Former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap has expressed confidence that a select group of Welsh players could earn spots on the inaugural British & Irish Lions Women's Tour to New Zealand in 2027, despite the national team's challenging campaign in the Women's Six Nations.
Welsh Talent Shines Amid Transition
Sean Lynn's side endured a second consecutive whitewash in the 2026 tournament, hampered by injuries and a focus on developing young talent. Lillicrap, who now coaches Wales Under-18s, highlighted three 19-year-olds who stepped up: forwards Jorja Aiono and Branwen Metcalfe, and scrum-half Seren Lockwood. All three played every game in the 2026 Six Nations.
Lillicrap drew comparisons to England men's youngster Henry Pollock, who made a surprise Lions squad. She stated: "Even though Wales maybe are in this transitional phase, with lots of youngsters playing, that is the beauty of the Lions Tour. You look at Henry Pollock in the men's space, we are maybe seeing some young gems coming through in the women's space, in Wales and other nations."
Young Stars with Huge Potential
Lillicrap praised Aiono's rapid rise: "Jorja Aiono, for example, played U18s last year and then started every game of this Six Nations campaign for Wales and has shown glimpses of potential world class ability and she is still only 19." She also noted Metcalfe and Lockwood's professionalism, having worked with them at U18 level. "The exciting bit for me is they are only 18 or 19 now so you are just seeing a glimpse now but where are they going to be in a few years' time?"
While immediate Lions selection may require further development, Lillicrap believes established stars like Alex Callender, Keira Bevan, and Sisilia Tuipulotu are strong candidates. Callender, who missed the Six Nations through injury, was described by Lillicrap as "possibly the best seven in the world." Tuipulotu, still young but with many caps, and Bevan, one of Wales's most experienced players, have proven their quality against top opposition.
Grassroots Impact
Lillicrap is also an ambassador for Royal London, the founding partner of the Lions Women's team. The company's annual Championing Women and Girls' Grassroots Rugby Award provides £10,000 grants to four clubs each year, one from each home union. Previous Welsh winners Caernarfon RFC and Ynysddu have used the funds to develop young referees and improve accessibility.
Lillicrap urged clubs to apply: "The money essentially breaks down any barriers that women and girls have. Hopefully lots of clubs apply for it because £10,000 is significant and can make a positive change for your environment." Applications are open until 12pm on Monday 20 July 2026 via the Lions website.
