Five Uncapped Players to Debut for Wales Against Barbarians
Wales will field five players making their senior debuts in the upcoming match against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, kicking off at 17:00 BST.
Amy Williams and Kelsie Webster have been selected in the starting backline, while Stella Orrin, Lucy Isaac, and Lily Hawkins are named among the replacements.
Kayleigh Powell, who impressed at full-back during the Six Nations, will take on the fly-half role. Several Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) players, including Lleucu George, have been rested or are unavailable for this uncapped fixture.
Seren Lockwood has been preferred over Keira Bevan at scrum-half, and Nel Metcalfe, now fit again, will start at number 15.
Nel Metcalfe's younger sister, Branwen, is part of a robust pack that includes experienced players such as Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alisha Joyce, Bryonie King, and returning captain Alex Callender, alongside Wales' emerging talent Jorja Aiono.
The match at Twickenham follows a double-header format, with the Wales men's team facing the Barbarians earlier at 14:00 BST.
Coach Lynn Highlights Excitement Over Young Squad
"It's a very exciting team," said Lynn.
"Somebody told me there are 11 under 22s in the squad and why not? We're talking about the next generation. I'm talking about 2029 [the next World Cup] and these individuals.
"I want us as coaches having evidence, but also I'm giving them some experience into the international arena.
"It goes to show where we are from the pathway."
Prop Jenni Scoble will not feature in the matchday 23, having announced her retirement from international rugby this week. Scoble cited the difficulty of balancing her full-time firefighting career with the demands of professional rugby as the reason for her decision.
Barbarians Squad Features International Stars
Wales' youthful side will face a Barbarians team packed with international stars, including World Cup winner Ruby Tui. Hooker Carys Phillips, a familiar figure and one of Wales' most capped players with 87 appearances, will also play, lining up against her Test teammates.
Wales are aiming to end a nine-match losing streak in this game. Centre Courtney Keight emphasized the importance of not getting drawn into the Barbarians' open style of play.
"The Baa-baas definitely play with flair so we have to stick to our processes, we're a very process driven team defensively and in attack so it's trying not to get caught up in the occasion," said Keight.
"These are the kind of things you dream of when you play rugby. It's the big occasions, the big stadiums, double-headers with the men.
"It's just so exciting, especially for some of the young ones coming through. It's just the pinnacle in your career sometimes to play in games like this."
Wales' Next Generation Gains Test Experience
How They Line Up
Wales Starting XV: N Metcalfe; Webster, Keight, De Vera, Williams; Davies, Reardon, Tuipulotu, B B Metcalfe, Aiono, A Joyce, Callender (capt), King.
Replacements: Jones, Baverstock, Orrion, A Pyrs, Isaac, Hawkins, Bevan, Bell.
