Welsh Women Seek to Build on 2006 Success

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The Welsh Women’s side will be seeking to build on their best ever year in Test rugby when they kick-off their 2007 Six Nations campaign against Ireland at Taffs Well rugby club on Saturday, 3 February (kick-off 2.30pm)

Wales confounded expectations in 2006 finishing second behind England, last year’s World Cup finalists. Now they will be looking to build on this success.

Coaches Fielies Coetsee and Jason Lewis have selected an experienced squad that includes a second row pairing of Liza Burgess and Claire Donovan with more than 130 caps between them and a wing, Louise Rickard, who will earn her 90th cap against the Irish.

“Last year we were an unknown quantity. Almost no one was expecting us to do well, so maybe the other teams didn’t do very well in terms of preparation. It’s different now as people know that Wales is a good side, so our rivals will do their homework better,” said Coetsee.

“We have changed our game plan a little bit for this year to counteract the fact that the opposition will be studying DVDs of our play more.

“Ireland have improved continuously over the past few years and their new coaching team will certainly help galvanise their squad. We are not sitting back from our successes of last season and hope to have a good performance result to kick start our Six Nations campaign.”

Italy have joined the fold in place of Spain and the Women’s Six Nations competition now officially comes under the auspices of the Six Nations committee.

The tournament will run in parallel with both the men’s and Under 21 campaigns and there will be a new trophy up for grabs.

Wales Women: Elen Evans (Dolgellau); Rhian Williams (Wasps), Rachel Poolman (UWIC), Clare Flowers (Clifton), Louise Rickard (Saracens); Naomi Thomas (Clifton), Mellissa Berry (Worcester, captain); Louise Horgan (Saracens), Rhian Bowden (UWIC), Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Liza Burgess (Clifton), Claire Donovan (Saracens), Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), Jamie Kift (Clifton), Kylie Wilson (Clifton).

Replacements: Amy Broadstock (Llandaff North), Hannah Roberts (UWIC), Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), Nicola Evans (Wasps), Becky Davies (Cardiff Quins), Stacey Saunders (Tylorstown), Hayley Baxter (Cardiff Quins).

Wales Women 6 Nations Fixtures

Wales v Ireland (Taffs Well) Sat 3 Feb K.O 2:30pm

Scotland v Wales (Boroughmuir) Sat 10 Feb K.O 1:00pm

France v Wales (Stade Guy Moquet à Dracy) Sat 24 Feb K.O 1:30pm

Italy v Wales (Rugby Roma) Sun 11 Mar K.O 12:30pm

Wales v England (Taffs Well) Sat 17 Mar K.O 2:30pm

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