Head coach Rowland Phillips has selected an intriguing line-up for the fixture – which raises money for the Royal British Legion – including naming his World Cup flanker Lleucu George at fly-half. The 17-year-old was the youngest player to feature in the tournament in Ireland this year, and her all-round game has given the coaches much food for thought.
“After the World Cup, we discussed individual players and it was felt that, with Lleucu’s skillset, we could develop her into a fly-half,” explained Phillips. “Tomorrow’s game will be a big step up for her, but it’s a statement about where we’re taking this team.
“Every unit in the side is either inexperienced or contains a new player. Of course, we need some continuity from the World Cup in order to have some shape on the field, but the focus now is on long-term development going through to the next World Cup.”
Among those new players are openside Bethan Lewis – who impressed in captaining the Wales Women U18 Sevens team in the summer – lock Natalia John, wing Hannah Bluck and centre Alecs Donovan.
“There will be a lot of motivation for UKAF, what with this being a Remembrance fixture, and in light of last year’s result they’ll have an added incentive,” said Phillips. “We’re coming into this game from a different place compared to last year, when we wanted to lay down a marker for the players and coaching staff. Now, the way we’ve approaching this game is from a development perspective.”
Phillips underlined how much his team respects the fixture: “We’re honoured that we can play a part in Remembrance. We also know what UKAF will bring on Wednesday evening: they are going to be physical, and our new players who have been given this chance to experience next-level rugby are going to have to step up to the occasion.”
Twenty of the players recently named in Wales’ 2017/18 training squad are under 21 years of age – many between 17 and 18. “They’re coming into an environment where they just want to learn, and our responsibility as coaches is to maximise their learning and potential,” Phillips said.
Tickets for the Wales Women Development v UK Armed Forces match can be purchased on the gate (£5 adults/£1 U16s).
Wales Women Development
15 Jodie Evans
14 Hannah Bluck
13 Alecs Donovan
12 Kerin Lake
11 Jess Kavanagh-Williams
10 Lleucu George
9 Keira Bevan
1 Gwenllian Pyrs
2 Carys Phillips (c)
3 Amy Evans
4 Natalia John
5 Mel Clay
6 Alisha Butchers
7 Bethan Lewis
8 Siwan Lillicrap
Replacements
16 Kelsey Jones
17 Cara Hope
18 Cerys Hale
19 Abbie Flemming
20 Nia Elen Davies
21 Sioned Harries
22 Rhiannon Parker
23 Robyn Wilkins
24 Rhiannon Nokes
25 Bethan Harriet Jones
