And the Carmarthen-born ace believes Wales’s efforts off the field of late have been a major factor in their improvement on the pitch.
“It’s great for us to be involved in the top tier. We want to be the best team in the world and we’re only going to be able to do that by playing against the best teams in the world,” she said of the WXV competition.”
This tournament is going to allow us to do that. As long as we’re developing within our group and every game we’re improving, I think we’ll be happy with that.
“We want to push and keep pushing to be better. There’s a lot to it, it’s not just what we always do on the training field.
“It’s what you do at home, your analysis, all of that stuff will make you a better rounded player and team.
“Everyone’s still making PBs in the gym, which shows we’re getting stronger and fitter. The staff are pushing us in different ways to before, as well as players pushing each other.”
Hannah Jones will captain Cunningham’s side who face the somewhat daunting task of battling it out with Canada, New Zealand and Australia in the inaugural edition of the WXV1 event across the upcoming weeks.
Former captain Carys Phillips has given Jones her full backing to lead Wales as they bid to upset the odds in tier one of the newly-formed competition.
“We’re big mates and she’s quality. Her professionalism and how she is as a leader is quality,” Phillips said of skipper Jones.
“I think she’s doing a brilliant job. It’s good to see her excel in that position. She always pushes you to be the best you can be.”
Wales clinched a tier one berth in the WXV courtesy of finishing third in the 2023 Six Nations. It means they face opposition who are all ranked in the top five of the world.
However, there is no relegation from their division this year, giving head coach Cunningham ample opportunity to experiment as he bids to mould a side capable of reaching the 2025 World Cup in England.
The competition in New Zealand will give Donna Rose the opportunity to pit her wits against the world’s big guns following what has been a year of agony for the prop. Rose snapped her anterior cruciate ligament and tore her meniscus during a training session with Saracens following the last World Cup.
But having made her long-awaited return to action in Wales’s 38-18 win over the USA in late September, Rose is now relishing the prospect of representing her country against the world’s heavyweights.
“When my name got announced in the squad to face the USA, I was absolutely over the moon. It’s been a long slog getting back at it,” said Rose. I was rehabbing away from Wales, but I was still in contact with the girls. There were dark days, but then the next day was completely different.
“I set myself little goals, and when I was hitting them, it was a great feeling. That kept me going.”
