Warriors Women have five players selected in Wales’ 37-strong squad for the 2022 TikTok Six Nations, with Sioned Harries the most notable inclusion having not featured for her country since November 2019.
Harries as well as Alex Callender, Caryl Thomas, Fffion Lewis and Carys Phillips are all part of a squad, which gears-up for an opening Six Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday 26 March (kick-off 4.45pm).
WRU Performance Director Nigel Walker reflected on the progress made in the past six months.
“Our aim from the outset has been clear – to create a world class international programme that is competitive on the world stage. We aren’t quite there yet, but huge strides have already been made in a relatively short time.
“With the addition of Lleucu to the group, we now have 24 contracted players training within a professional programme. The environment we are creating around them will continue to evolve to a situation where the players will have everything elite athletes need to perform at the highest level. There will be further appointments in the coming weeks to support this.
“In terms of the pathway, the Under 18 regional and international set-up is established with Liza Burgess and her newly appointed coaching team preparing a squad for a new Under 18 Six Nations festival in Edinburgh next month and plans are underway to get the Under 20 pathway in place ready for next season.
“Below that, the community team have increased opportunities for girls both in education and within the Female Hubs around Wales – alongside WRU development centres to identify and nurture talent.
“A strategy group is meeting regularly to develop a women and girls’ strategy and we will update further on that in due course.
“We won’t rest while changes need to be made but we are satisfied with the sustainable measures we have put in place.”
Wales Women TikTok Six Nations squad
Forwards
Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Bristol Bears), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears), Alex Callender (Worcester Warriors), Gwen Crabb (Glouecster-Hartpury), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kat Evans (Saracens), Abbie Fleming (Exeter Chiefs), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sioned Harries (Worcester Warriors), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), Liliana Podpadec (Llandaff North), Carys Phillips (Worcester Warriors), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Donna Rose (Saracens), Jenni Scoble (Llandaff North), Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Backs
Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Hennessy (Cheltenham Tigers), Hannah Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Caitlin Lewis (Exeter Chiefs), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ffion Lewis (Worcester Warriors), Lisa Neumann (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lowri Norkett (Pontyclun), Kayleigh Powell (Bristol Bears), Gemma Rowland (Wasps), Emma Swords (Harlequins), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Niamh Terry (Exeter Chiefs), Robyn Wilkins (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Wales Women TikTok Six Nations
Sat 26 March 4.45pm Ireland Women v Wales RDS BBC 2NI
Sat 2 April 4.45pm Wales Women v Scotland Cardiff Arms Park BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales
Sat 9 April 4.45pm England Women v Wales (venue tbc) BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales
Fri 22 April 8pm Wales Women v France Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayer
Sat 30 April 12 noon Wales Women v Italy Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayer
Go to wru.wales/w6n to watch Wales Women at home in the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations