Jones returns to captain Wales for WXV2 in South Africa

Hannah Jones returns to skipper Wales for WXV2 successful South Africa.

Centre Jones was near retired of Wales' caller conclusion to Scotland on pinch a number of different elder players, pinch Keira Bevan starring nan side.

But they are each backmost arsenic portion of Ioan Cunningham's 30-player squad which will return connected Australia, Italy and Japan successful Cape Town, starting later this month.

Second statement Alaw Pyrs, prop Maisie Davies and hooker Rosie Carr are included aft making their elder debuts successful Edinburgh, while prop Jenni Scoble is successful statement to triumph her first Test cap.

Kayleigh Powell, who became an Olympian pinch GB Sevens successful nan summer, comes successful astatine fly-half successful spot of Robyn Wilkins.

Pyrs is nan younger sister of prop Gwenllian, and her inclusion intends location is nary spot for chap fastener Gwen Crabb, who returned from semipermanent wounded against Scotland earlier this month.

Hannah Bluck is preferred arsenic a centre action to Megan Webb, who scored successful nan 40-14 conclusion successful Edinburgh.

Gwennan Hopkins, who made her first commencement successful that game, besides fails to make nan cut, pinch Bryonie King capable to screen some nan backmost and 2nd row.

Wings Lisa Neumann and Catherine Richards miss retired done injury; Neumann is still recovering from a groin problem, while Richards suffered a ft wounded against nan Scots.

“We person rewarded players who person impressed successful our caller training campy and person selected nan squad pinch an oculus connected nan World Cup," said Cunningham.

"As coaches and staff, we cognize we request to thrust title for places and build nan strength-in-depth successful nan squad pinch England 2025 little than a twelvemonth away.

“The likes of Alaw, Maisie and Rosie person impressed america each since they person been pinch america and merit this opportunity to acquisition tourney rugby astatine nan highest level.

“Jenni is nan only uncapped subordinate and was portion of nan past season’s Six Nations squad and impressed for Gwalia Lightning during past season’s Celtic Challenge.

“Some players person missed retired connected selection, but nan doorway is still open, and we cognize this is going to beryllium a demanding season, pinch a Six Nations and World Cup still to come.”

Wales person fallen to 10th successful nan World Rugby rankings aft a disappointing Six Nations, which saw them decorativeness bottommost of nan array pinch conscionable 1 win.

But they did salvage their spot successful nan 2nd tier of WXV aft beating Spain successful a June play-off.

Wales unfastened their WXV run against Australia connected 28 September, who will beryllium acquainted guidance arsenic Wales play nan Wallaroos successful their last warm-up crippled astatine Rodney Parade connected 20 September.

They past play Italy connected 4 October earlier finishing against Japan a week later.

Wales WXV squad

Forwards: Gwenllian Pyrs, Abbey Constable, Maisie Davies, Carys Phillips, Molly Reardon, Rosie Carr, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alaw Pyrs, Alisha Butchers, Bryonie King, Alex Callender, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis.

Backs: Jenny Hesketh, Jasmine Joyce, Courtney Keight, Nel Metcalfe, Hannah Jones (capt), Hannah Bluck, Kerin Lake, Carys Cox, Lleucu George, Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan, Sian Jones.