By Steffan Thomas
Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has targeted three wins from their upcoming Six Nations campaign.
Cunningham has named a 37-strong squad ahead of their championship opener in Ireland next weekend, a tournament in which interest and expectations will have been raised due to much needed modernising of the women’s game in Wales.
Wales have been bolstered by having professional players in their ranks for the first time, following the Welsh Rugby Union’s historic decision to award 12 full-time contracts in January.
“It’s about building on our performance in the autumn where we managed to get two wins (against Japan and South Africa) which we were really happy with,” said Cunningham.
“First of all, we’ve got to be scoring points, and we’ve got to be scoring tries. We are delighted we are scoring tries with a lot of great work that the girls are putting in.
“I think if we stick to what we’ve done in the autumn and build on that we’ll start to win more games.
“I think we’ve got to be confident within our group to look at two to three wins on this competition which will set us up nicely going into the World Cup.
Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham names 37-player Six Nations squad.
Sioned Harries is in having returned to Wales set-up for first time since autumn 2019 for warm-up game last weekend.
6 uncapped players named too before opener v Ireland (March 26)https://t.co/EWpJGl6O3a
— Katie Sands (@KESands) March 17, 2022
“From my point of view and the coaching team we are super excited for the Six Nations which has crowds back.
“It’s going to be brilliant for the girls to play in front of supporters and feeling that passion especially at home.
“We can’t wait for that first home game. There’s a good mixture of experience and young talent in the squad we’ve picked.”
Cunningham has included six uncapped players in his squad, including Lowri Norkett who follows in the footsteps of younger sister Elli.
Elli Norkett was tragically killed in a car accident in 2017 and Lowri spoke movingly of being inspired by her sibling when she made her Wales debut in an uncapped game against the USA last weekend.
Norkett is joined by two other Wales-based players in Liliana Podpadec and Jenni Scoble, while Emma Hennessy, Emma Swords and Sisilia Tuipulotu are set to win first caps.
Former Scarlets coach Cunningham has also recalled experienced Worcester back-row star Sioned Harries.
And Cunningham is hugely excited at the prospect of Harries playing in the same back row as captain Siwan Lillicrap.
WelshRugbyUnion: #WalesWomen head coach @IoanCunningham is pleased with the test his side got against USA Falcons two weeks out from @Womens6Nations REPORT: https://t.co/eLXuF4GMkJ
REACTION 👇📺 pic.twitter.com/ihMERLRPNK— ItsAllRugby (@ItsAllRugby_com) March 16, 2022
“She (Sioned Harries) brings a wealth of experience which we are delighted with,” he said.
“She’s been playing well for Worcester and has been great in our environment.
“She’s got her head down and is working hard. Within our environment it’s about the team first.
“We spoke clearly and honestly to the group and said let’s make it hard not to pick you. Everything that they do within our training environment is really important.
“She’s embraced that, and we can’t wait to see her go over the next few weeks. It’s exciting from a coaching point of view.
“Competition drives standards at the end of the day. That’s what we want in our squad; girls fighting for places.
🏴 Siwan Lillicrap
🏴 Alisha Butchers
🏴 Manon Johnes
🏴 Talia John
🏴 Keira Bevan
🏴 Elinor Snowsill
🏴 Jasmine Joyce
🏴 Courtney Keight
🏴 Kayleigh PowellCongratulations to the 9⃣ #BristolBearsWomen named in #WalesWomen squad for the @Womens6Nations 👏
— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) March 17, 2022
“I also think it will be fantastic to get both of them on the field at the same time. “They are both top quality players, and to have them on the field at the same time will only help us.”
WRU performance director Nigel Walker said: “Our aim from the outset has been clear – to create a world class international programme that is competitive on the world stage.
“We aren’t quite there yet but huge strides have already been made in a relatively short time. With the addition of Lleucu to the group, we now have 24 contracted players training within a professional programme.
“The environment we are creating around them will continue to evolve to a situation where the players will have everything elite athletes need to perform at the highest level. There will be further appointments in the coming weeks to support this.“In terms of the pathway, the Under 18 regional and international set-up is established with Liza Burgess and her newly appointed coaching team preparing a squad for a new Under 18 Six Nations festival in Edinburgh next month and plans are underway to get the Under 20 pathway in place ready for next season.
Wales Women’s Six Nations squad #wrugby pic.twitter.com/g3WBvfk045
— Mike Pearce Rugby (@MPsportsdragon) March 17, 2022
“Below that, the community team have increased opportunities for girls both in education and within the female hubs around Wales – alongside WRU development centres to identify and nurture talent.
“A strategy group is meeting regularly to develop a women and girls’ strategy and we will update further on that in due course.
“We won’t rest while changes need to be made but we are satisfied with the sustainable measures we have put in place.”Wales Women TikTok Six Nations squad:Forwards:Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Bristol Bears), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears), Alex Callender (Worcester Warriors), Gwen Crabb (Glouecster-Hartpury), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kat Evans (Saracens), Abbie Fleming (Exeter Chiefs), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sioned Harries (Worcester Warriors), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), Liliana Podpadec (Llandaff North), Carys Phillips (Worcester Warriors), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Donna Rose (Saracens), Jenni Scoble (Llandaff North), Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury)Backs:Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Hennessy (Cheltenham Tigers), Hannah Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Caitlin Lewis (Exeter Chiefs), Ffion Lewis (Worcester Warriors), Lisa Neumann (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lowri Norkett (Pontyclun), Kayleigh Powell (Bristol Bears), Gemma Rowland (Wasps), Emma Swords (Harlequins), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Niamh Terry (Exeter Chiefs), Robyn Wilkins (Gloucester-Hartpury)Wales Women TikTok Women’s Six NationsSat 26 March 4.45pm Ireland Women v Wales RDS BBC 2NISat 2 April 4.45pm Wales Women v Scotland Cardiff Arms Park BBC 2 and BBC 2 WalesSat 9 April 4.45pm England Women v Wales (venue tbc) BBC 2 and BBC 2 WalesFri 22 April 8pm Wales Women v France Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayerSat 30 April 12 noon Wales Women v Italy Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayerGo to wru.wales/w6n to watch Wales Women at home in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations
