Rugby history will once again be made on The Close at Rugby School this weekend when Wales Women meet England at U18 level for the first time in a capped game - and six players from Dragons RFC are set to feature.
Savannah Picton-Powell (Coleg Gwent / Nelson Belles / Dragons), Molly-Mae Powell (Coleg Gwent / Nelson Belles / Dragons) and Molly Wakely (Coleg Gwent / Dragons) all start while Abi Meyrick (Coleg Gwent / Dragons), Chloe Thomas Bradley (Coleg Gwent / Dragons) and Katie Bevans (Coleg Gwent / Dragons) are named among the replacements.
The game on Sunday (March 5) will also be the first women’s international match played at the cradle of rugby union, where 200 years ago this year William Webb Ellis first picked up and ran with the ball.
“This fixture is a fantastic opportunity for the girls who will face England in a full international for the first time,” said Wales U18 head coach, Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin.
“We have a fantastic management team, and their enthusiasm and hard work is reflected in the attitudes of the girls.
“The opportunity to face England is just the start in our campaign and we look forward to facing Scotland in a training game in two weeks’ time in preparation for the 6 Nations Tournament to be held at Wellington College in April.”
Nicholas-McLaughlin and her coaching team, which includes recently retired Wales senior women’s captain Siwan Lillicrap as forwards coach and Oliver Wilson as backs coach, have picked 13 new caps for the game.
Wales Women U18: Carys Hughes (Hartpury / Scarlets); Hannah Lane (Chester / Sale Sharks / RGC), Bronwen Griffin (Ysgol Y Strade / Scarlets), Savannah Picton-Powell (Coleg Gwent / Nelson Belles / Dragons), Molly-Mae Powell (Coleg Gwent / Nelson Belles / Dragons); Rachel Thomas-Evans (L. North / Cardiff Quins / Cardiff Rugby), Sian Jones (Sale Sharks / RGC); Niamh Padmore (Cardiff & Vale College / Cardiff Rugby), Molly Wakely (Coleg Gwent / Dragons), Elan Jones (Nant Conwy / RGC), Robyn Davies (West Swansea Hawks / Hartpury / Ospreys), Erin Jones (Nant Conwy / RGC), Maisie Davies (Llandovery College /Burry Port / Scarlets), Catrin Stewart (Môn Stars Llangefni / RGC), Gwennan Hopkins (Hartpury / Cardiff Rugby – captain)
Reps: Abi Meyrick (Coleg Gwent / Dragons), Chloe Thomas Bradley (Coleg Gwent / Dragons), Cadi-Lois Davies (Lampeter Ladies / Scarlets), Milly Summer (Llandovery College / Scarlets), Katie Sims (Cardiff & Vale College / Cardiff Rugby), Katie Bevans (Coleg Gwent / Dragons), Hanna Marshall (West Swansea Hawks / Hartpury / Ospreys), Nia Fajeyisan (Plasmawr / Cardiff Rugby)
