Callender in Wales' World Cup squad despite injury
Co-captain Alex Callender is included in Wales' Rugby World Cup squad despite suffering a concerning ankle injury earlier this month.The star back row limped off just four minutes into the second Test against Australia on 1 August before returning to the side line in a boot and on crutches.Head coach Sean Lynn has included all 30 players he took on the summer tour, along with experienced centre Kerin Lake and uncapped Wales Under-20 captain Branwen Metcalfe. Kate Williams will share captaincy duties with Callender as she did in Australia, but the Wales camp has yet to confirm if Callender will be fit for the team's opener against Scotland in Manchester on 23 August.
Wales' other Pool B matches sees them take on the second best team in the world in Canada at the same venue on 30 August, before travelling down to Exeter's Sandy Park a week later for a reunion with former head coach Ioan Cunningham, who is now in charge of Fiji.The top two teams in each of the four pools progress to the knock-out stages, with the final hosted by Allianz Stadium on 27 September.
Metcalfe, 18, is the younger sister of Wales full-back Nel Metcalfe and one of two pairs of sisters, along with prop Gwenllian Pyrs and lock Alaw Pyrs, to be selected in the squad. All four players began their playing careers at Clwb Rygbi Nant Conwy.Wales hooker Carys Phillips is set to play in her fourth World Cup, while it will be a third outing for Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Lleucu George, Kelsey Jones, Keira Bevan and Gwenllian Pyrs. It will be a first major tournament experience for Seren Lockwood, Katherine Baverstock and Tilly Vucaj, who all won their first caps in Australia.Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Alaw Pyrs, Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Nel Metcalfe, Jenni Scoble, Catherine Richards, Bryonie King and Meg Davies will also make their World Cup debuts.There is no place in the squad for Natalia John, Hannah Bluck, Jenny Hesketh, Sian Jones or Robyn Wilkins, some due to injury.
"The Wales squad selected is a mix of experience and exciting young talent that have all proved they deserve the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of a World Cup," said Lynn. "As coaches, there were some tough calls on selection but this is the strongest squad we could have selected and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead of us. "For players, coaches and staff, this promises to be the pinnacle of all our careers and one that we are relishing. We know we are representing a proud rugby nation and we are determined to do the nation proud."
Wales squad
ForwardsKatherine Baverstock (Leicester Tigers), Maisie Davies (Bristol Bears), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Donna Rose (Saracens), Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Carys Phillips (Harlequins), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Alex Callender (Harlequins), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Abbie Fleming (Harlequins), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), Alaw Pyrs (Gloucester-Hartpury), Tilly Vucaj (Gwalia Lightning), Kate Williams (Gloucester-Hartpury), Branwen Metcalfe (Hartpury College)BacksKeira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Meg Davies (Gloucester-Hartpury), Seren Lockwood (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins), Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), Hannah Dallavalle (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning), Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks), Jasmine Joyce-Butchers (Bristol Bears), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lisa Neumann (Harlequins), Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning)
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