Wales to face Scotland and Australia ahead of WXV2

Wales will take on Scotland and Australia in preparation for their WXV2 campaign later this year.

Ioan Cunningham’s side qualified for the second tier of the tournament – in addition to the 2025 World Cup – courtesy of an eight-try triumph over Spain at Cardiff Arms Park in June.

In preparation for WXV2, Wales will play Scotland in Edinburgh on 6 September (19:00 BST) before a second warm-up fixture against Australia at Newport’s Rodney Parade (19:00 BST) a fortnight later.

Wales – who were in the top tier last time out – face the Wallaroos again in their WXV2 opener in Cape Town on 28 September before taking on Italy a week later.

They round off the campaign against Japan on 11 October, with Scotland and South Africa also featuring in their pool.

Wales head coach Cunningham said: “We will come together at the end of July to start pre-season to prepare for what will be the beginning of the most exciting and biggest season in the history of women’s rugby, with the World Cup in England on the horizon.

“To prepare we have two Test matches against two nations – Scotland and Australia – who will be in WXV2 and have also qualified for the World Cup and who we have had really close-fought games with.

“We know them well and there is a mutual respect, but this is an opportunity to have a look at our squad, to give some young players an opportunity and to develop our game as we head to South Africa.”