Captained by Flanker Mel Berry, the squad contains a mix of experience and youth with 15 uncapped players and 11 players still eligible for Under 19s.
Experience comes in the form of 68-times capped Louise Rickard, second row Claire Donovan and Flanker Kylie Wilson, who will be an ideal role models for the youngsters of the tour.
All three Under 19 scrum halves have been selected including last year’s Welsh Under 16 Captain Beth Gallacher. Under 19 hooker, Sophie Williams is expected to be fit after struggling this season with a knee injury. Experienced Senior prop Catrin Edwards is joined by Megan York who only received her first U19 cap last month in the victory over England U19s.
The squad fly out on the 22nd to Johannesburg before spending a week in Port Elizabeth and a week in Pretoria. They will play two provincial games and two tests against the Springboks, with the final test at the famous Loftus Securicor Stadium in Pretoria on the 5th June.
Head coach Phil John commented, “The coaching team are really looking forward to working with the squad. The training schedule will be intense and we are looking to see progress in all areas.
The team spirit this season has been second to none and I have no hesitation about throwing some of the youngsters into the senior setup. It is a positive environment to be in and I hope that they will thrive.”
FORWARDS:
LOUISE HORGAN
AMY BROADSTOCK
CATRIN EDWARDS
MEGAN YORK
JENNY DAVIES
NICOLA JOHN
SOPHIE WILLIAMS
AYLA ROSE
KATH FOALE
BECKY DANDO
CLAIRE DONOVAN
MEL BERRY (TOUR CAPTAIN)
KYLIE WILSON
ZOE EATON
ESTHER ECKLEY
CATRINA NICHOLAS
EIRLYS LOUGHER
EMMA PHILLIPS
BACKS:
BETH GALLACHER
AMY DAY
BECKY DAVIES
PAULA MULLEN
STACEY SAUNDERS
AWEN THOMAS
MANON WILLIAMS
HAYLEY BAXTER
JESS KIDLEY
GEMMA WILLIAMS
HANNAH SZIGETVARI
ELEN EVANS
CHERYL TYLER
LOUISE RICKARD
LOWRI JONES
PHILIPPA TUTTIET
LUCY BERRY
