Injured skipper Callender still in Wales squad for Women's Rugby World Cup / Photo: © AFP
Injured skipper Callender still in Wales squad for Women's Rugby World Cup
Wales co-captain Alex Callender has been included in her country's Women's Rugby World Cup squad despite suffering an ankle injury earlier this month.
The back-row forward limped off just four minutes into the second Test against Australia -- which Wales lost 36-5 -- on August 1 before returning to the sideline in a boot and on crutches.
Wales coach Sean Lynn has included all 30 players he took on the summer tour, along with experienced centre Kerin Lake and uncapped Wales Under-20 captain Branwen Metcalfe.
Kate Williams will share captaincy duties with Callender as she did in Australia.
Meanwhile, the Wales camp has yet to confirm if Callender will be fit for the team's World Cup opener against Scotland in Manchester on August 23. Wales' pool also includes Canada, second in the world rankings and Fiji, now under the guidance of former Wales coach Ioan Cunningham.
Together with Lake, Metcalfe is the only other member of the squad outside of the 30 players who recorded a first Test match victory for Wales against the Wallaroos in Australia last month thanks to a shock 21-12 success in Brisbane.
That was a desperately needed success for Wales after a Women's Six Nations where they lost all five matches.
Lynn, after announcing his squad on Monday, said: "These are the 32 players who have earned the privilege and honour to represent Wales at what will be the biggest and best women's Rugby World Cup.
"The Wales squad selected is a mix of experience and exciting young talent that have all proved they deserve the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of a World Cup."
The top two teams in each of the four pools qualify for the knockout stages, with the final staged at Twickenham on September 27.
Wales squad
Forwards: Katherine Baverstock (Leicester/ENG), Maisie Davies (Bristol/ENG), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale/ENG), Donna Rose (Saracens/ENG), Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Carys Phillips (Harlequins/ENG), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Alex Callender (Harlequins/ENG, co-capt), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Georgia Evans (Saracens/ENG), Abbie Fleming (Harlequins/ENG), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Alaw Pyrs (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Tilly Vucaj (Gwalia Lightning), Kate Williams (Gloucester-Hartpury/co-capt), Branwen Metcalfe (Hartpury College/ENG)
Backs: Keira Bevan (Bristol/ENG), Meg Davies (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Seren Lockwood (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Lleucu George (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins/ENG), Carys Cox (Trailfinders/ENG), Hannah Dallavalle (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning), Courtney Keight (Sale/ENG), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol/ENG), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury/ENG), Lisa Neumann (Harlequins/ENG), Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning)
E.Vogel--NRZ
