The age grade side was developed to provide development opportunities for talented young female players looking to break into the senior international squad. Much like the men’s U20 side, this age grade structure will provide a platform for ability to be nurtured to the standards required for senior national rugby.
The Wales Women U20 side evolved following trials on October 27th, 2007. Over forty young women from all parts of the country turned up to the University Playing Fields in Llanrumney, Cardiff, hoping for selection for Wales’s first ever female Under 20 squad. The players were put through their paces by the coaching set-up consisting of Head Coach Kylie Wilson and Assistant Coach Chris Garrett.
They also experienced coaching skills sessions from WRU Academy skills coaches Danny Wilson and Gruff Rees. The standard was extremely high, which made selection extremely difficult, but at the end of the session a development squad of 26 players was selected. Sophie Bennett, WRU Women’s Elite Manager commented: “I am very excited about this new squad and hope that it will be the breeding ground for future senior internationals.”
The Wales Women U20 squad consists of a mixture of both new players as well as more experienced players. Mared Evans, who was selected to captain the side, has experience as a senior international, is a Women’s National Academy member and has also played for Wales U19, and was joined by Wales Development players Carys John and Ceri Redman. The squad is also bolstered with numerous Wales Women U19 representatives and National Academy members.
Evans led the squad into their inaugural fixture last Sunday and despite some spirited defence from centre Levi Hallett and a brave performance from lock Sioned Harries, the side suffered a similar fate to that of Mel Berry’s senior side, in this first home fixture between the two countries at this age group. England Women U20 wing Natasha Hunt grabbed a hat-trick of tries as the visitors built on a 19-0 interval lead to end convincing 31-0 winners. English captain Nicola Hoole and Isabelle Noel-Smith also crossed as England Women U20 produced five tries in total.
Following her side’s initial defeat, Wales Women U20 Head Coach, and former international, Kylie Wilson was upbeat.
“We knew England would be very strong, as they are at all age groups,” said Wilson, who gained an impressive 53 caps for Wales Women before her retirement at the close of the 2006-2007 season. “However, we achieved some performance targets which was pleasing. We performed well in the set-piece and some of our youngsters really shone through such as Becky Newton at loose head prop and all of our back row players – Carys John, Amy Thompson and Vicky Owens.”
Wilson was also full of praise for Wales Women U20 captain Mared Evans, and hints towards a promising career for the young star, who made her senior international debut in the victory over Canada Women in 2006. Wilson said, “Mared Evans our fullback, who no doubt would have gone on to play for the senior side this season had she not suffered a neck injury, also shone. We will be seeing a lot more of Mared on the international scene in the near future.”
The Head coach is confident that Wales Women’s rugby will benefit enormously from the introduction of this new age grade set-up: “Under 20 rugby is certainly going to help develop our game going forward. It was a decision made at the last World Cup that everyone would move to U20 as a development pathway for the senior game. We hope to create an U20 Six Nations Championship before long, hopefully leading to an U20 World Cup in the near future.”
The setting up of such tournaments would mirror the men’s Under 20 competitions, such as the IRB Junior World Championship, to be held in Wales in June; the Principality will welcome the elite stars of sixteen nations to contest this inaugural trophy at this men’s age grade. Along with Wales Women U20, Wilson is also coaching UWIC’s Women’s team at the moment, but has enjoyed the transition from player to coach. She says: “It’s much harder than playing, a lot more work. But I love it and this is a great group of young players, which makes my job easier.”
Wales Women U20 will meet England Women U20 again on March 26th, 2008, at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire, (2pm) and hope to travel to Canada in the summer to play the likes of Canada Women, USA Women and New Zealand Women.
