AMMAN Valley centre Hannah Jones will captain Wales Women in their opening Women’s Six Nations match against Ireland this weekend.

Fellow Amman Valley alumni Ioan Cunningham, who coaches the side, has named the centre as captain and is set to start at openside centre.

Both attended Ysgol Dyffryn Amman, where the initial squad was announced earlier this month.

Also featuring in the starting line-up is Sketty scrum-half Keira Bevan, who began her rugby career in Pontarddulais’ junior section.

On the bench is former Ysgol Dyffryn Amman pupil and dual-code international Ffion Lewis.

Elinor Snowsill and Bevan have been partnered at half-back while the Wales wings are Lisa Neumann and Carys Williams-Morris, with Courtney Keight at full-back.

Centre and captain Jones will be partnered by Kerin Lake in the Wales midfield.

Sisilia Tuipulotu, who made her Wales debut off the bench the last time the two sides met in Dublin back in 2022, packs down with Gwenllian Pyrs and Kelsey Jones in the front row.

Abbie Fleming and Gwen Crabb are selected in the second row, while Georgia Evans, Alex Callander and Bethan Lewis make up the back row.

Cunningham, said: “There were some tough calls around this selection and the competition for places is what every coach wants. We are excited to get started and cannot want to kick off the tournament.

“We know Ireland will pose a formidable challenge but we finished third in last season’s TikTok Six Nations and want to improve on that. As a team, we know we can create opportunities and we just need to finish them off and score more tries.

“The squad have worked really hard and we have prepared really well and we are looking to make a positive start at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday.

“It is great to have Gwen Crabb back at second row, she has worked really hard to get back and to have a player with all her experience is a real positive for us.

“It’s great to see Kate Williams in the squad and she has really contributed to the squad since she has been here and it’s great to give her an opportunity to win her first cap.

‘Overall, we have looked for settled combinations and partnerships and the focus has been very much on selecting a side to face Ireland.

“We want to back up what we achieved last year but we also feel we should have won three games last season. So we want to build on last year and starting at home is real positive for us.

“We want to start well and to give our supporters something to cheer, inspire the next generation of players and build some real momentum for the rest of the campaign.”

Wales Women’s team to face Ireland: 15 Courtney Keight, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones (captain), 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Carys Williams-Morris, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Alex Callender, 6 Georgia Evans, 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.

Replacements: 16 Katherine Evans, 17 Caryl Thomas, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Kate Williams, 20 Sioned Harries, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Hannah Bluck.

Wales Women will play Ireland Women in their opening 2023 TikTok Six Nations game at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, March 25, 2.15pm kick off.