It has been a rapid rise for three of the uncapped contingent – Rebecca Rowe, Melissa Clay and Amy Evans – who all came through the WRU’s Talent Identification programme held in September while 17-year-old Keira Bevan and Hannah Jones are the remaining players yet to have played at the highest level.
Despite speculation that a core group of players would retire after the World Cup in the summer, Edwards is pleased to see experienced campaigners Jenny Davies, Catrin Edwards and Rachel Taylor – who between them have 174 caps – have all returned for another season.
“It’s great that players of the calibre of Tails, Cat and Treacle are still involved. They bring with them a vast amount of knowledge and experience and they are determined to pass on the baton and leave a legacy of securing World Cup qualification for the next generation,” said Edwards.
Edwards has never been afraid to give youth a chance and in teenaged scrum half Keira Bevan, he believes Wales have a future star on their hands.
“Keira has done really well this season. She performed to a high standard with Wales Sevens and shone in the regional competition. I have no qualms selecting her and I expect her to push the established Amy Day for the scrum half position.”
Fly half Hannah Jones has yet to be capped at international level but she was a Wales squad member last season but again Edwards is confident the youngster is now ready.
“Hannah missed out on World Cup selection last year as we felt she wasn’t quite ready but again she is someone who is now a year older and wiser and consistently performed to a high level in the regional competition.”
Wales begin their Six Nations campaign against England at Swansea on Sunday 8th February and Edwards is eager to begin the competition well.
“It’s good now the squad has been selected as we can now focus fully on the game against England. With the World Cup qualification having also been confirmed, we know exactly what we have to do and a good performance against England would set us up nicely for the rest of the campaign,” he said.
Wales Women’s Six Nations squad
Forwards
Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies / Scarlets)
Jenny Davies (Blues)
Carys Phillips (Skewen / Ospreys)
Delyth Davies (Whitland / Scarlets)
Amy Lawrence (Skewen / Ospreys)
Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North / Scarlets)
Amy Evans (Skewen / Ospreys)
Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North / Blues)
Rebecca Rowe (London Welsh / Dragons)
Sioned Harries (Whitland / Scarlets)
Melissa Clay (Pencoed / Ospreys)
Rachel Taylor (capt) (Bristol / Dragons)
Sian Williams (Worcester / Dragons)
Shona Powell-Hughes (Skewen / Ospreys)
Backs
Amy Day (Llandaff North / Dragons)
Keira Bevan (Skewen / Ospreys)
Elinor Snowsill (Dragons)
Hannah Jones (Penybanc / Scarlets)
Rafiuke Taylor (Pontyclun / Blues)
Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic / Ospreys)
Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North / Blues)
Kerin Lake (Skewen / Ospreys)
Adi Taviner (Skewen / Ospreys)
Elen Evans (Waterloo / Scarlets)
Laurie Harries (Llandaff North / Blues)
Dyddgu Hywel (Pontyclun / Scarlets)
