Wales name side to test World Cup credentials against New Zealand

Wales have named Carys Phillips as their captain as they launch their Women's World Cup campaign on Wednesday in Dublin against a team head coach Rowland Phillips describes as one of the "perennial favourites".

Wales are in the same pool as four-time champions New Zealand, previous runners-up Canada and Hong Kong with Phillips' squad arriving in the competition following a poor Six Nations campaign earlier this year.

18-year-old India Berbillion has replaced centre Rebecca De Filippo, who was ruled out from the tournament following a foot injury suffered during training.

"We're hoping to do Wales proud," coach Rowland Phillips said.

"We've set out a path to take women's rugby in Wales to new heights, and while that goes well beyond New Zealand, the Black Ferns are an excellent team to test yourself against," he added.

"We're expecting a strong Welsh crowd tomorrow, and the messages of good luck we've been receiving from back home have been greatly appreciated by the squad."

Uncapped 17-year-old back-rower Lleucu George and 18-year-old hooker Kelsey Jones, could both make debuts off the bench.

Wales: Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets); Elen Evans (RGC), Gemma Rowland (Dragons), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets); Elinor Snowsill (Dragons), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Scarlets) Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Dragons), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (RGC), Sioned Harries (Scarlets)

Replacements: Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Meg York (Dragons), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Lleucu George (Scarlets), Sian Moore (Dragons), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Jodie Evans (Scarlets)