Centre Hannah Jones will captain Wales against England in front of a record sell-out crowd of more than 8,000 in Round 3 of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
England welcome the return of several key players as they gear up to face a similarly high-flying Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
Both sides have roared to consecutive victories so far this Championship and will lock horns in front of a record-breaking crowd in Cardiff.
Wales team news
Ioan Cunningham has made two changes to his Welsh side that beat Scotland 34-22 last time out.
Lowri Norkett comes in on the wing to replace Carys Williams-Morris, who is away playing for the RAF in the Inter Services rugby championship while Hannah Bluck replaces Kerin Lake at inside centre.
Lake has suffered an ankle injury and is being assessed.
Norkett makes up a back three of Courtney Keight and Lisa Neumann whilst Elinor Snowsill is named as fly-half and Keira Bevan at scrum-half.
Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu all start in the front row with Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans making up the second row combination.
An unchanged back row sees Sioned Harries at No.8 with Bethan Lewis and Alex Callender as flankers.
Uncapped Bryonie King could make her international debut as she comes in on the bench, joined by Ffion Lewis and Robyn Wilkins.
Wales: 15 Courtney Keight, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones (C), 12 Hannah Bluck, 11 Lowri Norkett, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Georgia Evans, 6 Bethan Lewis, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Sioned Harries
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Natalia John, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Bryonie King, 22 Ffion Lewis, 23 Robyn Wilkins
England team news
Simon Middleton has named a strengthened squad for Cardiff as several players make their return from injury.
Matthews starts in the No.8 shirt while Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Ellie Kildunne are all named as finishers in Cardiff.
Marlie Packer will captain the side from open-side flanker with Sadia Kabeya named as blind-side flanker.
In the backs, Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing is set to make her first start in an England shirt at full-back, joining Jess Breach and Abby Dow in the back three.
Lucy Packer is named as scum-half whilst Holly Aitchison and Tatyana Heard form the 10-12 axis, Lagi Tuima starting at outside centre.
Lark Davies is the starting hooker between Mackenzie Carson as loose-head and Sarah Bern as tight-head while vice-captain Zoe Aldcroft and Cath O’Donnell make up the second row.
Saracens hooker May Campbell could earn her first senior international cap as she takes her place among the substitutes after impressing in the Allianz Premier 15s.
Amy Cokayne is unavailable for Round 3 due to her commitment to the Royal Air Force versus British Army rugby union match at Kingsholm.
England: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Lagi Tuima, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Abby Dow, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Lark Davies, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Zoe Aldcroft (VC), 5 Cath O’Donnell, 6 Sadia Kabeya, 7 Marlie Packer (C), 8 Alex MatthewsReplacements:16 May Campbell; 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Sarah Beckett, 21 Ella Wyrwas 22 Sarah McKenna, 23 Ellie Kildunne
