Callender set to earn her 50th Wales cap as Lynn reshuffles for Japan test

Wales co-captain Alex Callender will win her 50th Test cap when Sean Lynn’s side face Japan at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday in the WXV Global Series.

Lynn paid warm tribute to the Harlequins flanker ahead of the milestone, describing her as the squad’s driving force. “Alex Callender will win her 50th Wales cap and we all know – players, coaches and staff – what this will mean to her and her family,” the head coach said. “Al Cal is the emotional heartbeat of this squad and is hugely respected across the rugby world. Her resilience and passion for her country are an inspiration to us all.”

Lynn has made two changes to the starting XV. Nel Metcalfe returns on the wing for her first international appearance since the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, with her inclusion pushing Carys Cox into the outside centre position alongside Freya Bell. Courtney Keight drops to the replacements.

Seren Lockwood also comes back into the side at scrum-half after missing the defeat to the USA Women’s Eagles following a failed head injury assessment. Her return means Keira Bevan shifts to fly-half — the same position she occupied against the Springbok Women last month.

The starting pack is largely unchanged, with the only alteration seeing Jorja Aiono named at lock alongside Branwen Metcalfe. Georgia Evans is named among the replacements.

Lynn framed the selection as both a reward for training performances and a chance to build squad depth. “We have made some changes to reward players who have pushed hard in training, and we also need to give players the opportunity to build strength in depth in the squad,” he said.

The coach also flagged Japan as a distinctly different challenge from previous WXV opponents. “Japan will pose a very different threat to the sides we have faced previously in this WXV campaign, with their ability to play fast and wide. They will pose us different challenges, and we will have to find different answers. It will be a real test of our game management.”

Wales matchday 23 v Japan — WXV Global Series 2026

1. Lisa Neumann (Leicester Tigers, 54 caps) | 14. Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester Hartpury, 16 caps) | 13. Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders, 27 caps) | 12. Freya Bell (Gwalia Lightning, 4 caps) | 11. Amy Williams (Brython Thunder, 2 caps) | 10. Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears, 85 caps) | 9. Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder, 10 caps) | 1. Maisie Davies (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps) | 2. Kelsey Jones (Sale Sharks, 59 caps) | 3. Sisilia Tuipulotu (Harlequins, 38 caps) | 4. Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder, 8 caps) | 5. Jorja Aiono (Gloucester Hartpury, 7 caps) | 6. Kate Williams — co-captain (Gloucester Hartpury, 28 caps) | 7. Alex Callender — co-captain (Harlequins, 49 caps) | 8. Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning, 19 caps)