Caryl Thomas will make her 50th appearance in a Wales jersey as her side prepare to take on France in their final Women’s Six Nations clash in Colwyn Bay.
Caryl Thomas will make her 50th appearance in a Wales jersey as her side prepare to take on France in their final Women’s Six Nations clash in Colwyn Bay.
The loosehead made her debut against Ireland in 2006 and is part of an unchanged starting side to face Les Bleues this Friday.
The French are hunting a Grand Slam but will face a Wales side determined to bounce back from defeat to Italy last weekend at Principality Stadium.
Meanwhile five of the starting XV have been named in Wales’ Commonwealth Games sevens squad with Hannah Jones, Jaz Joyce, Elinor Snowsill, Alisha Butchers and Sioned Harries all heading to the Gold Coast.
.@Womens6Nations ??????? #WalesWomen loosehead @Caryl_Elin will win her 50th cap against France this Friday in North Wales. #WALvFRA
?: https://t.co/EPtlEUoR6Y pic.twitter.com/0uR2wqwQCc
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 14, 2018
Head coach Rowland Phillips said: “We know we’re playing against the best team in the competition. We’ve got to meet their physicality.
“It’s an outstanding test for us, and to get something out of this game we need all the near-misses and fine margins that have affected us to this point to go our way this time.
“If we can capitalise on some of the opportunities we’ll be looking to create, we can challenge one of the best teams in the women’s game in front of what will be a strong crowd in Colwyn Bay.”
Wales Women to face France:
15. Hannah Jones (Scarlets)
14. Jaz Joyce (Scarlets)
13. Kerin Lake (Ospreys)
12. Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys)
11. Jess Kavanagh-Williams (RGC)
10. Elinor Snowsill (Dragons)
9. Keira Bevan (Ospreys)
1. Caryl Thomas (Scarlets)
2. Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys)
3. Amy Evans (Ospreys)
4. Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
5. Mel Clay (Ospreys)
6. Alisha Butchers (Scarlets)
7. Bethan Lewis (Scarlets)
8. Sioned Harries (Scarlets)
Replacements
16. Kelsey Jones (Ospreys)
17. Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC)
18. Cerys Hale (Dragons)
19. Natalia John (Ospreys)
20. Nia Elen Davies (Scarlets)
21. Jade Knight (Scarlets)
22. Lisa Neumann (Scarlets)
23. Alecs Donovan (Ospreys)