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BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales bolster pack to face Italy in 6N finale
Women's Six Nations: Italy v WalesVenue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Date: Sunday, 27 April Kick-off: 11:30 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport online, listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru Wales have made three changes to their pack for the final Six Nations match against Italy in Donna Rose is handed her first start of the campaign having deputised on the bench for rookie Jenni Crabb, a try-scorer in France, is recalled to the second-row having been rested against return sees Georgia Evans revert to number eight in place of Alex Callender, who is among the replacements after returning from injury last coach Sean Lynn admitted the changes were a response to last Sunday's one-sided 40-14 defeat by Ireland in Newport."Ireland's pack really took us at set-piece so we need to address that," he said. "Gwen is a very good set-piece controller in the lineout and I'm hoping Alex will bring energy and composure off the bench when we need it."Wales' head coach has warned his players they must respond to their run of four losses or risk being cut from his World Cup plans. Kayleigh Powell has been ruled out with a hamstring issue so Lleucu George retains the number 10 jersey in an unchanged Wales' backline that includes wing Carys Cox and full-back Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, both in the top six players for metres made in the have scored twice as many points as at the same point in last year's Six Nations but Lynn is demanding more."I'm confident that we're creating chances, however we need to start finishing off those opportunities," he said."I've told the players to be brave in attack but I'm also challenging this backline to finish things off to be able to stay on top." Italian 'emotion' Five of the last six games between Wales and Italy have been decided by four points or less, including last year's last-gasp 22-20 Welsh victory in are chasing a second win of the tournament having beaten Scotland in Edinburgh and pushed Grand Slam chasing France 34-21 last believes there could be a highly-charged atmosphere at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi for a fixture that has been rearranged due to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday."I'm sure there will be a lot of emotion around the game for Italy given what happened and I'm sure they'll also be targeting this home game as a big chance to win," he said."Their driving maul put France under a lot of pressure last week and their back three are very exciting. So we need to be disciplined and defensively organised." Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine TBCReferee: Sara Cox (England).Assistant referees: Maria Latos (Germany) & Alexandra Ferré (France)TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lynn names 37-player Wales squad for Six Nations
Sean Lynn has named a 37-player squad for his opening Women's Six Nations Championship as Wales announced a 48-player training squad ahead of the tournament and has opted for a blend of experience and youth ahead of his side's first match in Scotland on Saturday, 22 March (16:45 GMT).Wales will be without vice captain Alex Callender for the opener against Scotland, while Sisilia Tuipolutu will miss the whole tournament after undergoing hamstring Keira Bevan will also act as vice captain while centre Hannah Jones will continue to lead the side. "This is an exciting and significant moment for the players, coaches and staff, when all the Wales family come together for the forthcoming Women's Six Nations campaign," said Lynn."We have a good mix of the 15 Welsh internationals who featured in the recent Premiership semi-finals and exciting younger players who have stood out for Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge."We all meet up on Monday and it is a short turnaround, but I know we all appreciate what we need to do and the support of the Welsh public."We are all excited about this Six Nations which is part of an exciting year for women's rugby, and we are aware of the challenges ahead of us but it's all about working hard for each other and inspiring the nation."Centre Jones is among the Gloucester-Hartpury contingent who will take on fellow Welsh international Georgia Evans' Saracens in Sunday's Premiership Women's Rugby final. This will be Lynn's final game in charge of King is joined by Lightning team-mates Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs in the national captain Natalia John is joined by prop Rosie Carr and centre Hannah Bluck.A week after their opening game in Edinburgh, Wales host England in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on 29 March and are on course to break their record crowd of 10,592 for a standalone women's rugby fixture in Wales. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) says they having already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the then travel to face France on 12 April before welcoming Ireland eight days side conclude their campaign with a trip to Italy on 26 April. Wales Six Nations squad Forwards: Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Abbey Constable (Leicester Tigers), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Rosie Carr (Brython Thunder), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury), Carys Phillips (Harlequins), Donna Rose (Saracens) Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), Abbie Fleming (Harlequins), Alaw Pyrs (Gwalia Lightning), Natalia John (Brython Thunder), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Kate Williams (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Hartpury), Alex Callender (Harlequins), Gwennan Hopkins (Gwalia Lightning), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears)Backs: Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Sian Jones (Gwalia Lightning), Meg Davies (Gloucester/Hartpury), Ffion Lewis (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury), Lisa Neumann (Harlequins), Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins), Robyn Wilkins (Sale Sharks), Hannah Jones (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury), Hannah Bluck (Brython Thunder), Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning), Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester/Hartpury), Jenny Hesketh (Bristol Bears), Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Callender to miss Wales' Six Nations opener
Wales vice-captain Alex Callender will miss the start of the 2025 Women's Six Nations through back-rower suffered an ankle injury while playing for Harlequins in the Premiership Women's head coach Sean Lynn said Callender will feature in the tournament, but will not be available for selection for the opening match against Scotland on Saturday, 22 March in Edinburgh."Scotland will be too soon, fingers crossed England or France," he take on defending champions England at the Principality Stadium on 29 March before travelling to face France in Brive on 12 injury is a second major blow to Wales who will also be without star prop Sisilia tight-head will miss the entire tournament after having surgery on her hamstring."It's such a shame, but what I've said to Sisiila is make sure that she turns this into a positive. I'm excited for her to come back bigger, fitter and stronger for the World Cup."I think people forget how young she is."
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New Wales boss Lynn names extended Six Nations training squad
New head coach Sean Lynn has named a 48-player training squad ahead of Wales' 2025 Six Nations Gloucester-Hartpury head coach was named as Ioan Cunningham's successor in January and has named an extended training squad around the 15 Welsh internationals who featured in the Women's Premier Rugby Gloucester-Hartpury take on Saracens in the final on 16 March at StoneX Stadium - with the Swansea-born head coach then taking charge of Wales permanently for the Six Bevan and Alex Callender have been appointed as vice-captains to support captain Hannah squad also includes a number of players from the Celtic Challenge's two Welsh sides, Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder."It's exciting to get to name a first Wales training squad and one full of experienced international players, playing well for their clubs and young exciting players who have shone in the Celtic Challenge," said Lynn."To have so many Welsh internationals feature in the PWR semi-finals is a testimony to the players quality and to their performances with their clubs."As coaches we have selected players who have really impressed and put their hands up playing for Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge." The impressive form of Gwalia - who have won five of their seven games and sit third in the league table - has ensured players including Bryonie King, Gwennan Hopkins, Alaw Pyrs, Maisie Davies and Sian Jones feature under Natalia John, Hannah Bluck, Lucy Isaac and Cadi-Lois Davies are also McMullen, Seren Lockwood, Shanelle Williams and Jorja Aiono will join the senior squad from the Under-18s set-up as players of national interest."My rugby philosophy has always been about finding, nurturing and supporting young players and giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential," added Lynn."We have selected a group of young Welsh players from age-grade rugby so the coaches and staff can assess where they are but also so they can experience an international environment and the standards expected at this level."The Celtic Challenge players and the age-grade players are the future Wales family and have been identified because we believe they have talent to make an impact at the highest level now or in the future."Wales begin their Six Nations campaign in Scotland on 22 March before hosting England in Cardiff a week side then travel to France on 12 April before welcoming Ireland to Wales eight days conclude their campaign with a trip to Italy on 26 April. Wales' 48-player extended 2025 Six Nations training squad Forwards: Gwenllian Pyrs, Maisie Davies, Abbey Constable, Stella Orin, Allie Watkins, Meg Lewis, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips, Rosie Carr, Molly Reardon, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Cadi-Lois Davies, Abbie Fleming, Robyn Davies, Georgia Evans, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Lily Terry, Alex Callender, Alisha Butchers, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Gwennan Hopkins, Lucy Isaac, Bryonie KingBacks: Keira Bevan, Sian Jones, Meg Davies, Ffion Lewis, Seren Singleton, Lleucu George, Kayleigh Powell, Robyn Wilkins, Courtney Keight, Hannah Jones (capt), Carys Cox, Kerin Lake, Hannah Bluck, Meg Webb, Savannah Picton-Powell, Nel Metcalfe, Catherine Richards, Lisa Neumann, Jasmine Joyce, Jenny Hesketh, Niamh Terry
