Wales Wheelchair head coach Alan Caron has named his squad for this Saturday’s Celtic Cup at Oriam Performance Centre in Edinburgh.
There are two uncapped players in the Wales squad – Sid Ramsey of Sheffield Eagles and Matthew Turner of North Wales Crusaders and Wigan Warriors (some players are registered in the Welsh League with one club and the RFL leagues with another).
Ramsey, 17, has been one of the star performers at Sheffield this season, scoring nine tries in six games, after making his Super League debut last year.
Turner, 16, has made two Super League appearances for Wigan after joining them earlier this year. At the Crusaders, he became, and still is, the highest points scorer in the history of the Welsh domestic league, making a try-scoring debut at just 13-years-old.
Returning to the squad after two years away is Wales’ record cap holder, Harry Mitchell-Jones of North Wales Crusaders, who is set to win his 45th and 46th caps on Saturday.
Also back, after five years out, are the father-son duo, Jamie and Jason Reynolds, who helped South Wales Jets win the Welsh title this year, with Jamie the top try and points scorer in the 2026 campaign.
The Celtic Cup sees Wales, Scotland and Ireland competing against each other in three 80-minute matches to decide the champions.
Wales won the Celtic Cup seven times in a row from 2016-23, but it’s Ireland who have taken the title in the last two years, as well as in 2015, when the inaugural year was a two-legged contest between themselves and Scotland.
In this, the 11th staging of the competition, Wales are hoping to take the trophy for an eighth time.
Caron said: “Going into the Celtic Cup, we’ve got a really strong squad to face against Ireland and Scotland. I really think we’ve got a good chance of regaining that trophy, and that’s what we’re aiming to do.
“That’s our target, leading into the next phase, which is the World Cup.
“It’s our first match of two against Ireland this year, as we take them on in the World Cup, so that will make this Saturday’s match even more interesting.”
Caron has named Leeds Rhinos’ captain Jodie Boyd-Ward as his captain. She is set to win her 47th and 48th international caps this Saturday, her 18th and 19th for Wales, having previously played for Ireland and England.
Wales’ top try scorer, Stuart Williams of North Wales Crusaders and Edinburgh Giants, who has 70 tries to his name in a Welsh shirt, will be vice-captain.
“Stuart and Jodie both lead from the front,” Caron adds: “They’ve been advising players that are coming into the squad and just talking to some of the older players. We’ve got a really good leadership group this year, and I’m really pleased with where we’re going.”
Wales squad (WRL and RFL clubs noted where applicable): Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Midlands Hurricanes), Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Harry Mitchell-Jones (North Wales Crusaders), Stuart Williams (North Wales Crusaders/Edinburgh Giants, vice captain), Matthew Turner (North Wales Crusaders/Wigan Warriors)*, Sid Ramsey (Sheffield Eagles)*, Jamie Reynolds, Jason Reynolds (both South Wales Jets/Midlands Hurricanes), Mark Williams (South Wales Jets/Wigan Warriors).
*uncapped
