Skipper Siwan’s back for opener

WALES captain Siwan Lillicrap will lead her side out to face Ireland in today’s Women’s Six Nations opener (4.45pm) after recovering from Covid.

The No 8 had tested positive for coronavirus last Wednesday, but returned to training on Monday this week.

It means 58-cap Sioned Harries, who made her return to the Wales set-up after two-and-a-half years in a Six Nations warm-up this month, has to make do with a place on the bench at the RDS in Dublin.

Rising teen talent Sisilia Tuipulotu is in line for her first Wales cap if she comes off the replacements bench.

This is the first competitive match Wales head into since 12 full-time professional contracts were signed in January, followed by 12 part-time retainer deals.

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has opted for 10 fulltime pros in his starting XV, with four more on semi-pro retainer contracts.

Kayleigh Powell starts at fullback to make her first Test outing since last year’s tournament. Elinor Snowsill, who has recovered from a calf strain which kept her out of the Six Nations warmup against USA, starts at No.10.

As for the forwards, former captain Carys Phillips makes her first Six Nations appearance in two years having returned to a Wales line-up during the autumn for the first time in two years with a hattrick against South Africa. Cunningham said he has gone for a mix of experience and exciting young talent. He said: “It’s good to have players like Kayleigh, Kelsey and Sioned back in the squad at the start of this tournament.

“Sisilia has settled in well to the training environment after taking up a retainer contract and she fully deserves to make the next step to international rugby. The more exposure we can give her at this level, the more comfortable she will be.

“The game against USA two weeks ago gave everyone a chance to stake their claim so we are certainly rewarding performance but also very conscious that we have three Test matches in three weekends.

“There is now healthy competition throughout the squad which is ideal. We want to build on the good progress we saw in the autumn.” Wales Women: