Edwards handed Wales captaincy

Wales women’s rugby prop Catrin Edwards (pictured) has been named captain of her national side ahead of the upcoming 6 Nations.

Published by Scrum Queens, January 26th, 2011

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Edwards handed Wales captaincy

Edwards replaces Mel Berry who recently retired. New head coach Kris de Scossa has also named his new look 28-player squad for the competition

Edwards, capped 38 times for Wales, is a highly rated front row player and despite Wales poor season last year she was a standout at both the 6 Nations and World Cup.

She is no stranger to captaincy as she guided the Scarlets to glory last season when leading the region to the inaugural Womens Regional championship.

I might be considered one of the quieter members in the squad, admitted Edwards. Its a massive shock to be asked to lead your country. Im honoured just to be part of the squad but the more I think about it the more Im getting excited about the challenge ahead.

Wales finished bottom of the championship last season and despite several senior players either quitting top flight rugby or taking a break from the game, Edwards is confident Wales can pose a few problems this campaign, which kicks-off against title holders England at Cross Keys Pandy Park on Sunday, 6 February.

A lot of sides have lost players after the World Cup, so we are not the only ones in that position, she said. We got the likes of Lowri Harries, Adi Taviner and Sioned Harries who went to the World Cup as uncapped players. They would have learned a lot from that experience. Weve also got a few players from the Wales Under 20 side which beat England last year and the young ones have impressed me in this seasons regional games. So despite being relatively light on experience I think as long as we concentrate on our performance, we can do well.

While the Wales squad is relatively light on experience with key players like Berry and Non Evans gone from the game there are some well known faces in there Jamie Kift providing extra leadership having co-captained the team on occasion last year.

There are nine uncapped players in the squad with forwards Vicky Owens, Amy Lawrence, Ashley Rowlands, Alex Stokes and Sian Williams joined by backs Yasmin Leung, Kay Rees, Charlie Murray and Kerin Lake.

De Scossa said he is eagerly looking forward to the first game against England. Theyve selected a strong squad and selected a large contingent from the side which played in last years World Cup final, he said.

It will be a good test to see where we are. Im really looking forward to taking England on at Cross Keys where Im sure well be welcomed with open arms, he added.

Two players named in the squad, second row Rachel Taylor and full back Mared Evans, are currently recovering from long term injuries and have been named with a view to them figuring at a later stage of the tournament.

Wales prop Jenny Davies signed up as a Scrumqueens blogger recently. Read her first posthere.

Wales Womens Six Nations squad 2011

Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins), Vicky Owens (UWIC), Caryl Thomas (Bath), Rhian Bowden (CrossKey), LowriHarries (Neath), Amy Lawrence (Neath), Shona Powell Hughes (Neath), Ashley Rowlands (Wasps), Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins), Sioned Harries (UWIC), Jamie Kift (Cross Keys), Lisa Newton (UWIC), Alex Stokes (Neath), Sian Williams ( Bath), Amy Day (Cross Keys), Laura Prosser (Pontyclun), Yasmin Leung ( UWIC), Elinor Snowsill ( Cardiff Quins), Awen Thomas ( Cross Keys), Elen Evans (Dolgellau), Kay Rees (Harlequins), Adi Taviner (Neath), Caryl James (Cardiff Quins), Charlie Murray (Neath), Mared Evans (UWIC), Kerin Lake (Neath), Aimee Young (Bath)

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