Head coach Rowland Phillips has announced plans to revamp Wales’ national selection process through a new-look Women’s Regional Championship.
Wales have finished second on three occasions in the Women’s Six Nations and Phillips is determined harness burgeoning interest in the women’s game across the country.
A revamped Women’s Regional Championship in Wales will see a six week competition kicking off with a Super 5 launch event at St Helens on September 9.
Phillips – who himself represented Wales in rugby union and league – believes that shortening the domestic season will ensure that players are best prepared for international duties.
He also issued a call-to-arms in the form of a pre-season programme that regional players can register for, run by the Wales coaching team, to further improve in regional rugby.
“We want all players with ambitions to play regional and international rugby to register for the new regional programme,” he said.
“Our attached coaches and conditioners will run the seven-week skills and conditioning programme within the regions to improve standards across the board.
“The intensive six-week competition structure will put us in a good position to select our international squad for the season.”
Wales are scheduled to host South Africa for two friendlies in November, as preparation builds towards the 2019 Six Nations.
And Phillips believes that the timing of this announcement is perfect both in giving Wales the best chance to improve on last year’s Championships and build for the future.
“We are already qualified for the next Rugby World Cup in 2021 so it’s an ideal time for a fresh start and to put measures in place to ensure we are as competitive as possible when that time comes around,” he added.
“More and more talented players are coming into our system thanks to the huge upturn in interest and opportunities at schools and cluster centres.
“It’s fantastic for us as a national coaching team as the more players in the game at a younger age increases the standard of players who progress into regional and international rugby.”
