Number of full-time rugby contracts for Wales' Women squad reaches 25
The WRU have confirmed the news today - with the number of women players on full-time contracts more than doubling compared to the 2022 season
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
In what the WRU say demonstrates their 'commitment' to the Wales' Women's Senior Team, 25 players have officially been awarded full-time contracts for 2023 - that's more than doubling the number on the books compared to the current season.
The news comes after this season, where back in 2022, the first professional players to represent Wales were awarded full-time contracts for the very first time in the women's squad.
Initially, 12 players were on full-time contracts, with 17 more on six-month contracts for the New Zealand Rugby World Cup.
Ioan Cunningham's side now has 25 players ahead of the TikTok Women's Six Nations championship, where Wales take on Ireland on, quite aptly, the 25th of March over at Cardiff Arms Park.
The newly contracted players are: Abbie Fleming, Cerys Hale, Kerin Lake, Lleucu George, Lowri Norkett, Megan Webb, Niamh Terry, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans, Gwenllian Pyrs, Keira Bevan, Kelsey Jones, Natalia John, Elinor Snowsill, Alisha Butchers, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Ffion Lewis, Gwen Crabb, Hannah Jones, Lisa Neumann, Robyn Wilkins, and Carys Williams-Morris.
Carys Williams-Morris, the Loughborough Lightning centre, continues with Wales thanks to her RAF Elite Athlete status. All of the remaining 24 players named are on full-time deals.
WRU interim CEO Nigel Walker said: “Our stated aim is to put everything in place to create a world class international programme for women in Wales. The investment we put into the national programme last year paid clear dividends both on the field in terms of performances and results, and off it in terms of the all-round athlete development service provided within the programme.
“It’s important we don’t stand still and we believe the enhanced investment in the progamme this year will go some way, not only to developing these players, but others who join the squad for training and tournaments.”
Ioan Cunningham, the Wales Women’s Senior Head Coach, said: “We are thrilled to be able to reward these players for the commitment and level of performance and professionalism they showed throughout last year.
“The initial contracts enabled us to make significant improvement throughout the year, both in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations and then ultimately to be able to perform at the highest level at the Rugby World Cup.
“We have reviewed and tweaked the contract model for the next period in our journey and it’s great to be able to reward these players with new contracts.
“Some players continue as full-time players, others have gone from part-time to full-time and we are very pleased that Alex Callender, Lowri Norkett, Megan Webb and Robyn Wilkins are now also on board full-time. A reflection of their performance standards, along with Carys Williams-Morris continuing thanks to her employer the RAF.
“Our aim this year will be to continue to build on the improvements we made in 2022. We’ve made progress but we are very aware that all the other nations are also developing with contracts and full-time programmes so it’s vital to keep moving forward.
“However, we also have one eye on developing the next wave of players ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in 2025.
“It is a very exciting time for women’s rugby in Wales. The new Celtic Challenge, the U20s and U18s programmes are just some of the initiatives unearthing talented players who will no doubt put their hands up for international selection before long.”
Hannah Jones, Wales centre and one of the ’12 originals’ contracted in 2022, said:
“I always wanted to be a rugby player and I can finally say my job is a professional rugby player. I hope to inspire and encourage other girls to pick up this brilliant sport with it being a career path now.
“Being contracted has had the biggest impact for myself and has meant having time to focus solely on my game.
“The analysis, recovery, gym and nutrition we now get has transformed me as a player for the better.
“I am physically and mentality in a good place and enjoying the programme and being challenged to be a better player each day.”