Hywel won 31 caps for Wales, predominantly from full-back, but retired from international rugby in September citing time constraints as she is also a university lecturer.
But a few months on the 30-year-old has been tempted back into action to take on her former side as part of an exciting Cardiff double header.
Wales Women and Barbarians Women will meet at the home of Welsh rugby on Saturday morning (kick-off 11.45am) before the senior men’s side take to the stage.
Barbarians Women head coach Jo Yapp has announced a squad drawn from 10 nations to face Wales who have warmed up for the clash with wins over Ireland, Scotland and the Crawshays.
With a blend of experienced internationals and newcomers, the squad boasts six Rugby World Cup players including two winners and over 430 international caps.
Players from Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, the USA and Wales will gather in Cardiff this week to prepare for what will be only the second ever Barbarians double header fixture.
Black Ferns 2010 Rugby World Cup winner Steph Te Ohaere-Fox and 2017 winner Eloise Blackwelll bring big game experience while Welsh star Hywel will be a familiar face on show.
Scotland’s Lauren Harris, who also announced her retirement from international duty this year, will join the invitational side for a final international game.
Blackwell is the most capped player with 43 appearances for New Zealand, with Ireland’s Paula Fitzpatrick behind her on 41.
Meanwhile, uncapped Beth Stafford (Firwood Waterloo) and Tess Gard’ner (Ponsonby & Auckland) are amongst the stars making names for themselves at their clubs.
The historic match against Wales is a first for the Barbarians women’s side, and is only the second-ever double header after the men’s and women’s teams faced England in June.
Barbarians Women squad to face Wales Women:
FORWARDS
Sasha Acheson (Worcester Warriors, England)
Eloise Blackwell (Eden Rugby, New Zealand)
Anna Caplice (Harlequins, Ireland)
Rebecca Clough (Cotteslow, Australia)
Charmaine McMenamin (Ponsonby & Auckland, New Zealand)
Paula FIitzpatrick (St Mary’s College RFC, Ireland)
Saki Minami (Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars, Japan)
Clara Nilesen (Bristol Bears, England)
Seina Saito (Mie PEARLS, Japan)
Beth Stafford(Firwood Waterloo)
Steph Te Ohaere-Fox (Christchurch RFC, New Zealand)
Silvia Turani(Rugby Colorno, Italy)
Alycia Washington (New York Rugby Club, Scion Rugby Academy, USA)
BACKS
Ashlee Byrge (San Diego Surfers, USA)
Ruahei Demant (College Rifles, New Zealand)
Lauren Harris (Scotland)
Dyddgu Hywel(Gloucester Hartpury, Wales)
Tess Gard’ner(Ponsonby & Auckland)
Ariana Hira-Herangi (Kalamunda, Australia)
Brianna Miller (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC, Canada)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere RFC, Ireland)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC, Ireland)
Annabel Sergant (Heriots, Scotland)
