Siwan Lillicrap leads the squad which includes six uncapped players including Ospreys' Lowri Norkett who turned out for Wales in the warm-up match against USA Falcons last Saturday.
The squad also sees returns to the Wales squad for Kayleigh Powell, Kelsey Jones and Gemma Rowland who missed large parts of last year due to injury, Lleucu George, whose last cap was against England in March 2020 and Sioned Harries who hasn’t featured since November 2019.
Gloucester-Hartpury outside-half George has also signed the latest retainer contract, taking the number of contracted players to 24.
Cunningham said, “The game against USA Falcons on Saturday was a great exercise ahead of squad selection, we are pleased with the strength in depth within the squad given the tough challenge that is the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations. To start with Ireland away, Scotland at home and then the world champions England on their own turf over three consecutive weekend will certainly test us but also give us the chance to develop as individuals and as a group and we are relishing the challenge.
“Kayleigh Powell and Sisilia Tuipulotu have been excellent additions to the group since taking up retainer contracts, they have continued to progress in that time and we are excited to see how they go in the Six Nations.
“In terms of the uncapped players, centre Lowri Norkett has made a positive impact in training and against the USA while Emma Swords is a very smart scrum-half we’ve been following at Harlequins for a while and we like what she brings to the environment. Emma Hennessy shows some real exciting attacking ability on the wing, bringing her into the environment will only help her get better. Jenni Scoble and Liliana have been excellent for Llandaff North, they are both great athletes in their respective positions (prop and lock).
“It’s great to have Kelsey and Gemma back and to have Sioned on board with her experience will be a huge asset.”
“We are pleased Lleucu has accepted a retainer contract. Her skills and potential are huge and with the Rugby World Cup around the corner, the additional contact time will help her to progress on all levels.”
WRU Performance Director Nigel Walker reflected on the progress made in the past six months.
“Our aim from the outset has been clear – to create a world class international programme that is competitive on the world stage. We aren’t quite there yet but huge strides have already been made in a relatively short time. With the addition of Lleucu to the group, we now have 24 contracted players training within a professional programme. The environment we are creating around them will continue to evolve to a situation where the players will have everything elite athletes need to perform at the highest level. There will be further appointments in the coming weeks to support this.
“In terms of the pathway, the Under 18 regional and international set-up is established with Liza Burgess and her newly appointed coaching team preparing a squad for a new Under 18 Six Nations festival in Edinburgh next month and plans are underway to get the Under 20 pathway in place ready for next season.
“Below that, the community team have increased opportunities for girls both in education and within the Female Hubs around Wales – alongside WRU development centres to identify and nurture talent.
“A strategy group is meeting regularly to develop a women and girls’ strategy and we will update further on that in due course.
“We won’t rest while changes need to be made but we are satisfied with the sustainable measures we have put in place.”
Wales Women TikTok Six Nations squad:
Forwards:
Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Bristol Bears), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears), Alex Callender (Worcester Warriors), Gwen Crabb (Glouecster-Hartpury), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kat Evans (Saracens), Abbie Fleming (Exeter Chiefs), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sioned Harries (Worcester Warriors), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), Liliana Podpadec (Llandaff North), Carys Phillips (Worcester Warriors), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Donna Rose (Saracens), Jenni Scoble (Llandaff North), Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Backs:
Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Hennessy (Cheltenham Tigers), Hannah Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Caitlin Lewis (Exeter Chiefs), Ffion Lewis (Worcester Warriors), Lisa Neumann (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lowri Norkett (Pontyclun), Kayleigh Powell (Bristol Bears), Gemma Rowland (Wasps), Emma Swords (Harlequins), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Niamh Terry (Exeter Chiefs), Robyn Wilkins (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Wales Women TikTok Women's Six Nations
Sat 26 March 4.45pm Ireland Women v Wales RDS BBC 2NI Sat 2 April 4.45pm Wales Women v Scotland Cardiff Arms Park BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales Sat 9 April 4.45pm England Women v Wales (venue tbc) BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales Fri 22 April 8pm Wales Women v France Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayer Sat 30 April 12 noon Wales Women v Italy Cardiff Arms Park S4C and BBC iplayer
Go to wru.wales/w6n <https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffrugby/Events> to watch Wales Women at home in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations