How are Wales shaping up ahead of the Women's Six Nations?

Whilst much of the chatter ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations includes the England Red Roses bathing in the success of their World Cup glory and entering the Championships on a world record winning run, at the other end of the spectrum Wales enter the tournament with a cautious, quiet hope.

After a disappointing World Cup campaign, where they crashed out of Pool B with three consecutive losses to Scotland, Canada and Fiji, they have not recorded a win in the Six Nations since defeating Italy back in 2024.

Currently sat 12th in the world rankings, with the next closest Six Nation competitor being Italy in ninth, you worry that Wales may yet again be destined for the wooden spoon.

Added to this, two weeks ago co-captain Alex Callender was ruled out of the competition with an ankle injury, leaving Kate Williams as sole captain. When you lay it out on paper, the enormity of the task heading into this competition is clear.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

0

Wins

4

Average Points scored

19

29

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

But it is not all doom and gloom. Wales are undoubtedly a team in transition, like any side that is still relatively new to professionalism (the first central contracts were offered in late 2024). It is no longer adequate on the international stage to have just world-class potential players, which Wales absolutely does.

Fly-half Lleucu George leads the PWR in kicking stats, Jasmine Joyce remains a world-class finisher, plus established talents such as Kiera Bevan; Bethan Lewis; Sisilia Tuipulotu and Carys Cox have all been impressing in the PWR this season, plus Alisha Joyce is also back in the fray after having a baby back in November 2025.

However, personnel aside, international sides must enter fixtures with a clear playing identity and this is where Wales are still searching and ultimately this is the main question facing the team at this tournament.

It is the second Six Nations campaign under the leadership of Sean Lynn, who took over from Ioan Cunningham in 2025. He is a coach experienced at producing championship winning machines. His leadership with PWR side Gloucester-Hartpury from 2023-2025 saw them achieve the famous ‘three-peat’ – three consecutive PWR titles.

He has identified the experience gap for elite Welsh players and has emphasised that squad selection through this tournament will be centred on players playing regular rugby across the PWR and Celtic Challenge.

The two Welsh Celtic Challenge sides, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning finished mid-table this season. 25 of 45 of the extended player squad this year have Celtic Challenge experience and for the first time we have seen international stars such as Gwen Crabb opt in favour of regular selection in the Celtic Challenge ahead of the PWR.

A step in a strong direction. Perhaps there is an inclination across players that the future of the women’s team lies in the development of opportunities at home as opposed to crossing the bridge. What might this increased game time from the Celtic Challenge bring to the squad this year, as many players are simply not getting in it the PWR, either occupying bench spaces or not making the match day 23 at all.

Of course there is still a gap in standards between the Celtic Challenge and the PWR- but this is to be expected given the head start the PWR has had, being revamped and millions of pounds put into it by the RFU since its reformation in 2017.

Likewise the future looks bright, as this week in the U18 Six Nations festival Wales U18s stunned England U18s in a 34-24 win, and beat Italy 14-12 (with Scotland still to play). Perhaps the Senior Women’s side can draw strength from the younger generation that they have inspired.

Looking to the tournament ahead, in their previous international outing against Scotland last August, Wales became undone through the outside channels and narrow defending. They face the same opposition in the opening fixture this weekend at the Principality. That is an enormous opportunity to make a statement, and ignite the Welsh fans once again after the men’s squad overcame Italy in the final game of the Men’s Six Nations at the same venue.

Wales traditionally have had big ball carrying threats, and this continues to be true. I hope they find a way to play to their strengths instead of playing to a prescribed style of playing. I hope we see the return of a destructive Welsh set piece maul. How can they get their big ball carriers ripping through defences full tilt at the gain-line? How can they give their half backs time and space to snipe and pick gaps as they can so expertly do? How can they get their wingers into space and give them 1 v 1 opportunities?

There is no doubt that this tournament poses some big questions for the Welsh Women’s side, asking who they are on and off the pitch. Fans and critics should rally around this team and support a national professional programme that is still ultimately in its infancy. Significant progress has been made in developing the pathways and infrastructure to support the international women’s side in the past year, and those rewards are already beginning to be reaped. It took the Red Roses two World Cup cycles after professionalising to become World Champions after all.

Finally, if anything is to be garnered from the Welsh men’s squad it’s that even the darkest of days will eventually pass and when they do, it will be glorious.

The women’s squad have the opportunity to approach this tournament as a clean slate, at the start of a new World Cup cycle, with a fresh squad littered with exciting talent, and opening the tournament on home turf at the Principality. What an endorsement.