By Hannah Blackwell
Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham is poised to hand debuts to three uncapped players from the bench after naming his team to face Scotland at the Hive Stadium, Murrayfield on Friday.
Prop Maisie Davies, hooker Rosie Carr and lock Alaw Pyrs are all set to win first senior caps from the replacements’ bench.
Gwenllian Pyrs – who starts in the front row – and Alaw Pyrs look set to become the first sisters to play for Wales since twin sisters and props Claire and Louise Horgan played against France in 2008.
Experienced scrum half Keira Bevan will captain the side for the first time and flanker Alisha Butchers will win her 50th Wales cap if she is used as a replacement.
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Cunningham has made nine changes from the team that beat Spain 52-20 at Cardiff Arms Park to qualify for WXV2 in South Africa.
Davies, Carr and Pyrs all played for Wales U20s in the recent Six Nations in Italy.
Bevan will form a half-back partnership with Robyn Wilkins, with centre Kerin Lake and Meg Webb in midfield.
Lock Gwen Crabb returns from injury and will partner Natalia John at second row, while Kate Williams will join No 8 Gwennan Hopkins, making her first start for her country, alongside Bethan Lewis in the back row.
Jasmine Joyce returns to the starting line-up after becoming the first player to represent Great Britain at three separate Olympics at Paris 2024.
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Cunningham said: “It’s the start of a new season and we know we need to expose more players to the demands and intensity of Test match rugby.
“We need to grow the leadership group in the squad and to share those responsibilities because having more leaders in the squad can only benefit us with the Rugby World Cup now less than a year away.
“We have given some new players who have impressed in training and in the recent Under 20s Six Nations an opportunity to show what they can do at the highest level.
“As coaches and staff, we know we need to build the squad’s depth and need competition for places.
“Scotland are a team we know well, and all the players are aware there are places for WXV2 in South Africa at stake.
“Keira Bevan is an experienced international and has been handed the captaincy for this game and Maisie Davies, Rosie Carr and Alaw Pyrs,
who trained with us during the Six Nations, all warrant their selection in this squad after the recent U20s Six Nations in Parma.
“Alaw playing for Wales, alongside her older sister Gwenllian, will be a special moment for their family and for all of us.”
Wales Women will be the first national side to wear the WRU’s new Macron kit and will wear the alternative kit against Scotland.
The team will wear the new Wales home kit, with red shorts, against Australia at Rodney Parade, on Friday, September 20th.
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Wales squad to face Scotland.
Jenny Hesketh; Catherine Richards, Meg Webb, Kerin Lake, Jasmine Joyce; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan (capt): Gwenllian Pyrs, Molly Reardon, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Gwennan Hopkins
Replacements: Rosie Carr, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose Alaw Pyrs, Alisha Butchers, Sian Jones, Lleucu George, Nel Metcalfe
