women
international women
Sean Lynn treated himself to a satisfied look at full-time after Wales’ 50-19 win over the Springbok Women.
He took the role Wales head coach after leading Gloucester Hartpury to dominance in women’s rugby in the Premiership. The team won three league titles in as many years.
Since leading Wales for the first time in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Lynn has seen his team win just once in the 15 Test matches he has presided over.
During that time, his team won back-to-back wooden spoons in the women’s Six Nations and they were expelled from Žensko Rugby World Cup 2025 in the group stage, where they ended up losing to Fiji.
Coming into the WXV Global Series, there was a different feeling in Wales. Ashley Beck and Steve Salvin, once interim assistant coaches, are now on the team full-time.
That’s before you even factor in the litany of backroom staff who have now been in the squad for five months and have brought more consistency to the Wales camp.
Against the Springbok Women, Wales combined forward dominance with a scintillating attack to cross the field eight times and end a 14-month wait for a Test rugby win.
Sisilia Tuipulotu scored twice, while Courtney Keight, Seren Lockwood, Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones, Lisa Neumann and Alex Callender scored South Africa defensive line.
Next week, USA The Women’s Eagles will visit Cardiff Arms Park and Lynn has urged Wales fans to gather at the stadium and cheer on the national team.
“As a staff group we had a big meeting in July,” Lynn told BBC Sport.
“We worked hard, with the intention of how we wanted this Welsh DNA (to emerge) – you can see the evidence of that today.
“I want more people to come next week. I want people to see what this team is all about.”
It was also the perfect test match for Alex Callender. The 26-year-old has not played international rugby since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and got on the scoreboard in the second half in the Welsh capital.
A player who epitomizes the Welsh DNA Lynn wants to see in her squad, Callender was named man of the match for her efforts.
Reinstated as co-captain, the loose forward was enthusiastic about what the future may hold in store after nearly two years of hardship.
“I’m so proud of the girls,” Callender said. “We can’t look too far ahead and play every game that comes along, but I’m rooting for the girls who are going out there and I’m so proud of them.
“(This will give us) huge confidence. We don’t really listen to criticism coming from outside.
“Inside, all we care about is having faith and supporting each other. If we can continue that, I know this team will go far.”