PLAYERS from four countries have been named in the first Women's Crawshay's side that will take on Wales Women in Ebbw Vale.
The invitational side will take on the national team at Eugene Cross Park a week on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).
Former Wales captains Liza Burgess and Rachel Taylor are coaching Crawshay's, with Taylor then taking over from Burgess as Barbarians forwards coach for the international against Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday, November 30.
Prop Meg York from Pontypool is joined in the Crawshay's squad by fellow Wales internationals Shona Powell-Hughes, Dyddgu Hywel, Bethan Dainton from Hengoed, Sian Williams and Jodie Evans.
Prop Gill Bourke, capped 51 times by Ireland, and Loughborough Lightning hooker Emily Tuttosi are also included along with Richmond and USA elite sevens programme lock Hallie Taufoou.
There is a nod to players who have contributed a great deal to club and regional rugby in Wales, such as Kim Jones of Pontyclun Falcons, Wales and Burry Port's Catrina Bowen, RGC captain and Firwood Waterloo's Beth Stafford and Swansea's Rosie Mankee and Lowri Norkett.
The sides will compete for the newly commissioned Rose Crawshay Challenge Trophy in honour of a female ancestor of captain Geoffrey Crawshay, the founder of Crawshay's Rugby Club. Rose was one of the UK's leading suffragists and is listed as one of Wales' greatest 100 women.
Burgess said: "This historic fixture, the first for a female Crawshay's team, will be a fitting tribute to Rose Crawshay and we are thrilled with the calibre of player we've been able to assemble.
"We are determined to uphold the tradition of Crawshay's rugby in Wales and provide Wales with a stern test ahead of their appointment with the Barbarians a week later.
"From my point of view as a Gwent girl, I'm over the moon to bring the side to the Dragons region and we are hoping there'll be a good welcome for both teams in Ebbw Vale."
Female pupils from local secondary schools have been invited to Eugene Cross Park on Thursday, November 21 to meet Wales and Crawshay's players and coaches and to take part in a day of rugby skills and games.
Burgess added: "Hopefully the match and the skills' day will help to engage a whole host of girls and the wider community in women's rugby."
Entry for the game is £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and is free for under-16s.
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