Richards set for debut

WALES head coach Ioan Cunningham has named the team to face France in Round 4 of the Women’s Guinness Six Nations at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow (KO: 3.15pm).

Centre Hannah Jones will captain a side with five changes and two positional changes against a France side second in the table.

Catherine Richards will make her Wales debut on the wing and becomes the fifth new cap during this campaign, with fly-half Mollie Wilkinson poised to follow suit off the bench.

Full-back Kayleigh Powell will make her first start for her country since facing New Zealand in the World Cup in 2022.

Courtney Keight is named on the wing after impressing off the bench against England and Ireland.

Experienced lock Natalia John partners Abbie Fleming in the second row, while Georgia Evans moves to Number 8 alongside vice-captain Alex Callender and Alisha Butchers in an experienced back row.

Sian Jones returns at scrum-half to partner Lleucu George at half-back and Carys Cox moves to partner skipper Jones in the midfield.

Wales return home to play their final two games of the tournament in the Welsh capital, with the final game a historic stand-alone fixture against Italy at the Principality Stadium.

Ioan Cunningham, Wales head coach, said: “France are one of the best teams in the world, they are real force in the world game and are a major challenge for us and they are favourites for this Test match.

“We have all taken a long hard look at ourselves this week and have stripped our game back and focused on what we have to do. We have drawn a line in the sand, and we need a performance at Cardiff Arms Park.

“Catherine Richards has had to wait for her Wales cap and will be the fifth new cap during this campaign. She deserves her opportunity having shown what a threat she can be during the Celtic Challenge and in the PWR.

“Kayleigh and Courtney have impressed and made an impact when they have come on and deserve their places in the starting line-up.”

Wales team to face France: Kayleigh Powell, Catherine Richards, Hannah Jones (captain), Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Lleucu George, Sian Jones; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender (vice-captain), Georgia Evans.

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Kate Williams, Gwennan Hopkins, Keira Bevan, Mollie Wilkinson, Jasmine Joyce.