Wales Women announce team to face Italy

Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips has named his team for this Saturday's opening Women's Six Nations match against Italy in Ancona.

Seven players remain in the starting line-up from last year's team that took on Italy at the Talbot Athletic Ground, including captain and hooker Carys Phillips and openside Rachel Taylor.

Wales Women team to face Italy

15 Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets)
14 Elen Evans (Scarlets)
13 Kerin Lake (Ospreys)
12 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys)
11 Adi Taviner (Ospreys
10 Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons)
9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys)

1 Caryl Thomas (Scarlets)
2 Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys)
3 Amy Evans (Ospreys)
4 Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons)
5 Mel Clay (Ospreys)
6 Sioned Harries (Scarlets)
7 Rachel Taylor (Scarlets)
8 Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys)

Replacements
16 Lowri Harries (Scarlets)
17 Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons)
18 Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets)
19 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
20 Alisha Butchers (Scarlets)
21 Sian Moore (Newport Gwent Dragons)
22 Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons)
23 Jessica Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets)