Jones to be replaced as Wales captain
Wales women's head coach Sean Lynn will replace Hannah Jones as captain before the 2025 World Cup.Jones, 28, has been relieved of the role before the global tournament and the two-match World Cup warm-up tour to face Australia in July and August.The centre, who has won 65 caps, became captain before the 2023 Six Nations when Wales finished third.Wales fished bottom in the next two tournaments, while Jones also had to deal with a contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2024."This is a new chapter for the team, and I am determined to drive the change we need with the squad, coaches and staff so that we build real success on solid foundations," said Lynn."A new Wales captain is part of this process, and we have some candidates, but they need to prove they have the qualities to lead the national side."
In March, Jones said she considered her international future after last year's contract row.The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) admitted serious failings during a dragged-out negotiation process, during which players dealt with ultimatums and threats of withdrawal from major tournaments if they failed to sign.The WRU apologised and conducted an independent review, while head coach Ioan Cunningham left by mutual consent.Lynn was appointed as Wales head coach and took over the role a week before the 2025 Six Nations after winning three successive league titles with Gloucester-Hartpury, a team which included Jones.Lyn took charge of his country a week before the recent Six Nations campaign and deciding to keep Jones as his skipper, with scrum-half Keira Bevan and flanker Alex Callender named as vice-captains."Hannah has done a professional job in challenging circumstances that have been well documented, but we will call for a fresh voice in a deliberate move to grow the leadership within the squad," said Lynn."Hannah remains a valued and senior member of the squad. We have enjoyed great success together at club level and I want us to do the same at international level."
'Creating a new culture'
Wales finished bottom after losing all five games, including a record defeat against Italy in the final game."I made it clear when I was appointed by the WRU this was the job I always wanted and I needed the mandate to create a new team culture, to drive standards and challenge coaches, players and staff to build a team to make the nation proud," said Lynn."That is something we will all do together, and developing more leaders is one of many steps on that journey."Lynn has named a 45-player summer training squad with a host of new faces from to underline his commitment to change in the senior national squad.The coach wants to whittle his squad down to 30 players before heading to take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on 26 July and then in Sydney on 1 August.Wales beat Australia for the first time in their history at Rodney Parade in a warm-up last September before succumbing to a heavy defeat at WXV2 a week later.On their return to the UK, Wales will have three weeks to shake off the jet lag and get ready for what promises to be the biggest ever Women's Rugby World Cup, with the 10th edition being held across eight different venues in England.Wales' opening game is against Six Nations rivals Scotland on Saturday, 23 August in Salford before further group games against Canada and Fiji.
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