Wales Women’s head coach Sean Lynn has named the 30-player squad for the WXV Tests against Japan in later this month. Wales will play two Test matches against Japan to complete their WXV Global Series campaign for 2026. Japan are ranked 11th in the world, one place above Wales in the world rankings. A new-look […]
Wales Women’s head coach Sean Lynn has named the 30-player squad for the WXV Tests against Japan in later this month.
Wales will play two Test matches against Japan to complete their WXV Global Series campaign for 2026.
Japan are ranked 11th in the world, one place above Wales in the world rankings.
A new-look Wales side recorded a 50-19 victory against South Africa and went down narrowly 26-24 to USA in the home fixtures at Cardiff Arms Park.
Flankers Alex Callender and Kate Williams are named as co-captains with two uncapped players, props Stella Orrin and Crystal James selected.
Wing Amy Williams, prop Elan Jones and hooker Shanelle Williams, who made their Wales debuts against South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park, are all named in the squad.
The Wales squad includes 23 players who have played Celtic Challenge rugby for Brython Thunder or Gwalia Lightning.
Full back Nel Metcalfe, who missed the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign due to injury, has been named and is available for selection.
Lynn, said: “This was a tough selection process after our performances against South Africa and USA, we asked the players to move the dial, and we did that in those two Test matches.
“We scored eight tries against South Africa and the disappointment of the players with the two-points deficit against USA, a team ranked sixth in the world, demonstrated the shift in mindset we need.
“All the hard work the players, coaches and staff put in across pre-season was there for all to see and we laid some real foundations in how we want to play and the team’s identity.
“We know we have a long way to go before we become the team, we want to be but the tour to play the Sakura Fifteen in Japan is an exciting challenge for us all.”
Wales WXV squad for Japan
Forwards: Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Maisie Davies (Exeter Chiefs), Crystal James (Ealing Trailfinders), Shanelle Williams (Brython Thunder), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Kelsey Jones (Sale Sharks), Elan Jones (Brython Thunder), Stella Orrin (Brython Thunder), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins), Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder), Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Alex Callender (Co-captain, Harlequins), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Kate Williams (Co-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury), Jorja Aiono (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Bristol Bears)
Backs: Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder), Sian Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury), Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks), Freya Bell (Gwalia Lightning), Jenna De Vera (Brython Thunder), Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), Hannah Dallavalle (Gloucester-Hartpury), Nikita Prothero (Gwalia Lightning), Amy Williams (Brython Thunder), Lisa Neumann (Leicester Tigers), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Wales WXV Series Fixtures
- Sat, Oct 24th: Japan v Wales, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (KO: 10.30am, UK Time)
- Sat, Oct 31: Japan v Wales, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama Prefecture, Kumagaya City (KO 7am UK Time)