Wales Women rugby – Rachel Taylor steps down, call-up for Teleri Wyn-Davies

North Wales rugby legend Rachel Taylor has stepped down from her role as skills coach for the Wales Women squad.

The 37-year-old, from Penrhynside, near Llandudno, has resigned and will play no part in the upcoming Six Nations campaign.

The 67-times capped former Wales skipper and North Wales academy coach was appointed in November, when she became the WRU’s first professional national female coach.

No reason has been given for her decision.

A WRU spokesperson said: “We thank Rachel for the significant contribution she has made to Welsh rugby so far as a player, captain, coach and member of WRU staff within both the community and performance departments. We would like to wish her well in her next endeavours.”

Meanwhile, Wales Women head coach Warren Abrahams has named 32 players in his first Six Nations squad.

They include two North Walians in forwards Teleri Wyn-Davies and Molly Kelly.

For Teleri it is a return to international duty after making her Wales debut against Scotland in 2018.

A second row, she plays club rugby for Sale Sharks.

The 23-year-old is a former pupil of Ysgol Y Berwyn, Bala and graduated from Bangor University with a First Class degree in Law.

In the past, she has played for Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 1404 where she impressed and earned herself that first international call-up.

Her father Bryan “Yogi” Davies was also a keen rugby player who died in 2013, aged 56. He had been left a tetraplegic after a scrum collapsed on him whilst playing for Bala in 2007.

Prop Molly Kelly, who hails from Anglesey, has won three full Wales caps to date. She also plays for Sale Sharks.

The Women’s Six Nations is this year being staged in a format similar to the Autumn Nations Cup.

Wales are in action for the first time since they played England in March 2020 when they head to France for their 2021 tournament opener on Saturday, April 3, before hosting Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, April 10.

They will then face one of England, Scotland or Italy in a play-off final on Saturday, April 24, when each team plays the same ranking team from the opposite pool.

Wales Women’s Six Nations 2021 squad

Forwards: Cara Hope, Caryl Thomas, Cerys Hale, Donna Rose, Gwenllian Jenkins, Kelsey Jones, Molly Kelly, Robyn Lock, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Natalia John, Teleri Wyn Davies, Bethan Dainton, Georgia Evans, Manon Johnes, Shona Powell-Hughes, Siwan Lillicrap (capt).
Backs: Jade Knight, Jess Roberts, Keira Bevan, Elinor Snowsill, Flo Williams, Gemma Rowland, Hannah Jones, Kerin Lake, Megan Webb, Caitlin Lewis, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce, Lisa Neumann, Niamh Terry, Robyn Wilkins.