WALES Women head coach Rowland Phillips is hoping to see young talent make strides at the Regional Super 12s at Llandovery tomorrow.

Six teams will play each other at Church Bank in a day of 12-a-side matches, the culmination of a five-week block of conditioning and skills.

The Dragons, Ospreys, RGC, Scarlets and a pair of Cardiff Blues teams will take to the field in front of Phillips before three rounds of full matches.

He said: “The regional programme was hugely beneficial to us as a national programme last season, both in terms of unearthing and developing younger players and in getting seasoned internationals in the best possible shape ahead of the international season.

“Our performances in the autumn series certainly reflected that and players like Lauren Smyth and Manon Johnes are perfect examples of the programme.

“Having come through the U18 regional programme, they were involved with Wales Women Emerging and then last season’s senior women’s programme, which propelled them into international rugby where they excelled for Wales throughout the season.

“We will again select our autumn squad from the regional programme and I expect other players to put their hands up for international selection throughout August.

“This season, in conjunction with the regional teams, we put in place a shorter, more intense pre-season programme in order to respect the club season which starts in September.

“There has been a focus on fitness and skills so there is nothing better than reduced numbers to display the benefits of that.

“The increased space from playing shorter, 12-a-side games on Saturday will produce longer periods of high intensity rugby which is what we are looking for in the senior women’s game.”