Callender captains youthful Wales side with five uncapped players against Barbarians

Alex Callender will lead an inexperienced Wales women’s side against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, with head coach Sean Lynn naming five uncapped players in his squad for the non-cap fixture.

Callender’s return is a significant one — the captain missed the entirety of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations through injury. Lynn described her as “the emotional heartbeat for every side she plays for” and called her comeback “a major boost” ahead of the contest in West London.

Two of those five uncapped players start from the off, with wings Amy Williams and Kelsie Webster handed their first taste of international rugby. Nel Metcalfe, who also sat out the Women’s Six Nations, completes the back three at full-back. The established backline quartet of Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Jenna De Vera and Courtney Keight provide experience behind the scrum.

All eight forwards in the starting pack carry senior Wales caps, among them teenage second-row pairing Branwen Metcalfe and Jorja Aiono. Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon and Sisilia Tuipulotu form the front row, while Alisha Joyce and Bryonie King complete the back row.

The three remaining uncapped players — Stella Orrin, Lucy Isaac and Lily Hawkins — are named among the replacements, alongside experienced campaigners Kelsey Jones (57 caps) and Keira Bevan (83 caps).

Eleven of the starting XV are aged 22 or under, a statistic Lynn was keen to highlight. “This is a young and exciting team and every one of these players have deserved this opportunity,” he said. “It’s a great shop window for them to show what they have delivered in training over the last three weeks.”

Lynn also acknowledged the context shaping his selection, with several senior players unavailable due to PWR semi-final and final commitments. “It’s a real opportunity to see the next generation of Wales players,” he added. “We have five new faces and they are representing the future of this Wales team.”

The match forms part of a doubleheader at Allianz Stadium, with the Wales men’s side facing the Barbarians earlier in the afternoon.