Lynn names 37-player Wales squad for Six Nations
Sean Lynn will lead Gloucester-Hartpury against Saracens in their third successive Premiership Women's Rugby final on Sunday
- Published
Sean Lynn has named a 37-player squad for his opening Women's Six Nations Championship as Wales boss.
Lynn announced a 48-player training squad ahead of the tournament and has opted for a blend of experience and youth ahead of his side's first match in Scotland on Saturday, 22 March (16:45 GMT).
Wales will be without vice captain Alex Callender for the opener against Scotland, while Sisilia Tuipolutu will miss the whole tournament after undergoing hamstring surgery.
Scrum-half Keira Bevan will also act as vice captain while centre Hannah Jones will continue to lead the side.
"This is an exciting and significant moment for the players, coaches and staff, when all the Wales family come together for the forthcoming Women's Six Nations campaign," said Lynn.
"We have a good mix of the 15 Welsh internationals who featured in the recent Premiership semi-finals and exciting younger players who have stood out for Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge.
"We all meet up on Monday and it is a short turnaround, but I know we all appreciate what we need to do and the support of the Welsh public.
"We are all excited about this Six Nations which is part of an exciting year for women's rugby, and we are aware of the challenges ahead of us but it's all about working hard for each other and inspiring the nation."
Centre Jones is among the Gloucester-Hartpury contingent who will take on fellow Welsh international Georgia Evans' Saracens in Sunday's Premiership Women's Rugby final. This will be Lynn's final game in charge of Gloucester.
Bryonie King is joined by Lightning team-mates Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs in the national side.
Thunder captain Natalia John is joined by prop Rosie Carr and centre Hannah Bluck.
A week after their opening game in Edinburgh, Wales host England in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on 29 March and are on course to break their record crowd of 10,592 for a standalone women's rugby fixture in Wales.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) says they having already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the contest.
Wales then travel to face France on 12 April before welcoming Ireland eight days later.
Lynn's side conclude their campaign with a trip to Italy on 26 April.
Wales Six Nations squad
Forwards: Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Abbey Constable (Leicester Tigers), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Rosie Carr (Brython Thunder), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury), Carys Phillips (Harlequins), Donna Rose (Saracens) Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), Abbie Fleming (Harlequins), Alaw Pyrs (Gwalia Lightning), Natalia John (Brython Thunder), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Kate Williams (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Hartpury), Alex Callender (Harlequins), Gwennan Hopkins (Gwalia Lightning), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears)
Backs: Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Sian Jones (Gwalia Lightning), Meg Davies (Gloucester/Hartpury), Ffion Lewis (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury), Lisa Neumann (Harlequins), Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins), Robyn Wilkins (Sale Sharks), Hannah Jones (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury), Hannah Bluck (Brython Thunder), Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning), Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester/Hartpury), Jenny Hesketh (Bristol Bears), Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)