Two Valkyries players have been included in Wales 34-strong for this season’s Six Nations.
Back row forwards Sioned Harries and Alex Callender are both recent recruits from Scarlets with Callender, 18, in line to make her senior international debut. Callender is one of six uncapped players in the squad announced by Wales Head Coach Rowland Phillips.
Phillips said, “The overarching aim is to get to the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup with a young but experience squad. You already have the likes of Alisha Butchers who at 21 has 20 caps and Beth Lewis who was one of the outstanding players during the autumn already has already got eight caps aged 19.
“It was pretty clear that we stepped things up in the autumn and made significant progress against quality teams. We still have lot of work to do but for us this season the key is to continue to build momentum from a positive autumn campaign.
“That is supported by the consistency in this squad selection and the confidence we’ve shown in the autumn squad. We stated that for the November series, players had to buy into the regional programme to be eligilbe for selection. Moving into the Six Nations we felt it was important to add depth at 10 and we will no doubt benefit from Elinor Snowsill’s experience.”
“We have a lot of talent coming into the pathway who have years of experience playing the game having started at a young age, while others have transferred their skills from other sports. There are a number of routes to get there but this young squad are showing an impressive level of commitment to the programme.”
Wales Women will return to Cardiff Arms Park for their home Six Nations fixtures with Tests – against England and Ireland – taking place on the Sunday of the Guinness Six Nations weekends. Both games will be televised by S4C along with their opening fixture against France in Montpellier (Saturday 2 Feb).
Wales Women Six Nations squad:
Forwards
Carys Phillips (capt, Ospreys), Alex Callender (Valkyries), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Bethan Lewis (Ospreys), Brea Leung (RGC), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Caryl Thomas (Dragons),
Cerys Hale (Dragons), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC), Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Manon Johnes (Cardiff Blues), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Molly Kelly (RGC), Natalia John (Ospreys),
Sioned Harries (Valkyries), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
Backs
Alecs Donovan (Ospreys), Alicia McComish (Dragons), Bethan Davies (RGC), Caitlin Lewis (Scarlets), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets), Hannah Bluck (Dragons), Hannah Jones (Scarlets)
Jazz Joyce (Scarlets), Jess Kavanagh (RGC), Keira Bevan (Ospreys), Lauren Smyth (Ospreys), Lisa Neumann (RGC), Lleucu George (Scarlets), Niamh Terry (RGC), Robyn Wilkins (Cardiff Blues)
Wales Women Six Nations fixtures:
France Women v Wales Sat 2 Feb 8pm GMT GGL Stadium, Montpellier
Italy Women v Wales Sat 9 Feb 7pm GMT Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, Lecce
Wales Women v England, Sunday 24 Feb, 12,30pm, Cardiff Arms Park
Scotland Women v Wales, Fri 8 March, 7.35pm Scotstoun Stadium Glasgow
Wales Women v Ireland, Sunday 17 March 1.30pm Cardiff Arms Park