AFTER the autumn internationals and the recent Six Nations campaign, Wales' women's team coaches John Williams and Anthony Robbins have selected their squad of 26 to represent the nation in the Women's World Cup in Barcelona next month.
Led by the youngest captain in the competition, 20-year-old Melissa Berry, Wales will face Australia in their opening match at the Santboiana Stadium on May 13.
The squad has a good mix of youth and experience. The former comes in the shape of UWICs Hayley Baxter, Naomi Thomas and Kerry Jenkins with the likes of the world's most capped player Liza Burgess and Louise Rickard providing the experience.
As always there is a player who makes a late run for the squad and this has come in the shape of Sam Mason. The 19-year-old UWIC prop impressed with the Wales U19 squad enough to book her ticket to Spain where she will look to put pressure on fellow front rowers Dawn Mason and Catrin Edwards.
Hooker Jamie Kift has recovered from a knee ligament injury to take her place in the squad following two months out and with eight fellow Clifton team-mates including Jackie Morgan, April Dent, Pip Minto and Clare Flowers in the squad, the new English cup holders will have a strong representation in Barcelona.
Coach Williams has chosen three scrum halves in the shape of Jenkins, Walkley and Owens and with all three having started a Six Nations game they will be looking to impress in training in order to get that number nine shirt for the opening match. With the opening match involving the 8th and 9th ranked teams, Wales must win in order to progress to the latter stages.
If successful, they are likely to face New Zealand in the second round on Friday. May 17. SQUAD: H Baxter, M Berry. L Burgess, A Dent, C Donovan, C Edwards, C Flowers, S Grainger, K Jenkins, K Jones, S Jones, J Kift, K Lenaghan, D Mason, S Mason, K Mayze, P Minto, J Morgan, R Owens, A Phillips, L Rickard, A Thomas, N Thomas, C Walkley, R Wilmot, K Wilson.
*PICTURED: From left Wales' Rhian Wilmott, Liza Burgess and Dawn Mason.
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