"New Captain" - Wales team to play Canada at Women's Rugby World Cup

Thursday, 28 August 2025 at 15:33

byTom Sansom

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has made seven changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool B meeting with Canada at Salford Community Stadium.

Flanker Bethan Lewis will lead the side for the first time, winning her 60th cap in the process. Regular co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams are both unavailable through injury, giving Lewis the opportunity to take the armband.

Up front, Lynn has named a reshaped front row of Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon and Sisilia Tuipulotu. In the second row, Abbie Fleming and Gwen Crabb combine, with Bryonie King joining Lewis and Georgia Evans in the back row.

Behind the scrum, Keira Bevan and Lleucu George link up as the half-backs, while Lisa Neumann and Courtney Keight start in midfield. The back three sees Carys Cox joined by Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and Nel Metcalfe.

On the bench, 18-year-old back-row Branwen Metcalfe is in line to make her Test debut, while Kelsey Jones, Gwenllian Pyrs and Jenni Scoble provide front row cover.

Wales face a stern test against a Canadian side ranked second in the world, but the new-look line-up offers opportunities for fresh combinations to impress on the World Cup stage.

The match kicks off on Saturday, 30 August at 2:00pm UK time.

Wales match day squad to face Canada - 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

Starting XV:

Maisie Davies
Molly Reardon
Sisilia Tuipulotu
Abbie Fleming
Gwen Crabb
Bryonie King
Bethan Lewis (captain)
Georgia Evans
Keira Bevan
Lleucu George
Lisa Neumann
Courtney Keight
Carys Cox
Jasmine Joyce-Butchers
Nel Metcalfe

Replacements:
16. Kelsey Jones
17. Gwenllian Pyrs
18. Jenni Scoble
19. Tilly Vucaj
20. Branwen Metcalfe
21. Seren Lockwood
22. Kayleigh Powell
23. Kerin Lake