Ioan Cunningham’s squad finished third last season behind Grand Slam England and France after picking up wins over Ireland and Scotland in their opening two games. They start with the same two sides this year, although the fixtures are reversed.
Both fixtures last year saw Wales pick up bonus-points and Cunningham will be hoping for an equally impressive start this time around before hosting the reigning champions in the Welsh capital in Round 3.
It is a year on from the historic decision to offer professional contracts to the Welsh players. More significantly, the numbers have doubled, and the squad will come into their latest championship having reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in New Zealand earlier in the season.
“We’ve got an opportunity in this tournament to rediscover the fire and passion of people in Welsh rugby after a tough few months,” said Wales most experienced player, outside half Elinor Snowsill.
“We’ve had a great run with our clubs in the Premier15s and we’re coming in on a high. We reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and had our best finish in the last Six Nations.
Elinor Snowsill kicks during a training session ahead of Wales opening Women’s Six Nations match against Ireland
“I’ve got no doubt the competition is going to be the hardest it has ever been because all the teams have started funding their players a lot more. Our goal is to present an interesting and enjoyable brand of rugby that people can get behind.
“Six Nations after World Cups are always interesting because some players have retired, and some teams have a number of injuries. I’m hoping there will be some surprises and that it will be a very exciting championship to watch with teams trying out new patterns and new partnerships.”
The 33-year-old Bristol Bears playmaker is a bit like a fine wine – she gets better with age! She is ready to lead the attack and is the first to acknowledge the benefits of finally becoming a full-time player.
“We saw a big increase last year after turning professional because of the emotional load that was taken off us. We got some quick wins and we saw the benefit of that and, hopefully, this year we should be fitter and stronger,” added Snowsill, who made her debut in the tournament against Scotland back in 2010.
“Being a professional has made a world of difference for me. I’ve seen a huge growth even though I have been playing for a long time, and I’m just glad I’ve stuck to it.
“It would be a shame to give in now after all the years of battling. It hasn’t always been easy and there have been many times over the last decade when I’ve thought about giving up.
Elinor Snowsill during a training session ahead of Wales opening Women’s Six Nations match against Ireland
“I have to credit my family for making me stick at it. Why would I think about giving up now when things are starting to get really good for us.
“Things have changed dramatically for us in the last few years, and I want to stay around to reap the benefits of that.”
The Irish will be a bit of an unknown quantity when they arrive at Cardiff Arms Park because they have only just decided to turn professional. Some players have opted for contracts in Ireland, others have decided to stay in England and play for their Premier15s clubs, while others are playing on the international sevens circuit.
They missed out on the World Cup experience, but Snowsill is too long in the tooth to take anything for granted against the girls in green.
“Ireland have an unknown back line without their sevens girls and it’s really hard to tell what sort of shape their team will be in,” said Snowsill.
“Ten or 12 of their players have chosen to take full time contracts and stay in Ireland to play there, while the rest have chosen to play in the Premier15s. I’ve played in the Premier15s for a decade now and the standard just increases year on year because it is the place to play.
“We are almost playing at test match intensity week in, week out. So, it’s difficult to know how they Irish squad will come together and what level they will be at.
“Regardless of their preparation, they are always a very physical team to play against – very intense and very direct.”
While Snowsill will be extending her love affair with the tournament, Saracens forward Georgia Evans is just thankful to be back in the mix after missing last year’s matches after suffering a horrific injury to her arm.
She spent 13 weeks on the sidelines after initial fears that she might lose her limb. She battled to get back for the World Cup, but now wants to make up for lost time by having a major impact in the 2023 championship.
“I’m really excited to be back in with the girls and the vibe is good. I was only out for 13 weeks last year, but when it happened I thought the world had ended,” admitted Evans.
Georgia Evans takes on Emily Robinson of Australia in last year’s World Cup
“I missed the Six Nations, and I thought my World Cup was over. Every bad thought you could have went through my mind and it was all work and no play for a long while with my rehab.
“I managed to come back in time to play in the Premier15s final with Saracens and then got straight back into international rugby with Wales on the pre-World Cup tour to Canada. Then it was on to New Zealand for the World Cup.”
The Six Nations has always been special for Evans, and she remembers cheering on the Wales men and women in the past. Now she is in the thick of the action.
“Just after Christmas has always been a favourite time of year for me and my family watching the Six Nations together, just like any Welsh family. That’s why I’m so excited to be a part of it – I can’t believe it at times, it’s a ‘pinch me’ moment,” she added.
“To see the support growing on the sidelines is fantastic and we can’t thank our fans enough for coming out and backing us. Our challenge now is to put in good performances to make them proud and to attract more people to get involved in the game.
“Standing alone as a championship is the way forward for the women’s game. It gives us our own platform and our own identity.”
