IT has been another great day for rugby in Pembrokeshire with seven home-grown players named in the Welsh Women's squad for the 2018 Six Nations.

Amongst a squad with 10 uncapped players, Haverfordwest Ladies duo Awen Prysor and Lisa Neumann have won call ups.

Back row player Prysor has excelled for club and region this season, impressing with the Cardiff Blues, while Neumann, who has already trained with the national squad, has also caught the eye with the Scarlets.

Bristol winger Jasmine Joyce retains her place, despite her ongoing international 7s commitments, as does young star Lleucu George of Whitland Ladies. George, equally at home at No 10 or the back row - rose to prominence last year when at 17, she became the youngest ever Welsh player to play in a Rugby World Cup.

Former Ysgol Y Preseli pupil and flanker Nia Elen Davies, who plays for Penybanc, is also picked.

Furthermore utility back Katie Thicker and second row AMy Morgan, both also Whitland Ladies, is named on standby as a development players - and will train with the squad throughout the Six Nations.

Head coach, former St Davids RFC man Rowland Phillips, said of his new look squad: “The new players have brought a real hunger and energy to training, which is infectious. There’s a fresh feel to the squad, and a sense of building for the long term.”

Phillips will name a team to face Ireland in a friendly this Sunday in Ystrad Mynach - although the selection of 36 players takes into account the seven individuals who will miss the first round of the Women’s Six Nations games on 7s duty in Brisbane, as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games this April. This includes Joyce and Whitland No 8 Sioned Harries.

Wales Women begin their campaign by welcoming Scotland to Colwyn Bay’s Stadiwm Zip World on Friday, February 9th, 6pm kick off.

Wales Women’s Six Nations Squad:
Forwards: Alisha Butchers, Amy Evans, Amy Thomas, Awen Prysor, Beth Lewis, Cara Hope, Caryl Thomas, Carys Phillips (capt), Cerys Hale, Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Meg York, Mel Clay, Natalia John, Nia Elen Davies, Shona Powell-Hughes, Sioned Harries, Siwan Lillicrap.
 Backs: Alecs Donovan, Angharad De Smet, Elinor Snowsill, Ffion Lewis), Gemma Rowland, Hannah Bluck, Hannah Jones, Jade Knight, Jasmine Joyce, Jessica Kavanagh-Williams, Jodie Evans, Kerin Lake, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Rebecca De Filippo, Rhiannon Nokes, Rhiannon Parker, Robyn Wilkins.
Development Players: Amy Morgan, India Berbillion, Katie Jenkins, Katie Thicker, Liliana Podpadec, Teleri Davies.