Wales deserve place in WXV top tier - Evans

Wales lock Georgia Evans says her side deserve their place in the top tier of the new WXV competition.

They qualified with England, New Zealand, France, Canada and Australia after finishing third in this year's Six Nations.

"It's our time to show we're not here just to turn up, we're here to put a performance out there," Evans said.

"We got here through merit, it's been hard work and a long process, but we deserve to be here.

"We've got the belief, we've got the physicality and everything that we need to go head to head with these girls, we're really excited."

Wales kick off their campaign against Canada on Saturday, before taking on the hosts in Dunedin and Australia in Auckland.

They are opponents Ioan Cunningham's professional outfit know all too well having faced all three in 2022.

Evans, who was one of Wales' standout performers during the Six Nations, said: "We met Canada not so long ago, we know what threats they pose, but I think as a team we're really excited.

"We really put a marker down in the Six Nations, we're all challenging each other for positions, no one is safe when it comes to selection, I think that's a really positive thing.

"For me personally I'm looking to put my best foot forward out here and challenge myself against some of the best."

Evans and her team mates made the 12,000 mile journey to Wellington a week ago, with little time to get over the jet lag.

"We've got through it together, the early mornings and a bit of crankiness, but we've pushed through," Evans joked.

"I'm [rooming] with Niamh Terry at the moment so she has to put up with me a 3am when I'm bored!

"But we've acclimatised well, got into the swing of things and we're all really looking forward to hitting the ground running come the weekend."