Wales co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams are fit to start and lead their side against Fiji in their final match of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.

Sean Lynn was without his two captains for his side’s previous match – a 42-0 defeat to Canada which ended their tournament at the earlier opportunity.

Wales play Fiji at Sandy Park in Exeter with nothing but pride on the line as both nations are already out of the World Cup, with Canada and Scotland progressing in their place.

An added wrinkle is that Ioan Cunningham, former Wales head coach, will be leading the Flying Fijians into this one, with Lynn keen to avoid further disappointment at this competition.

As well as Callender and Williams, experienced hooker Carys Phillips comes into the front row alongside props Maisie Davies and Sisilia Tuipulotu, and Kayleigh Powell earns a first start of the competition at fullback, with Jasmine Joyce-Butchers dropping to the bench.

There are positional switches for Georgia Evans, who moves into the second row, and Nel Metcalfe – Wales’ best player this tournament – who goes onto the wing to accommodate Powell.

Evans partners Gwen Crabb in the engine room, with stalwart Bethan Lewis in the back row with the co-captains.

Scrum half Keira Bevan and fly half Lleucu George are at half-back and play their third game together as a partnership at the 2025 World Cup. Centres Courtney Keight and Carys Cox are selected in the midfield, while Metcalfe and Lisa Neumann are on the wing.

Wales face Fiji for the first time in a Women’s rugby Test match in Exeter or Saturday.

“As players, coaches and staff we are determined to finish the World Cup on a high,” said Lynn. “Having Alex Callender and Kate Williams back is a real boost for the squad.

“We know this will be our final game of the tournament and we respect the challenge Fiji will pose us in Exeter. We have shown in glimpses what we are capable of, but we are well aware that we have to deliver a consistent performance if we are going to get the win, we all want against the Fijians.

“The players have been told to be brave and to embrace the challenge and to make sure we leave this tournament with our heads held high. We want to make the Welsh rugby family proud and to sign off England 2025 with a performance we can use as a platform for the Six Nations.”

Teams

Wales

Kayleigh Powell; Lisa Neumann, Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu; Georgia Evans, Gwen Crabb; Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt).

Replacements:

Molly Reardon, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Bryonie King, Seren Lockwood, Hannah Dallavalle, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers

Fiji:

TBC

Replacements:

TBC

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