The Wales U20s squad will face the USA and Canada in Ottawa in July. All the players selected in the squad will be new caps at Wales U20s level in the women’s game.
Head coach Burgess, who will take charge of the set-piece, will be joined by Cat Nicholas-McLaughlin (Defence coach), Oliver Wilson (Attack coach) and former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap (Skills and Breakdown coach).
Burgess, who won 87 Wales and six GB caps across a 20-year career, captained her country in the first Test match against England in 1987. She has coached her country and was inducted in World Rugby’s Hall of Fame in 2018.
Her experience and knowledge will prove invaluable for the next generation of Wales players who have been selected to represent their country.
Wales North America Tour fixtures:
• July 4th, 2023: USA U20s v Wales U20s, Twin Elms Rugby Park (KO: 6:30pm local time)
• July 13th, 2023: Canada U20s v Wales U20s, Twin Elms Rugby Park (KO: 6:30pm local time)
Liza Burgess, Wales U20s Head coach, said: “These are exciting times and especially for this squad of players we will take on tour this summer.
“It’s been great to see them develop so much over the last couple of months and they will learn much about themselves from this experience.
“To have the opportunity to coach the next generation of elite players in Wales is something none of this coaching team takes lightly.
“We have seen the Wales Women’s senior side inspire the nation and the players can now see a clear path to represent their country at the highest level.
“The two games against Canada and the USA will be a real test to see where we are and we are all looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
The introduction of the Wales Women’s U20s side is part of the WRU’s investment and long-term strategy to develop the Women’s game in Wales at all levels.
The WRU recently announced three new Player Development Centres (PDCs) – in East Wales, West Wales and North Wales – to support the development of high potential young players across Wales to help them achieve their ambition to be elite rugby players.
The Welsh Exiles programme is holding three training camps for girls based in the Midlands and the North of England, London and the South East and South and South West for Welsh-qualified players who have ambitions of rugby for Wales.
The Wales Women’s senior side finished sixth in the world rankings after the TikTok Six Nations campaign and qualified for the Global Tier 1 WXV tournament in New Zealand in October.
