in 5th place in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series and secure a place in the 2020 World Series Qualifiers.
Speaking about the new signings, Head Coach Rhys Edwards said:
“I am really excited about Helen Nelson joining us, her international experience being the Scotland 7’s captain and being able to play both fly-half and centre will only enhance our squad.
"She is a player of a fantastic calibre and this was just highlighted in her stand-out performances in the Six Nations for Scotland. Having played for Montpelier in France she is used to playing in a tough and physical league, which is brilliant preparation for the TP15’s."Having Helen join the backline of Lightning between Katy Daley-Mclean and Emily Scarratt is going to add real value to us and I’m really excited to see her play.”
Lightning start their 2019/20 Tyrrells Premier 15s season on Saturday 21st September against DMP Sharks. Get your tickets to see Lightning here.