On the back of automatically qualifying for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup after their victory against this year’s tournament hosts Ireland, head coach Rowland Phillips has named a squad including some of Wales’ most exciting young talent.
A number of those included were involved in the recent Wales Women U18 Sevens campaign – one which saw them claim their country’s first ever team medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Among the players to win bronze in the Bahamas over the summer was Lleucu George, the 17-year-old who went on to become the youngest player to feature at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup when she made her debut against New Zealand.
Phillips has also retained an experienced core of players to take Wales through to the next World Cup in four years’ time, but says there is a lot of rugby to be played before then.
“We’ve been keeping a keen eye on the next generation of players coming through the system, whilst also being in a good situation where we have a lot of young but experienced international players,” he says. “The achievement of the team in the Commonwealth Youth Games was fantastic, giving many of these girls invaluable competition experience. The Women’s Six Nations and the Commonwealth Games will be with us before we know it, so there is a lot of work to do and a lot to look forward to as well.”
The new training squad will convene for the first time this Wednesday at the National Centre of Excellence, where Phillips and his assistant coaches, Nick Wakley and Paul Young, will set out their expectations for the coming seasons.
A number of players in the squad will be part of a Wales Women Development side to take on the UK Armed Forces at the Cardiff Arms Park on Wednesday 8th November for the exciting Remembrance Rugby fixture.
Wales Women training squad:
Abbie Flemming; Alecs Donovan; Alisha Butchers; Amy Evans; Amy Morgan; Amy Thomas; Angharad Desmet; Beth Harriett Jones; Beth Lewis; Cara Hope; Caryl Thomas; Carys Phillips; Cerys Hale; Charlie Murray; Dyddgu Hywel; Elinor Isaacs; Elinor Snowsill; Ffion Lewis; Gemma Rowland; Gwen Crabb; Gwenllian Pyrs; Hannah Bluck; Hannah Jones; India Berbillion; Jasmine Joyce; Jessica Kavanagh-Williams; Jodie Evans; Katie Jenkins; Katie Thicker; Kayleigh Powell; Keira Bevan; Kelsey Jones; Kerin Lake; Laurie Harries; Liliana Podpadec; Lleucu George; Lucy Packer; Megan York; Mel Clay; Morfudd Ifans; Natalia John; Nia Elen Davies; Philippa Tuttiett; Rebecca de Filippo; Rhian Noakes; Rhi Parker; Robyn Wilkins; Shona Powell-Huges; Sian Moore; Sian Williams; Sinead Breeze; Sioned Harries; Siwan Lillicrap.
