Wales women’s head coach Thomas Brindle has named an 18-player squad to travel to Dublin to face Ireland in the crucial European Championship B North clash on Saturday 8th October.

A win or draw for Wales will give them the title after both teams beat Italy earlier this season. Wales won 60-0 in Cross Keys with Ireland beating the Italians 30-6.

There are three additions to the squad who beat Italy in June. Leanne Burnell, who was player of match against England and missing for the Italy game through injury, returns to the squad, as does Ffion Jones, whose twin sister Sara misses out through injury this time around. Ffion Jenkins of Bridgend Blue Bulls and Cardiff Demons will be hoping to win her first cap.

Brindle said: “We played Ireland last year and it was a great game, albeit one where we ended up on the wrong side of the result.

“This is another chance, a year on, to see how far we’ve progressed as a group, and with it being a Euro B game, the added pressure to win makes it exciting and one where you want to taste victory.”

WALES (from): Katie Carr, Rosie Carr, Ffion Jenkins*, Ffion Jones, Eleri Michael (all Bridgend Blue Bulls / Cardiff Demons), Lauren Aitken, Leanne Burnell, Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Brittony Price, Amberley Ruck (all Cardiff Blue Dragons / Cardiff Demons), Emily Hughes, Kathryn Salter (both London Broncos), Bryonie King, Joeann McGuire, Molly Reardon (all Rhondda Outlaws / Cardiff Demons), Fern Davies (Warrington Wolves), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors). *potential new cap