Head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side to face Japan in the second Test of the WXV Global Series at Kumgaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama Prefecture, Kumagaya City, on Saturday, October 31 (KO: 7am UK time).
Back rowers Alex Callender and Kate Williams will captain a side with five changes, one positional, to the starting line-up that beat Japan in the First Test.
Wales earned a 17-0 victory on the road against the Sakura fifteen in the first Test out in Japan in Tokyo last weekend where Lynn’s side became the first Wales side to keep a clean sheet since they beat Hong Kong 65-0 in September 2018.
Centre Courtney Keight replaces Freya Bell, who was ruled out with a knee injury, to partner Carys Cox in midfield. Lleucu George is named at fly half and partners Seren Lockwood, who scored a brace of tries in the first Test against Japan, at half back.
Prop Gwenllian Pyrs is selected at prop, alongside hooker Kelsey Jones and fellow prop Sisilia Tuipulotu in the Wales front row. Lock Gwen Crabb is drafted in to partner Branwen Metcalfe in the Welsh engine room while Bethan Lewis is named at openside flanker alongside Callender at No. 8 and Williams in the Wales back row.
Full back Lisa Neumann and wings Nel Metcalfe and Amy Williams are selected in an exciting back three.
Lynn, said: “We have made the changes to reward the players who finished the job in Tokyo, and they deserve the opportunity to start for their country for our final Test match of 2026.
“The players know our DNA is team first and competition for places drives standards and performances and will only help us improve and get better as a team.
“We are obviously disappointed with the injury to Freya Bell, but she will get the best care and supervision by the WRU staff, and we hope to see her back soon.
“We found a way in the first Test in Tokyo and the way the players problem-solved during the game was key for all the coaches.
“But we know we have to be much more accurate and produce a consistent eighty-minute performance to beat a resilient Japan side that we know will be hurting.
“We need to back up what we achieved in the first Test and sign off the 11-week block we have been together and this WXV campaign on a high in Kumagaya.”
Wales team (v Japan)
15 Lisa Neumann (Leicester Tigers) 55 caps, 35points
14 Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury) 17 caps, 20 points
13 Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders) 28 caps, 30 points
12 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks) 36 caps, five points
11 Amy Williams (Brython Thunder) Three caps
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury) 43 caps, 15 points
9 Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder) 11 caps, 20 points;
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks) 57 caps, 20 points
2 Kelsey Jones (Sale Sharks) 60 caps, 45 points
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins) 39 caps, 45 points
4 Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder) nine caps
5 Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder) 45 caps, 15 points
6 Kate Williams (co-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury) 29 caps, 25 points
7 Bethan Lewis (Bristol Bears) 67 caps, 35 points
8 Alex Callender (co-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury) 50 caps, 50 points
Replacements
16 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning) 19 caps, 10 points
17 Maisie Davies (Exeter Chiefs) 20 caps, five points
18 Elan Jones (Brython Thunder) two caps
19 Jorja Aiono (Gloucester-Hartpury) Eight caps
20 Georgia Evans (Saracens) 51 caps, 15 points
21 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning) 20 caps
22 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears) 86 caps, 167 points
23 Jenna De Vera (Brython Thunder) three caps
Wales WXV Global Series fixtures
- Sat, Oct 24th: Japan v Wales, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, W 17-0
- Sat, Oct 31: Japan v Wales, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama Prefecture, Kumagaya City (KO 7am UK Time)