Back rower Alisha Joyce is set to make her return to Test rugby 158 days after giving birth after being named in the Wales side to face England in the Women’s Six Nations.
Joyce (nee Butchers) and her wife Jasmine, who starts on the wing in Bristol, welcomed son Ralphie in November before returning to club action earlier this year.
The flanker is now in line to win her 55th Wales cap off the bench after being brought in to the matchday 23 by head coach Sean Lynn. Her last game for Wales was in 2024.
“On behalf of all the players, coaches and staff, I cannot say how delighted we are to welcome Alisha back after the birth of Ralphie,“ Lynn said.
“It’s a remarkable return to rugby, let alone the Test match arena, and Butch’s diligence and desire to wear the red of Wales again has been an inspiration to all of us.”
Lynn is shorn of his regular captain as Kate Williams is ruled out through injury, with fellow flanker Bethan Lewis skippering the side instead.
Bronwen Metcalfe is set for her first start of the campaign in the back row as Wales face a daunting task against a side on a 35-match winning run.
Having finished bottom of the table in the last two years, Lynn’s side have been beaten by Scotland and France already in this Six Nations but the former Gloucester-Hartpury boss is confident his team can test the Red Roses.
“We are under no illusions of the challenge we face against the Red Roses,” Lynn said. “We are playing the world champions and grand slam champions in front of a sold-out Ashton Gate
.“It doesn’t get bigger than that and England are the trailblazers in the women’s game and have stolen a march on all of us in the Six Nations. These are the games you want to play and get excited about, and we will know where we stand after what we know will be a huge Test match.
“But this is all about us building our performances and style of play and developing our identity as a team.“We need to show the same intensity and resilience that we have shown in the opening two games against Scotland and France and do it for longer. The grit and resilience we have shown and the ability to dig deep is an attribute we showed against France, and we will need against England.”
Wales team to face England in Bristol (Saturday 25 April, 2.15pm BST): 1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu; 4 Jorja Aiono, 5 Gwen Crabb; 6 Bronwen Metcalfe, 7 Bethan Lewis (capt.), 8 Bryonie King; 9 Keira Bevan, 10 Lleucu George; 11 Jasmine Joyce, 12 Courtney Keight, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 14 Seren Singleton; 15 Kayleigh Powell.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Georgia Evans, 20 Alisha Joyce; 21 Seren Lockwood, 22 Jenna De Vera, 23 Catherine Richards.
