Wales coach Ioan Cunningham has named a 37-strong squad for the upcoming TikTok Women's Six Nations which includes six uncapped players.
No. 8 Siwan Lillicrap captains the group while fellow back-rower Sioned Harries is also named after an impressive cameo in Wales' friendly against USA Falcons last weekend, which marked her return to the Wales set-up for the first time since November 2019. Full-back Kayleigh Powell, centre Gemma Rowland and hooker Kelsey Jones are involved having missed large parts of last year due to injury.
The uncapped sextet are Gloucester-Hartpury second-row Sisilia Tuipulotu, Pontyclun centre Lowri Norkett, who made her Wales rugby union debut at the weekend, Llandaff North duo Liliana Podpadec and Jenni Scoble, Cheltenham Tigers wing Emma Hennessy and Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords. They all featured for Wales in their pre-Six Nations warm-up.
Gloucester-Hartpury outside-half Lleucu George, whose last cap was against England in March 2020, also features amid the announcement she has accepted the latest part-time retainer/semi-professional WRU contract. It takes the number of contracted Wales Women players to 24: 12 full-time professionals and 12 part-time semi-professionals.
Wales boss Cunningham said: "The game against USA Falcons on Saturday was a great exercise ahead of squad selection, and we are pleased with the strength in depth within the squad given the tough challenge that is the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations. To start with Ireland away, Scotland at home and then the world champions England on their own turf over three consecutive weekend will certainly test us but also give us the chance to develop as individuals and as a group and we are relishing the challenge.
"Kayleigh Powell and Sisilia Tuipulotu have been excellent additions to the group since taking up retainer contracts, they have continued to progress in that time and we are excited to see how they go in the Six Nations. We are pleased Lleucu has accepted a retainer contract. Her skills and potential are huge and with the Rugby World Cup around the corner, the additional contact time will help her to progress on all levels.
"In terms of the uncapped players, centre Lowri Norkett has made a positive impact in training and against the USA while Emma Swords is a very smart scrum-half we’ve been following at Harlequins for a while and we like what she brings to the environment. Emma Hennessy shows some real exciting attacking ability on the wing, and bringing her into the environment will only help her get better. Jenni Scoble and Liliana have been excellent for Llandaff North, they are both great athletes in their respective positions (prop and lock). It’s great to have Kelsey and Gemma back and to have Sioned on board with her experience will be a huge asset."
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WRU performance director Nigel Walker has reiterated his aim since coming into the role last year to create a world-class international programme for Wales Women which is competitive on the world stage.
"We aren’t quite there yet but huge strides have already been made in a relatively short time," he said. "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 are preparing a squad for a new Under 18 Six Nations festival in Edinburgh next month and plans are under way 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 Women's 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), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Caitlin Lewis (Exeter Chiefs), 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' fixtures, kick-off times and TV details in Women's Six Nations
Ireland v Wales, Saturday, March 26, 4.45pm, BBC2 NI
Wales v Scotland, Saturday, April 2, 4.45pm, Cardiff Arms Park, BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales
England v Wales, Saturday, April 9, 4.45pm, venue TBC, BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales
Wales v France, Friday, April 22, 8pm, Cardiff Arms Park, S4C and BBC iPlayer
Wales v Italy, Saturday, April 30, 12pm, Cardiff Arms Park, S4C and BBC iPlayer
- Fans can go to wru.wales/w6n to get tickets to watch Wales Women at home in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations
