Wales Women 7s are aiming for continuous improvement at the Rugby Europe 7s Championship this weekend.
They fly to Moscow with nine of the squad having competed at the Lisbon leg of the Series earlier this month.
Scarlets Ladies product Hannah Jones returns from the GB Sevens set-up to boost the side, and Kat Evans and Angharad De Smet have also been added.
Head coach Warren Abrahams said, “We have progressed nicely following the Lisbon 7s. We’ve had some challenges, some injuries and unavailability for this weekend. However, we are pleased with the level of consistence in selection as we look to build consistency and improvement in our performances.
“The girls have a tournament under their belt now and are looking for further improvement – both since Lisbon and over the course of the weekend.
“It’s great to have Hannah Jones back with us following her time with GB. Obviously she is bitterly disappointed not to be selected, as we all are for her; but the way she’s represented herself this week is admirable. She has brought an extra edge to training which has really rubbed off on the rest of the squad. Kat Evans and Angharad De Smet have also brought a different dimension to the team.”
Wales play Spain and Scotland in the first stage of the competition this weekend.
Abrahams added, “Spain were runners-up in Portugal earlier this month and are strong contenders with a number of tournaments under their belt while the Scotland game will be another opportunity for a great Home Nations battle.
“We are going to concentrate on making improvements from game to game and hopefully from the last tournament to this.”
Abrahams says the whole squad is proud of Jasmine Joyce on her Olympic selection and Georgia Evans for making the Allianz Premier 15s team of the season.
“We are all so pleased for Jaz, she is going to show the world what she’s capable of and we are all right behind her, we’ll be watching the Olympic rugby sevens competition very closely from home. We are also very proud of Georgia. It’s been a tough season internationally for us so to stand out as she has done for her club is outstanding.”
Wales Women Sevens squad, Moscow 7s:
Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears), Alex Callender (Capt, Worcester Warriors), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Dainton (Harlequins), Angharad De Smet (unattached), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Katharine Evans (Saracens), Hannah Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury). Bethan Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury).