Wales men’s team are able to put their feet up this weekend and watch others at the World Cup, but for Wales women the season starts here.

Last seen during the 2023 TikTok Six Nations, Ioan Cunningham’s team take on the USA in Colwyn Bay, where Jaz Joyce will play her first match for Wales in almost a year.

Wales’ most high-profile female player missed the 2023 Six Nations, having opted instead for the Sevens circuit, but she has returned home and will start as full-back against the Americans at Parc Eirias.

Alisha Butchers also makes a return after missing the Six Nations through a knee injury and there is a place on the bench for another long-term absentee, prop Donna Rose.

Head coach Ioan Cunningham has named one new cap in Worcester Warriors wing Carys Cox, while the uncapped Wales U20s full-back Nel Metcalfe is named on the bench.

Robyn Wilkins has taken the number 10 jersey following the retirement of Elinor Snowsill, while Hannah Jones retains the captaincy at centre.

Wales are sixth in the world rankings and qualified for the new WXV tournament by finishing third in the 2023 Six Nations, with wins over Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

They will play world champions New Zealand, Australia and Canada in the WXV in New Zealand. The top six teams in the world – Grand Slam champions England and France – will also feature in the tournament.

Cunningham said: “We are delighted to welcome back Jaz and Donna and they have brought real experience and a competitive edge to training. To have them back in the Wales squad is a real boost after being unavailable last season.

“We have worked hard all summer and the benefits of a proper preparation time have proved really invaluable but there is no substitute for playing a Test match.”

While Wales’ women roll up their sleeves, Warren Gatland’s team are still in the afterglow of their magnificent 40-6 victory over Australia in France.

After giving the players a four-day break to spend time with partners and families, Wales regathered on Friday morning and will hone their training from now until their final pool stage match against Georgia on October 7.

There have been plenty of pats on the back for Wales since last weekend, particularly for captain Jac Morgan.

The Ospreys back rower showed leadership, shrewd tactical nous, and inspirational work rate to underline himself as the natural heir to Wales’ last World Cup openside captain, Sam Warburton.

Yet back in 2019, Morgan was only a semi-pro player, combining his work as a mechanical engineering apprentice with playing for Aberavon in the Indigo Premiership.

He eventually joined the Scarlets before moving on to the Ospreys.

Last summer he was actually left out of the Wales squad that Wayne Pivac took to South Africa for the three Test series but battled his way back into the side last autumn, scoring a brace of tries against both Australia and Georgia, before playing in three games in the Six Nations earlier this year.

“I was with Wales U20 in Argentina the last time the World Cup was played. I was still working back then, so I never would have thought I’d be here now,” he says.

Wales Women v USA Women, Saturday 30 September, Stadiwm CSM, KO 2.30pm