Experience the key for Cunningham ahead of Women’s Six Nations opener against Ireland

Swansea-born 26-year-old Gloucester centre Hannah Jones will captain the side having led Cunningham’s side to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in the Autumn after the retirement of Siwan Lillicrap.

Wales will be without flanker Alisha Butchers and prop Donna Rose, who both suffered serious knee injuries at the World Cup and will miss the entire campaign. Whilst wing Jasmine Joyce is also unavailable.

Centre Carys Williams-Morris moves to the wing while Sisilia Tuipulotu, who made her Wales debut the last time the two sides met, packs down in the front row having transitioned from lock to prop.

Bristol Bears Keira Bevan returns at scrum-half with Cunningham making a couple of positional changes.

This campaign Wales will now have 25 full-time contracted WRU professional players in their ranks following a landmark move with Scotland, Ireland and Italy also following suit. 

Whilst England and France are likely to dominate the competition once more having been professional for the last few years, the rest of the placings are likely to be closely fought.

Having lost nine of their previous 10 meetings against Ireland, Wales threw form out of the window to win 27-19 at the RDS ArenaDublin last year on their way to third position. Their highest position in 13 years having also beaten Scotland in Cardiff.

Welsh replacement Donna Rose crossed twice in the second half, with Joyce and Jones also going over with Jones’ solo try securing an entertaining comeback victory.

This time around head-coach Cunningham is full of optimism that his team can go one win further and be the best of the rest outside of the top two placings.

“We are excited to get started and cannot wait to kick off the tournament,” said Cunningham.

“We know Ireland will pose a formidable challenge, but we finished third in last season’s TikTok Six Nations and want to improve on that.

“As a team, we know we can create opportunities and we just need to finish them off and score more tries.

“There were some tough calls around this selection and the competition for places is what every coach wants.

“The squad have worked really hard and we have prepared really well and we are looking to make a positive start at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday”.

Cunningham was full of praise for new captain Jones’ leadership and whilst he feels the importance of experience within the squad with be vital to a successful campaign.

“Hannah Jones grew up at the World Cup as a leader and she deserves to lead this side because she drives the standards on and off the pitch,” continued Cunningham.

“She’s first on and last off, her work ethic is outstanding, and she’s got this presence about her. She’ll relish it.

“It is great to have Gwen Crabb back at second row, she has worked really hard to get back. To have a player with all her experience is a real positive for us.

“Overall, we have looked for settled combinations and partnerships and the focus has been very much on selecting a side to face Ireland.

“We want to back up what we achieved last year, but also feel we should have won three games. Starting at home is a real positive for us to build on last year.

“We want to start well and to give our supporters something to cheer, inspire the next generation of players and build some real momentum for the rest of the campaign.”

Wales team to face Ireland:

 15 Courtney Keight, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones (captain), 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Carys Williams-Morris, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Sislia Tuipulotu, 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 G Evans, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Bethan Lewis.

Replacements:

16 Katherine Evans, 17 Caryl Thomas, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Kate Williams, 20 Sioned Harries, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Hannah Bluck.

Lead image: Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham (Image: INPHO / Laszlo Geczo)