Callender to skipper inexperienced Wales team against Barbarians in Twickenham

Alex Callender will captain an inexperienced Wales team against the Barbarians on Saturday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.

The squad selected by Sean Lynn contains five players without Test match honours for the uncapped fixture. Callender returns to the team after she missed the entirety of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations with injury.

Wales’ fixture against the Barbarians forms part of a doubleheader in West London, with Wales’ men taking on the Barbarians earlier in the afternoon.

Two uncapped players are in the starting XV, with wings Amy Williams and Kelsie Webster getting their first taste of international rugby. Nel Metcalfe, who also missed the Women’s Six Nations, completes the back three at full-back.

Established quartet Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Jenna De Vera and Courtney Keight complete the backline.

All of the starting pack have senior Wales caps, including teenage second row pairing Branwen Metcalfe and Jorja Aiono. Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon and Sisilia Tuipulotu form the front-row, while Alisha Joyce and Bryonie King complete the back-row.

Stella Orrin, Lucy Isaac and Lily Hawkins are the trio of uncapped players among the replacements. Experienced pair Kelsey Jones [57 caps] and Keira Bevan [83 caps] will join the contest from the bench.

Sean Lynn, Wales head coach, said: “This is a young and exciting team selected to face the Barbarians and every one of these players have deserved this opportunity Eleven of the starting line-up are aged 22 or under and it’s a great shop window for them to show what they have delivered in training over the last three weeks.

“We asked the players to assume nothing and to all fight for this chance to wear the red jersey, they have done that in training in the last three weeks and deserve to be selected. We have five new faces in Amy Williams, Kelsie Webster, Stella Orrin, Lucy Isaac and Lily Hawkins, and they are representing the future of this Wales team.

“All of the players have really stepped up and with the players we have missing due to the PWR semi-finals and final, it’s a real opportunity to see the next generation of Wales players. Having Al Cal back is a major boost with the energy she brings, and she is the emotional heartbeat for every side she plays for.”

Wales matchday 23 v Barbarians

15 Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury)
14 Kelsie Webster* (Gwalia Lightning)
13 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks/Brython Thunder)
12 Jenna De Vera (Bristol Bears/Brython Thunder)
11 Amy Williams* (Brython Thunder)
10 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins)
9 Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder)
1 Maisie Davies (Bristol Bears/Gwalia Lightning)
2 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning)
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins/Brython Thunder)
4 Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder)
5 Jorja Aiono (Brython Thunder/ Gloucester-Hartpury)
6 Alisha Joyce (Brython Thunder)
7 Alex Callender (captain, Harlequins)
8 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning)

Replacements
16 Kelsey Jones (Unattached)
17 Katherine Baverstock (Leicester Tigers/Gwalia Lightning)
18 Stella Orrin* (Brython Thunder)
19 Alaw Pyrs (Gwalia Lightning/ Gloucester-Hartpury)
20 Lucy Isaac* (Brython Thunder)
21 Lily Hawkins* (Gwalia Lightning)
22 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears)
23 Freya Bell (Gwalia Lightning)