Head Coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side for the first Test against Japan at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo on Saturday, October 24th (KO:10.30am, UK Time).
Flankers Alex Callender and Kate Williams will co-captain a side with five changes, two positional, to the starting line up that faced the USA.
Callender, who made her Wales debut against France in the 2019 Women’s Six Nations, will win her 50th cap for her country against Japan.
Nel Metcalfe returns to action after missing the recent 2026 W6N campaign and is selected on the wing to face the Sakura Fifteen.
Seren Lockwood is back at scrum half and partners Keira Bevan, who moves to fly-half, at half back to face Japan. Lock Jorja Aiono is named in the Wales engine room alongside Branwen Metcalfe, while Carys Cox moves to centre to partner Freya Bell in the Welsh midfield.
The Wales starting line-up includes 12 players who have played Celtic Challenge rugby for Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning.
Wales recorded a 50-19 win over South Africa and went down 26-24 to a USA Eagles ranked sixth in the world rankings. Wales WXV Global
Lynn, said: “We have made some changes to reward players who have pushed hard in training, and we also need to give players opportunity to build the strength in depth in the squad.
“Japan will pose a very different threat to the sides we have faced previously in this WXV campaign, with their ability to play fast and wide.
“They will pose us different challenges, and we will have to find different answers, and it will be real test of our game-management.
“It’s good to welcome Nel Metcalfe and Seren Lockwood back into the fold after injury and we are excited to see them go against Japan.
“Alex Callender will win her 50th Wales cap and we all know – players, coaches and staff – what this will mean to her and her family. “Al Cal is the emotional heartbeat of this squad and is a hugely respected across the rugby world and her resilience and passion for her country is an inspiration to us all.” ||
Wales side (v Japan)
15. Lisa Neumann (Leicester Tigers) 54 caps, 35 points
14. Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury) 16 caps, 20 points
13. Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders) 27 caps, 30 points
12. Freya Bell (Gwalia Lightning) Four caps, 14 points
11. Amy Williams (Brython Thunder) Two caps
10. Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears) 85 caps, 167 points
9. Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder) 10 caps, 10 points
;
1.Maisie Davies (Exeter Chiefs) 19 caps, five points
2. Kelsey Jones (Sale Sharks) 59 caps, 40 points
3. Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins) 38 caps, 45 points
4. Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder) Eight caps
5. Jorja Aiono (Gloucester-Hartpury) Seven caps
6. Kate Williams (co-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury) 28 caps, 25points
7. Alex Callender (co-captain, Harlequins) 49 caps, 50points
8. Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning) 19 caps
Replacements.
16. Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning) 18 caps, 10 points
17. Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks) 56 caps, 20 points
18. Elan Jones (Brython Thunder) One cap
19. Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder) 44 caps, 15 points
20. Georgia Evans (Saracens) 50 caps, 15 points
21. Bethan Lewis (Bristol Bears) 66 caps, 35 points
22. Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury) 42 caps, 15 points
23. Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks) 35 caps, five points
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)
Sean