Many Changes From Lynn To Face Canada

Head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales team to face Canada in their 2025 World Cup second leg at the Salford Community Stadium, Manchester, on Saturday, August 30 (First Kick: Noon).

Winger Bethan Lewis, who will win her 60th cap for her country, will lead Wales in their second match in Group B, as co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams are injured.

This will be the first time ever that Lewis has captained Wales.

Callender (foot) and Williams (ankle) are expected to be fit for Wales' final group game against Fiji in Exeter a week to Saturday.

If Gwenllian Pyrs is called from the bench – the prop will win his 50th cap.

Head coach Lynn has made seven changes to the starting fifteen that faced Scotland in the opening game.
In the front row prop Maisie Davies and catcher Molly Reardon, both from the Gwalia Lightning team, will join Sisilia Tuipulotu - who completes a completely different front row from the first contest in the competition.

Abbie Fleming will partner Gwen Crabb in the second row, while Gwalia Lightning captain Bryonie King and Georgia Evans from the Saracens join Bethan Lewis in the back row.

Sean Lynn has kept the faith with halves Keira Bevan and Lleucu George for this second game in Salford.
The only change among the chasers is the fact that Carys Cox will step into the middle to partner Courtney Keight. Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Lisa Neumann and full-back Nel Metcalfe will once again be the back three.

Branwen Metcalfe, who is 18 years old and captain of her country's under 20 team, will start on the bench on Saturday and hopes that she will be called to the field to win her first international cap.

She will also hope that her sister Nel will still be on the field if she can come to the field.

The sisters Metcalfe and Gwenllian Pyrs started their rugby journey with Nant Conwy Rugby Club and all three of them have been included in the squad for the game against Canada.

Wales have won two of the last ten games against Canada - and those victories came in 1994 and 2017.
Sean Lynn, head coach of Wales, said: "We have looked hard at ourselves and very honest conversations have taken place - so that we can perform to the best of our ability against one of the best teams in the women's sport.

"Canada are the second seeded team in the world at the moment – and naturally so they are one of the favorites to win the World Cup. There is no doubt that facing them will offer us a huge challenge.

"We need to bring real energy into our game and ensure undoubted pride in the shirt. All week we have focused on our performance and what we need to do to ensure a performance on Saturday.

"The changes have been made as a result of the efforts of those players in training and therefore they deserve their chance to play in the World Cup.

"All of the 23 players that have been selected have been told that they have the freedom and the authority to be brave on Saturday. I don't want anyone to regret anything at the final whistle against Canada.

"Of course we face a challenge and a half - but the game on Saturday is an opportunity for the squad to show what it means to play for Wales in a World Cup."

Wales v Canada

15 Nel Metcalfe (Hartpury/Gloucester), 14 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers (Bristol), 13 Carys Cox (Ealing), 12 Courtney Keight (Sale), 11 Lisa Neumann (Harlequins), 10 Lleucu George (Hartpury/Gloucester), 9 Keira Bevan (Bristol); 1 Maisie Davies (Bristol), 2 Molly Reardon (Wales Lightning), 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Hartpury/Gloucester), 4 Abbie Fleming (Harlequins), 5 Gwen Crabb (Hartpury/Gloucester), 6 Bryonie King (Wales Lightning), 7 Bethan Lewis (captain, Hartpury/Gloucester), 8 Georgia Evans (Saracens)

Substitutes: 16 Kelsey Jones (Hartpury/Gloucester), 17 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale), 18 Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), 19 Tilly Vucaj (Gwalia Lightning), 20 Branwen Metcalfe (Hartpury College), 21 Seren Lockwood (Hartpury/Gloucester), 22 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins), 23 Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning).