Carys Cox stars with a hat-trick, as Wales Women beat Spain in Cardiff

Saturday’s international saw former Hungerford RFC player Carys Cox claim a hat-trick of tries in a starring role for Wales Women.

Carys – who qualifies for Wales through dad, Rob – earned her ninth international cap in the must-win clash with Spain at Cardiff’s Arms Park.

The teams went into the match knowing the winners would qualify for WXV2 (the second tier of the annual global competition) while the losers headed for WXV3.

More importantly, a place at next year’s World Cup in England was at stake.

Wales started well, opening a two-try lead before Spain overhauled that and Carys was handed a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

The second half was a different story, with the Welsh backs cutting loose and left-wing Carys scoring three outstanding tries, just being denied a fourth by a tap-tackle and setting up another as the home side finished 52-20 winners.

“Our game plan was aimed at creating opportunities on the edges and it was a pretty special day,” said Carys.

“I was gutted with the yellow card but pleased to score three times in the second half.

“We were in control, and there was a consistency in knowing what we wanted to do all over the pitch, even though at half-time the result could have gone either way.

“We needed a more balanced game plan, and it was a massive relief to get the job done. Hopefully this will put us on an upward trajectory. The World Cup in England is going to be massive for the game and for Wales.”

Carys, who normally plays as a centre, starts the new season with Women’s Premier League side Ealing Trailfinders in September before Wales play warm-up internationals against Scotland and Australia then head to South Africa for the WXV event, where they face the hosts, Scotland, Japan, Australia and Italy.