Wales clinch 2025 World Cup spot with Spain rout

WXV2 play-off

Wales (21) 52

Tries: Callender, Fleming, Joyce-Butchers 2, Cox 3, Hesketh Cons: Bevan 6, George

Spain: (20) 20

Tries: Antolinez, Perez, Pena Cons: Argudo Pens: Argudo

Wales booked their spot astatine at nan 2025 World Cup pinch an eight-try triumph complete Spain successful Cardiff.

Carys Cox scored a second-half hat-trick arsenic Wales recovered from a shaky first half to yet motion disconnected their visitors.

Alex Callender and Abbie Fleming crossed early connected earlier Alisha Joyce-Butchers crossed doubly and Jenny Hesketh added different score.

The triumph besides saw Wales unafraid their spot successful WXV2, which is to beryllium held successful South Africa successful September.

It offered Wales a glimmer of dream astatine nan extremity of a frustrating play that was reflected by nan disappointing crowd of 2,436 astatine nan Arms Park.

Head coach Ioan Cunningham will beryllium mightily relieved aft cracks successful his team's crippled and assurance were exposed by Rugby Europe Championship winners Spain, who had their hosts rattled pinch people astatine 21-20 successful Wales' favour astatine half-time.

A conflict of styles betwixt nan Welsh forwards and Spanish backs produced a thrilling first half that featured six tries.

Wales must person thought they were connected way for triumph erstwhile they crossed doubly wrong nan opening 12 minutes.

Callender raced done from number 8 Bethan Lewis' clever wrong walk earlier fastener Fleming collapsed complete aft Kerin Lake was inches short of a people connected her 50th cap.

But Spain, connected a seven-game winning run, refused to buckle and Cox's yellowish paper for deliberately blocking a walk was not only needless but costly.

It opened nan abstraction Spain were seeking and they struck doubly successful 7 minutes.

A scorching break by fly-half Amalia Argudo was vanished by prop Antolinez earlier full-back Pena put Spain up 15-14 pinch nan second.

Wales flanker Joyce-Butchers squeezed complete to reclaim nan lead, but nan advantage was swiftly trim to a constituent erstwhile Perez stepped done defenders to people conscionable earlier half-time.

Cunningham and Wales faced a immense 2nd 40 minutes and, pinch their play connected nan line, reverted to type done nan battalion and Lleucu George's boot.

Cox began to make amends for her earlier paper erstwhile she powered done earlier Joyce-Butchers stretched retired for her second.

That proved nan important people and astatine 35-20 ahead, Wales could yet trim loose.

Cox was nan main beneficiary, finishing a break by Hesketh earlier returning nan compliment moments later, and past collecting Robyn Wilkins' cross-field footwear to complete nan hat-trick 3 minutes from time.

Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Kate Williams, Gwennan Hopkins, Sian Jones, Robyn Wilkins, Courtney Keight.

Sin bin: Cox (21)

Spain: Claudia Pena; Claudia Perez, Alba Vinuesa, Zahia Perez, Clara Piquero; Amalia Argudo, Lucia Diaz; Ines Antolinez, Marieta Roman, Laura Delgado (capt), Monica Castelo, Lourdes Alameda, Nerea Garcia, Alba Capell, Carmen Castellucci

Replacements: Nuria Jou, Maria Del Castillo, Sidorella Bracic, Anna Puig, Maria Calvo, Lia Pineiro, Maider Aresti, Martina Marquez.

Officials

Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)

Assistants: Holly Wood (RFU), Adele Robert (BEL)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)