Former Cardigan player Nia Davies has been selected for the Wales Women’s senior squad that will do battle with Italy, England, Ireland, France and Scotland in the Six Nations Rugby International Series which begins on February 4th.
Nia who started her rugby career at Cardigan RFC juniors at the tender age of five and who continued through to the U13’s before playing for Whitland RFC and the Scarlets has gained fourteen caps to date and is hoping to add to this tally during the series.
Nia, who hails from Llangoedmore near Cardigan and who has recently moved to Cardiff Blues, is a fluent Welsh speaker who is passionate about her rugby and can’t wait to get that red jersey back on.
Speaking to Sportsline Nia said: I am thrilled to have been picked and feeling really proud and privileged to be a part of a very strong squad and looking forward to the Six Nations campaign. “The squad is in a great place with four wins from four under the new management team and it’s nice to see the hard work that we’ve put into training, paying off on the field.
“I’m really excited about what is to come over the next few months as the team is in good shape leading into these championships and we are quietly confident.”.
Head coach Rowland Phillips finalized his selection after a warm up win over Ireland but selection he said was not at all straight forward and he added: “It’s always tough when it comes to selections, because everybody has been working so hard over the past few months,” he says.
“There were plenty of tough calls, but I’m confident of the process we went through to get to this point.” There are some new faces in the squad including forwards in the shape of Morfudd Ifans, Brea Leung and Gwenllian Pyrs, whilst players returning to the set-up after a short break include centre Rebecca de Filippo and front row Lowri Harries. In recent months Wales Women have recorded wins against Scotland, the UK Armed Forces, Spain and Ireland but Phillips says there is no room for complacency and added: “We’re fully aware of what the past four games have been about.
“The results are an added bonus. The real thing for us was for the players to understand the physicality and intensity of top teams, and they certainly experienced it against Ireland.” First up for the Wales women is an away trip to Italy followed by home matches against the old enemy England on February 11th and Ireland on March 11th.
Wales Women’s Six Nations Squad: Forwards: Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Nia Elen Davies (Cardiff Blues), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons), Lowri Harries (Scarlets), Sioned Harries (Scarlets), Morfudd Ifans (Scarlets), Brea Leung (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys), Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys), Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Meg York (Newport Gwent Dragons). Backs: Keira Bevan (Ospreys), Elen Evans (Scarlets), Jodie Evans (Scarlets), Rebecca de Filippo (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets), Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Jessica Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Sian Moore (Newport Gwent Dragons), Charlie Murray (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhiannon Parker (Cardiff Blues), Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons), Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Adi Taviner (Ospreys), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys).
Pics by Dan Sheridan.
