| Venue: Wanderers Ground, Halifax Date: Saturday 27 August Time: 21:00 BST |
| Coverage: Live streaming on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer. Plus, updates and reports on BBC Sport website, app. |
Hannah Jones will lead a new Wales team in Saturday’s World Cup warm up Test against Canada.
Siwan Lillicrap, the regular skipper, starts on the bench. Jones is joined by debutant Carys Wilkins-Morris in the centre. Jones has previously represented England.
Wing Lowri Norkett makes a debut, and replacement scrum half Eloisehayward will make her debut.
After shoulder surgery, Olympian Jasmine Joyce is back in action.
This will be the second of two Tests that are part of the preparation for the World Cup in October. Wales has been drawn in Pool B with Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland.
Ioan Cunningham, head coach, has made numerous changes to the team that finished third in the Six Nations in 2022. This was their best result in the competition in 13 years.
Norkett, a rugby league international, will make it a memorable first cap. She follows the footsteps of her younger sister Elli, who played in the 2014 World Cup before her tragic death in a car accident in 2017.
Joyce and Kayleigh Powell are her familiar backline – Joyce is fully recovered from her surgery in May.
Williams-Morris gets her chance at the centre after World Rugby gave her the go-ahead to move from England to Wales. Her parents are from north Wales.
The Red Roses won her last five caps in 2019, when the 28-year old RAF officer won.
Ffion Lewis is partnered by Elinor Snowsill as a half-back.
The new-look packs offer Kat Evans, hooker, her first opportunity of this year. She joins Cara Hope (front row) and Donna Rose (second row). Abbie Fleming takes the honors alongside Natalia John in the second row.
Manon Johnes joins Beth Lewis again as a flanker. SionedHarries, who has returned to international prominence in the Six Nations, is at number eight.
Harries would fly to New Zealand for her fourth World Cup.
The bench is full of experienced players like Lillicrap, Caryl Tom and Kelsey Jones. Georgia Evans is expected to return to action in April after suffering a serious arm injury.
Cunningham also has exciting young talents in Sisilia Tipulotu, LleucuGeorge and Caitlin.
Canada is one of the top hitters in women’s rugby. At the moment, they are ranked fourth in the world. Wales is ninth.
Saturday’s Test will mark their seventh home match in seven years. They met in Cardiff in 2021’s autumn series. Wales had led at half-time but was defeated 24-7.
Wales became fully professional in 2005, with 31 players signing contracts until the end. There are two part-time players and 29 full-time players.
Cunningham explained that Wales has been in Canada for a week to participate in a training camp. It “certainly served as a valuable purpose in helping me raise the standard of my preparation before Rugby World Cup.”
He stated, “The players have worked very hard through this block and it is something we all look forward to putting to the test on Saturday.
“The selection is a reward for players who have been really impressive in training and it also gives us a chance see players we haven’t seen in a Wales shirt as a management team.
“We will be focusing 90% on ourselves this week, and not worrying too much about the opposition. We played them last year and trained against them this week.
“They are great athletes and are ready for this home match, but we cannot wait to see what they do.”
Final preparation: Wales takes on England at Ashton Gate, 14 September.
Canada: TBC
Wales: Kayleigh Powell, Jasmine Joyce; Carys Wil-Morris; Hannah Jones (capt), Lowri norkett; Elinor snowsill, Ffion Lewis, Kat Evans; Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming.
Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Caryl Thomas, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Georgia Evans, Siwan Lillicrap ,Eloise Hayward, Lleucu George, Caitlin Lewis.