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15 capped Wales internationals named in Gwalia Lightning squad


SALFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 30: Bryonie King of Wales arrives at the stadium prior to the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool B match between Canada and Wales at the Salford Community Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Salford, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
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Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin has named a blend of youth and experience in her Gwalia Lightning squad.

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The former Wales international, who is due to take charge of the team in the Celtic Challenge for a third season, has 15 capped players in her side. This includes back-row forward Bryonie King who will captain the side.

Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Molly Reardon, Alaw Pyrs, Tilly Vucaj and Catherine Richards all represented Wales at this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

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There are also places for Courtney Greenway and Nia Fajeyisan who have spent the past fortnight representing Great Britain Sevens on the HSBC SVNS Series in Dubai and Cape Town.

Lighting begin their 2025/26 season on Saturday 20 December when they travel to Dublin’s Energia Park to play Clovers.

Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin, Gwalia Lighting Head coach, said: “This is a Gwalia Lightning squad with a good blend of international experience and exciting young talent from our pathway and the community game.

“We have had 15 players who have been capped for Wales playing for Gwalia Lightning, but we are still a young squad with an average age of 21.

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“We know what to expect in this championship and finished third last season and have set our sights on being brave and competitive, especially against the Irish sides that have dominated the Celtic Challenge.

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“As coaches and players, we are excited about the Celtic Challenge and cannot wait to get started and to see where are as a squad.”

Gwalia Lightning squad

Forwards: Maisie Davies, Chloe Thomas Bradley, Molly Reardon, Molly Wakely, Mollie Crabb, Jenni Scoble, Danyelle Dinapoli, Evie Hill, Alaw Pyrs, Tilly Vucaj, Erin Jones, Erin Williams, Bryonie King, Catrin Stewart, Lily Terry, Lottie Buffery Latham, Anwen Owen, Chiara Pearce, Imogen Shide

Backs: Sian Jones, Katie Bevans, Carys Hughes, Molly Anderson Thomas, Kelsie Webster, Nia Fajeyisan, Isla McMullen, Jodie Palmer, Catherine Richards, Caitlin Lewis, Nia Grundy, Courtney Greenway, Jenny Hesketh, Nikita Prothero

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NoLongerARuck 8 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

Alot of people have talked about how the AB's are making progress and getting closer to the Boks. Its also important to ask where the net gain has been. In 4 games under Razor the AB's attack failed dismally and struggled to score tries. The Boks outscored them comprehensively. Even so the All Blacks led for long periods in Joburg and Cape Town in 24. They lost each game by one score. They led all the way in Auckland and led for a quarter of the match in Wellington. Razors team always lost control in the final quarter of matches against the boks where the Boks bench completely overpowered them.

Under Rennie the AB's have scored plenty of tries, more than the Boks, they have rediscovered their attacking threat but they have regressed in other areas. Their scrum has totally capitulated, their lineout has been hammered, they are turning the ball over more at break down and in the tackle. They are making mistakes within their attacking template that has cost them and presented the Boks opportunities and so their defence has suffered with the Boks making hay in the last 3 games outscoring them in terms of tries and pts during that period. They have conceded 2 and 3 score leads in the last 3 matches heading into the final quarter. At Cape Town it was 16 points, Soweto 12 pts and in the US 15 pts. The Boks established control of Rennies team earlier and led for longer with AB's forced to chase games. They won the second half in Ellis Park comprehensively and the final quarters in the next 2 matches matches but little else illustrating the lack of control for the AB's.



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