Wales Women’s U20s Head coach Liza Burgess has named the team for the second game of the North America tour when they face Canada at Elms Rugby Park, Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday, July 13th (kick-off 6:30pm local time).
Wales narrowly missed out on victory in the first game on tour when they scored 22 unanswered points to just fall short 28-27 to USA Women’s U20s in Ottawa last week.
Molly Reardon, Molly Wakely and Lucy Isaac all start while Chelsea Williams and Chloe Thomas Bradley are named among the replacements.
Centre Jenna De Vera, who was selected for the Wales Women’s Senior Squad for the recent Six Nations campaign, will captain the side for the second time, with Jess Rogers as vice-captain.
Head coach Burgess has made five changes to the starting line-up with two changes to the pack with prop Dali Hopkins and hooker Wakely come into the front row.
Carys Hughes is selected at fly half with Kate Davies drafted in on the wing. Nel Metcalfe moves to fullback.
Wales U20s face a Canada U20s side looking to bounce back from a 40-24 defeat to USA U20s at the same venue last weekend. Wales named a 28-strong and exciting squad to face Canada U20s and USA U20s in two games in Ottawa this summer.
Burgess said: “The players, coaches and staff are all really looking forward to facing our hosts on their home patch and we are expecting them to be wounded after the defeat to the USA.
“But this game is all about us and what we need to build on our performance. We showed real character and composure to fight our way back into the contest.
“We have players in this squad who have a great desire to learn and improve and have shown they have a real future at the elite end of the game. “To narrowly miss out on the win against the USA was disappointing but we know what we are capable of as a squad and the players want to produce a full 80-minute performance.
“This promises to be a real contest and it is one we are all looking forward to.”
The 28-strong tour squad includes 16 players from the Wales U18s squad and features seven players who played in this season’s Celtic Challenge games against Irish and Scottish opposition.
Wales U20s v Canada U20s
15. Nel Metcalfe
14. Kate Davies
13. Ellie Tromans
12. Jenna De Vera (C)
11. Seren Singleton
10. Carys Hughes
9. Molly Reardon
1. Dali Hopkins
2. Molly Wakely
3. Katie Carr
4. Alaw Pyrs
5. Erin Jones
6. Jess Rogers (VC)
7. Lucy Isaac
8. Gwennan Hopkins
Replacements: Rosie Carr, Cana Williams, Chloe Thomas-Bradley, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Sian Davies, Finley Jones, Masie Jones, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Chelsea Williams, Kim Thurlow.
