Two squads have been announced in advance of the first round of the Challenge.
As each of the three nations play a single game per weekend, only Wales and Scotland have already revealed their full line-ups.
Claire Cruikshank, till recently in charge of Sweden’s squad, has returned to Scottish duties as head of a coaching trio that includes Chris Laidlaw and Stuart Corsar. They have picked 37 players for the month-long tournament.
The Thistles Squad
Forwards
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh), Alex Stewart (University of Edinburgh), Charlotte Boan (Cartha Queens Park), Elliann Clarke (University of Edinburgh), Emma Turner (Corstorphine Cougars), Erinn Foley (Hillhead Jordanhill), Eva Donaldson (University of Edinburgh), Freya Walker (Watsonians), Jess Fyfe (Cartha Queens Park), Katie Lindsey (Stirling County), Kaylee Fraser (Corstorphine Cougars), Kiera McDonald (Stirling County), Kirsty Ritchie (Biggar), Lindsey McDiarmid (Garioch), Molly Poolman (Watsonians), Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh), Nikki Simpson (Garioch), Poppy Fletcher (Heriot’s), Eve Thomson (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lucy Kidd (Corstorphine Cougars), Sophie Murray (Stirling County)
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Backs
Carla McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill), Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County), Cieron Bell (University of Edinburgh), Emma Orr (Biggar), Evie Wills (Hillhead Jordanhill), Fran McGhie (Watsonians), Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh), Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh), Megan Gaffney (Heriot’s), Meryl Smith (University of Edinburgh), Rachel Law (Watsonians), Philipps (University of Edinburgh), Rhea Clarke (University of Edinburgh), Roma Fraser (Cartha Queens Park), Sky Phimister (Stirling County), Sarah Denholm (University of Edinburgh)
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Players already contracted include Elliann Clarke, Emma Orr, Evie Wills and Meryl Smith. Megan Gaffney is another familiar name.
Wales Development Squad
Mike Hill, assisted Liza Burgess and Rhys Pritchard, has announced a squad of 42:
Forwards:
Katie Carr (Pontyclun Falcons), Rosie Carr (Pontyclun Falcons/Cardiff Met), Chelsea Chesters (Whitland), Abbey Constable (Gloucester Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers), Teleri Wyn Davies (Caernarfon), Danielle Dinapoli (Cheltenham Tigers), Kat Evans (Saracens), Tara Finnegan (Pontyclun Falcons), Abbie Fleming (Exeter Chiefs), Chloe Fletcher (Bath Ladies), Melissa Gnojek (Seven Sisters), Dali Hopkins (Ospreys/Greyhounds), Gwennan Hopkins (Hartpury College), Katie Jenkins (Pontyclun Falcons), Erin Jones (RGC/ Nant Conwy), Sara Jones (Pontyclun Falcons), Charlotte Mundy (Pontyclun Falcons), Ffion Owen (Pontyclun Falcons/Cardiff Met), Kira Philpott (Llandaff North), Alaw Pyrs (RGC U18s, Nant Conwy), Jessica Rogers (Ospreys U18s, Cardiff Met), Jenni Scoble (Worcester Warriors), Scarlett Thomas-Thompson (DMP Sharks/Durham University), Molly Wakely (Dragons U18s/Nelson Belles)
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Backs:
Leanne Burnell (Pontyclun Falcons), Lowri Davies (Seven Sisters/Cheltenham Tigers), Meg Davies (Bristol Bears), Jenna De Vera (Scarlets/Burry Port), Chelsea Jones (Nelson Belles), Caitlin Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), Danai Mugabe (Cardiff Met), Jade Mullen (Harlequins), Anwen Owen (Bristol Bears/Nelson Belles), Molly Philpott (Llandaff North), Molly Reardon (Dragons), Catherine Richards (Cardiff Met), Lauren Smyth (Bristol Bears), Seren Singleton (Cardiff Met), Niamh Tinman (Pontyclun Falcons), Amelia Tutt (Loughborough Lightening), Amy Williams (Dragons U18s), Chelsea Williams (Nelson Belles).
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As with The Thistles, the odd well-known name slips through the net. Hill has included five capped players: Teleri Wyn Davies, Kat Evans, Abbie Fleming, Caitlin Lewis and Lauren Smyth.
But It’s excellent to see so many unfamiliar names appearing in both lists. This is exactly what the three unions intended when developing the Challenge. All three needed to strengthen their pathways, to (re-)establish age-group squads to ensure a wider player-pool for the future.
One great benefit of the new approach is to see players representing clubs and regions that rarely feature in rugby’s headlines.
The date for your diary: Sunday 22 January
The Thistles play the Wales Development side at Scotstoun, Glasgow; kick-off 2,30pm
The following Sunday Wales play a Combined Provinces XV at Cardiff Arms Park; kick-off 11am.
