More Wales women players turn professional

WALES women have added more professional players to their ranks in the build up to the World Cup in September while head coach Ioan Cunningham has committed his future until 2025.

The WRU has now contracted 31 players, 29 full-time and two part-time, while additional players are also training with the squad full-time with support from their employers.

The latest round of contracts sees 11 of the players previously on retainer deals upgrade to being fully professional until the end of December.

WRU performance director Nigel Walker said it is an “exciting time for professional women’s rugby in Wales”. He added: “The initial investment of contracts made an immediate difference to the standards and results of the side in the Six Nations and this further investment will help to give Wales the best chance of performing with distinction at the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.”

Cunningham, who was appointed head coach in September 2021, has signed a deal which will keep him at the helm until the 2025 World Cup.

Full-time players: Keira Bevan, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender*, Gwen Crabb*, Georgia Evans*, Kat Evans*, Lleucu George*, Cerys Hale*, Cara Hope*, Natalia John, Hannah Jones, Kelsey Jones*, Jasmine Joyce, Kerin Lake*, Bethan Lewis*, Caitlin Lewis*, Ffion Lewis, Siwan Lillicrap, Lisa Neumann, Carys

Phillips, Liliana Podpadec*, Kayleigh Powell*, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Elinor Snowsill, Niamh Terry*, Caryl Thomas*, Sisilia Tuipulotu*, Meg Webb* Part-time players: Abbie Fleming, Robyn Wilkins*. *Newly awarded contracts, either full-time or retainer.

The other players in the full-time pre-season training include: Sioned Harries, Eloise Hayward, Emma Hennessy, Manon Johnes, Lowri Norkett, Gemma Rowland, Jenni Scoble, Scarlett ThomasThompson and Carys Williams.