Wales’ most high profile female player missed the 2023 Six Nations, having opted instead for the Sevens circuit, but she has returned home and will start at full-back against the Americans at Parc Eirias.
Alisha Butchers also makes a return after missing the Six Nations through a knee injury and there is a place on the bench for another long-term absentee, prop Donna Rose.
Head coach Ioan Cunningham has named one new cap in Worcester Warriors wing Carys Cox, while the uncapped Wales U20s full-back Nel Metcalfe is named on the bench. Robyn Wilkins has taken the No 10 jersey following the retirement of Elinor Snowsill, while Hannah Jones retains the captaincy at centre.
Wales are sixth in the world rankings and qualified for the new WXV tournament by finishing third in the 2023 Six Nations, with wins over Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
They will play world champions New Zealand, Australia and Canada in the WXV in New Zealand. The top six teams in the world – Grand Slam champions England and France – will also feature in the tournament.
The USA Eagles missed out on qualification for WXV by finishing behind New Zealand, Canada and Australia in the 2023 Pac Four Series.
This will be a real Test for us against USA and we will find out where we stand after a really tough pre-season. The USA beat us last time out and beat the Wales U20s in the summer.
“The USA recently competed in the PAC Four and will have a point to prove after missing out on qualification for WXV1,” said Wales head coach, Ioan Cunningham.
“They are a side packed full of experience and will feel they have a point to prove against us and we are expecting them to be a major challenge for us ahead of what awaits us in New Zealand. The opportunity to play them USA ahead of the challenge of the WXV in New Zealand was too good to miss.
“We are all looking forward and excited to be back together and to build on what we achieved in the Six Nations. The Welsh public’s support was a key part of our journey and will look forward to them supporting us again.
“Taking the game to Colwyn Bay is exciting because we know there is a great pool of rugby talent emerging across North Wales. All the players, coaches and staff know we need to hit the ground running. We laid some solid foundations in the recent Six Nations campaign, but we need to keep improving and become an even better side.
“There is so much potential in this squad and we have shown we can score tries and compete with the likes of Grand Slam champions England and second-placed France.
“We’ve worked hard all summer and the benefits of a proper preparation time have proved really invaluable but there is no substitute for playing a Test match.
“As coaches and players, we will find out where we stand against the USA before we head to the WXV1 in New Zealand in October.”
“Blooding new players will enable the coaches to see how they react in the Test arena ahead of the trip down under.
“The coaches have been impressed with Carys Cox since she joined us this summer and she deserves her opportunity to make her Wales debut. Nel Metcalfe was one of the Wales U20s to join us in the extended WXV training squad and she has impressed us all in training and is a player of real potential,” added Cunningham.
Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (captain), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox *; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming , Georgia Evans , Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis
Reps: Kelsey Jones, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Kate Williams, Sioned Harries, Meg Davies, Lleucu George, Nel Metcalfe*
* Uncapped
USA: Bulou Mataitoga; Tess Feury, Kate Zackary (captain), Mata Hingano, Sarah Levy; Gabby Cantorna, Carly Waters; Catie Benson, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Hallie Taufoou, Rachel Ehrecke, Freda Tafuna, Georgie Perris-Redding, Rachel Johnson
Reps: Paige Stathopoulos, Monalisa Tupou, Charli Jacoby, Erica Jarrell, Tahlia Brody, Taina Tukuafu, Meya Bizer, Eti Haungatau
Wales WXV FixturesÂ
Canada v Wales, Saturday, October 21st, Sky Stadium, Wellington (KO: 4pm local time)
New Zealand v Wales, Saturday, 28th, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (KO: 4pm local time)
Australia v Wales, Friday, November 3rd, Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland (KO: 7pm local time)
