Wales milestone for Callender as Metcalfe sisters start

Alex Callender will captain Wales in her 50th international when they face Japan in Saturday’s WXV Global Series match in Tokyo. The milestone follows her return from a series of injuries, and head coach Sean Lynn says her leadership and all-round play are important to the side.

Wales have made three changes to the starting line-up after their narrow defeat by the USA in September, with Nel Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood and Jorja Aiono coming in; Carys Cox and Keira Bevan also switch positions. Nel and her sister Branwen will start together in a Test for the first time. Wales are 11th in the world rankings, one place above Japan, who recently lost to Italy and twice to Ireland.