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Tuipulotu returns for Wales' Tests in Australia

Tuipulotu returns for Wales' Tests in Australia

BBC News08-07-2025
Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu returns to the Wales squad for a two-Test series in Australia this summer, having missed this year's Six Nations following surgery on a hamstring injury.Wales head coach Sean Lynn has also included three uncapped players in a 30-player squad to face the Wallaroos in Brisbane on Saturday, 26 July and in Sydney on Friday, 1 August.Scrum-half Seren Lockwood, prop Katherine Baverstock and lock Tilly Vucaj are in line to make senior debuts having played for Wales U18s and U20s."Having Sisilia back and raring to go is a real boost for all the squad, coaches and staff," said Lynn."Seren, Katherine and Tilly really deserve their selection in the squad and have impressed us all with their rugby potential and attitude during pre-season."These are the 30 players who have impressed throughout our summer training camp, and they fully deserve selection for what we know will be an exciting but tough challenge against Australia."
Centre Kerin Lake (shoulder), lock Natalia John (calf) and centre Hannah Bluck (shoulder) were not considered for selection and will remain in Wales to continue their return to fitness.Wales begin their World Cup campaign just three weeks after the second Test in Australia, with an opening game against Scotland at the Salford Community Stadium on Saturday, 23 August (14:45 BST).They take on Canada at the same venue a week later (12:00 BST) before rounding off their Pool B schedule against Fiji at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, 6 September (14:45 BST).Wales finished bottom of the 2025 Six Nations for the second year running and Lynn - who took over as Wales head coach at the start of the year - says the squad travelling to Australia have something to prove."All those selected have worked hard in pre-season and understand that we need to change and have an opportunity to show what they can do ahead of RWC 2025," he said."There are still World Cup places to play for and having coached against Jo Yapp, the Wallaroos coach, before at club level, we know her team will be well prepared and provide us with two tough and physical Test matches."
Wales squad
Forwards:Katherine Baverstock, Maisie Davies, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips, Molly Reardon, Alex Callender (co-capt), Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Abbie Fleming, Bryonie King, Bethan Lewis , Alaw Pyrs, Tilly Vucaj, Kate Williams (co-capt).Backs:Keira Bevan, Meg Davies, Seren Lockwood, Lleucu George, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox, Hannah Jones, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce, Nel Metcalfe, Lisa Neumann, Catherine Richards.
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