Along with a return to fitness for the hugely experienced Dyddgu Hywel (who missed the whole of the 2018 Six Nations due to injury), and a call-up for fellow senior internationals Jess Kavanagh-Williams and Kelsey Jones, the competition in France will see the introduction of Alex Callender, Niamh Terry and Lauren Smyth.
“Centrale is very exciting for the squad,” said Wales Women Sevens head coach Nick Wakley. “Not only is it more vital playing experience and prep for the World Series in Paris in a few weeks’ time, but we have had a chance to blood more of the next generation.
“We have an average age of 22 in this tournament and we can’t wait to see how they fare. The likes of Niamh Terry, Alex Callender and Lauren Smyth have all impressed in the U18s under the watchful eye of Jonathan Hooper, as well as in training and tournaments such as the Urdd Sevens.”
Former Wales Sevens player Hooper, who assists Wakley with the senior women’s sevens programme, will oversee the young squad in France next week.
“There are other positives as we see the return of Dyddgu, Jess and Kelsey,” Wakley said of the trio which featured in last summer’s Rugby World Cup. “Mix in our experienced sevens players to that melting pot and we are going into this tournament with a freedom to express ourselves and make selection incredibly difficult for the World Series in Paris in June.”
Wales Women Sevens – Pool Fixtures: Wales v Georgia (09:00); Germany v Wales (12:00); Ukraine v Wales (14:40).
A live stream of the Centrale Sevens is available here.
Wales Women Sevens: Alex Callender, Dyddgu Hywel, Gemma Rowland, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Jess Kavanagh-Williams, Kayleigh Powell, Kelsey Jones, Lauren Smyth, Lucy Packer, Niamh Terry, Shona Powell-Hughes, Sian Williams (c).
