Chiefs duo in Welsh squad to face England

By Mark Stevens
14/3/23

Exeter Chiefs duo Abbie Fleming and Robyn Wilkins have both been included in the Wales Women’s squad for their Round 3 fixture in the TikTok Six Nations against England at Cardiff Arms Park, on Saturday (2.15pm).

Having collected wins against Scotland (34-22) and Ireland (31-5) so far in the tournament, the Welsh know the visit of the also unbeaten Red Roses will provide them with their toughest test yet.

Centre Hannah Jones will captain the Welsh in front of record sell-out crowd of more than 8,000 in the Welsh capital. Lowri Norkett comes in on the wing to replace Carys Wiliams-Morris, who is away playing for the RAF in the Inter Services rugby championship ,while Hannah Bluck replaces centre Kerin Lake in the midfield in one of two changes to the side that beat Scotland 34-22 in Edinburgh.

Fleming will pack down in the second-row for the hosts, whilst Wilkins has been named on the bench by head coach Ioan Cunningham, who is clearly relishing the clash this weekend.

“England are coming to town and there is no bigger test. The Red Roses set the benchmark for all of us in the TikTok Six Nations and around the world, and that’s why we are relishing the task ahead of us,” he said.“We are excited by the challenge and the Welsh rugby public have shown they are too with a historic sell-out crowd at the Arms Park, our spiritual home in the Welsh capital city.

“England have been professional longer than most of the teams in the tournament and the challenge for us all is to show that we are now ready to meet that challenge.All of this Wales team play in the Allianz Premier 15s, a league regarded as the best in the world, and they have all shown they can thrive and be key players for their respective sides.

“Our performances against Ireland and Scotland have shown we can score tries, deal with adversity and show the togetherness and resilience of this Wales squad.The fallow week has allowed us to take stock, review and focus on what is ahead of us. We knew we would be without Carys, due to her RAF commitments and we wish her all the best, but Lowri has been pushing for the jersey since the tournament started.

“We are now starting to see the benefit of the competition for places that has really started to show in the squad as this TikTok Six Nations campaign has progressed.All of the players, coaches and staff are excited to see what we can achieve and to see where we are after this game against England.”

Wales Women’s team to face England

15 Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears)
14 Lisa Neumann (Gloucester Hartpury)
13 Hannah Jones (Gloucester Hartpury, capt)
12 Hannah Bluck (Worcester Warriors)
11 Lowri Norkett (Worcester Warriors)
10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears)
9 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears)
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Bristol Bears)
2 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester Hartpury)
4 Abbie Fleming (Exeter Chiefs)
5 Georgia Evans (Saracens)
6 Bethan Lewis (Gloucester Hartpury)
7 Alex Callender (Worcester Warriors)
8 Sioned Harries (Worcester Warriors)

16 Carys Phillips (Worcester Warriors)
17 Cara Hope (Gloucester Hartpury)
18 Cerys Hale (Gloucester Hartpury)
19 Natalia John (Worcester Warriors)
20 Kate Williams (Gloucester Hartpury)
21 Bryonie King (Bristol Bears) Uncapped
22 Ffion Lewis (Worcester Warriors)
23 Robyn Wilkins (Exeter Chiefs)