Five new caps in Wales 6N squad

Hannah Jones - could receive her first senior cap in this year's Six Nations

Unaffected by the need to compete for a place at the Rio Olympics, and with significantly fewer retirements than most other teams returning to competitive rugby after the World Cup, Wales look like the team to watch in this year’s Six Nations. However this year's Six Nations is also the first round of qualifying for the 2017 World Cup, so there is still plenty of pressure on the Welsh team.

Wales were the youngest team in Paris, but the new squad is younger still with the two 17-year olds coming in from youth development (Keira Bevan and Hannah Jones) and three backs discovered in September’s Talent Identification Programme (Rebecca Rowe, Melissa Clay and Amy Evans).

In addition forwards Amy Lawrence and Delyth Davies, and backs Ffion Bowen and Lerin Lake, return to international rugby.

Commenting on these changes coach Rhys Edwards highlighted scrum half Keira Bevan, who he believes will be a future star player:

"Keira has done really well this season. She performed to a high standard with Wales Sevens and shone in the regional competition. I have no qualms selecting her and I expect her to push the established Amy Day for the scrum half position."

Fly half Hannah Jones has yet to be capped at international level but she was a Wales squad member last season but again Edwards is confident the youngster is now ready.

"Hannah missed out on World Cup selection last year as we felt she wasn't quite ready but again she is someone who is now a year older and wiser and consistently performed to a high level in the regional competition."

It’s not all about youth, however, and while a couple of players did retire after Paris, Edwards is delighted that experienced campaigners Jenny Davies, Catrin Edwards and Rachel Taylor - who between them have 174 caps - have all returned for another season.

"It's great that players of the calibre of Tails, Cat and Treacle are still involved. They bring with them a vast amount of knowledge and experience and they are determined to pass on the baton and leave a legacy of securing World Cup qualification for the next generation," said Edwards.

Wales begin their Six Nations campaign against England at Swansea on Sunday 8th February and Edwards is eager to begin the competition well.

"It's good now the squad has been selected as we can now focus fully on the game against England. With the World Cup qualification having also been confirmed, we know exactly what we have to do and a good performance against England would set us up nicely for the rest of the campaign," he said.

Wales Women's Six Nations squad

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