By Hannah Blackwell
Wales Women have announced two major Test matches against Scotland and Australia ahead of their WXV2 campaign in South Africa during September.
Ioan Cunningham, the Wales head coach, guided his side to an eight-try 52-20 win over Spain to secure World Cup qualification for England 2025 and WXV2 in Cape Town.
https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion/status/1813242941344817244
The victory cemented Wales’ place at what promises to be the biggest Women’s World Cup and a place in the second season of the WXV tournament.
Wales will prepare for their WXV2 campaign with two Tests against Scotland in Edinburgh and the Wallaroos in Newport.
Wales, Scotland, Australia, Italy, Japan and South Africa are the six Nations to qualify for what promises to be a competitive WXV2.
Wales Coach Ioan Cunningham Praises World Cup-Bound Team After Gritty Win
Cunningham, said: “With qualification for WXV2 and the 2025 World Cup achieved, the players, coaches and staff have deserved a short break, an opportunity to recharge the batteries and time to reflect on what has been a long season.
“The display against Spain saw what we have been working on since the last World Cup come to fruition and we know we have the talent to mix our game and crossing for eight tries.
“We will come together at the end of July to start pre-season to prepare for what will be the beginning of the most exciting and biggest season in the history of women’s rugby, with the World Cup in England on the horizon.
“To prepare we have two Test matches against two nations – Scotland and Australia – who will be in WXV2 and have also qualified for the World Cup and who we have had really close fought games with.
“We know them well and there is a mutual respect, but this is an opportunity to have a look at our squad, to give some young players an opportunity and to develop our game as we head to South Africa.
“Our World Cup preparation will start at the end of July, and we now have the nucleus of our squad, but we need competition for places and to build the depth in the squad ahead of England 2025.
“We have paid close attention to Wales U20s in the Six Nations Summer Series and look forward to the upcoming Transatlantic Quad Series tournament and will reward any player we feel has the potential to make the step up to the senior squad.
“Five players who were under 21 made their debuts in the recent Six Nations campaign and they all showed real potential at the highest level, and it is part of our approach to give young players an opportunity to prove themselves ahead of the World Cup.”
Fri, Sept 6th: Scotland v Wales, the Hive, Edinburgh (KO: 7pm)
Fri, Sept 20th: Wales v Australia, Rodney Parade, Newport (KO: 7pm)
https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1813548972826587619