Head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side to face England in Round 3 of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations at Ashton Gate, Bristol, on Saturday, April 25th (KO: 2.15pm).
Flanker Bethan Lewis will captain Wales with Kate Williams sidelined with a calf strain as Wales make two changes to the starting line-up that faced France in Round 2 of the championship.
Flanker Branwen Metcalfe makes her first start in the Women’s Six Nations with Keira Bevan at scrum half.
The Wales front five is selected for their third Test match in a row, with props Gwenllian Pyrs and Sisilia Tuipulotu and hooker Kelsey Jones in the front row while locks Gwen Crabb and Jorja Aiono are named in the Wales engine room.
Skipper Lewis is joined in the back row by Metcalfe and Number 8 Bryonie King. Scrum half Bevan partners fly-half Lleucu George at half-back.
Wales back three is Jaz Joyce on one wing with Seren Singleton on the other and Kayleigh Powell at full-back.
Alisha Joyce is named on the bench and is poised to play for Wales 158 days after she gave birth to her and teammate Jaz Joyce’s son Ralphie.
‘Butch’ made her return to rugby 123 days after giving birth when she came off the bench for Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge semi-finals.
Her last game for Wales was the 19-10 win against Japan in WXV2 in South Africa back in 2024 and her wife Jaz scored one of Wales’s three tries that day.
So, 562 days after the pair last played for Wales together, they are poised to do the same in Bristol on Saturday.
Lynn said: “We are under no illusions of the challenge we face against the Red Roses. We are playing the world champions and Grand Slam champions in front of a sold-out Ashton Gate.
“It doesn’t get bigger than that and England are the trailblazers in the women’s game and have stolen a march on all of us in the Six Nations.
“They have been professional longer than us, have their own domestic league and that is the reality of the challenge ahead of us.
“These are the games you want to play and get excited about, and we will know where we stand after what we know will be a huge Test match.
“But this is all about us building our performances and style of play and developing our identity as a team.
“We need to show the same intensity and resilience that we have shown in the opening two games against Scotland and France and do it for longer.
“The grit and resilience we have shown and the ability to dig deep is an attribute we showed against France, and we will need against England.
“On behalf of all the players, coaches and staff, I cannot say how delighted we are to welcome Alisha back after the birth of Ralphie.
“It’s a remarkable return to rugby, let alone the Test match arena, and Butch’s diligence and desire to wear the red of Wales again has been an inspiration to all of us.”
Wales squad (v England)
15 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins) 30 caps, 10pts
14 Seren Singleton (Brython Thunder) 2 caps
13 Hannah Dallavalle (Gloucester/Hartpury) 71 caps, 25pts
12 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks/Brython Thunder) 30 caps
11 Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears/Brython Thunder) 54 caps, 50pts
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury) 37 caps, 15pts
9 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears) 80 caps, 147 pts;
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks) 53 caps 20pts
2 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury) 54 caps, 25pts
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester/Hartpury/Brython Thunder) 32 caps, 40pts
4 Jorja Aiono (Brython Thunder) 2 caps
5 Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder) 41 caps, 15 pts
6 Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder) Three caps
7 Bethan Lewis (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury/ Gwalia Lightning) 63 caps, 30pts
8 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning) 14 caps
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning) 14 caps, 10pts
17 Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning/Bristol Bears) 14 caps
18 Donna Rose (Saracens) 39 caps, 10pts
19 Georgia Evans (Saracens) 45 caps, 10pts
20 Alisha Joyce (Brython Thunder/Bristol Bears) 54 caps, 35 points
21 Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder/Gloucester/Hartpury) 6 caps
22 Jenna De Vera (Brython Thunder/Bristol Bears) 1 cap
23 Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning) 5 caps
Burst Nibbler
Jim Laker is the only bowler who took 19 wickets in a test match.
Mad Kid
Sport Trivia: At the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona, Ghana took a bronze medal in which team event? Answer: Soccer. Ghana topped their group (D) during the preliminary rounds, when they beat Australia 3-1, and drew 0-0 with Denmark and 1-1 with Mexico. They then beat Australia again 1-0 in the playoff to win the bronze medal.