More than 60 players attended two evening sessions as female players from the Player Development Centres (PDC’s) at Cardiff Met, Swansea University and RGC were put through their paces.
Each PDC has identified between 25 and 35 female players between the ages 18 and 23 as possible Wales stars of tomorrow to benefit from Academy-style support.
Wales legends Siwan Lillicrap, Elinor Snowsill, Caryl Thomas and Liza Burgess were joined by Celtic Challenge coaches, Catherine Nicholas McLaughlin, Gwalia Lightning head coach, and Ashley Beck, Brython Thunder head coach, to run the rule over the first players invited to the tailored sessions.
Players were specifically chosen to attend the session to train with each other and test each other in front of the select band of coaches.
The coaches got to see how players equipped themselves in gym sessions, skills sessions and rugby sessions at the WRU’s centre of excellence.
The evenings were designed for the best young talented players to work with the best Wales coaches from the WRU pathway, the PDCs, Celtic Challenge and National level.
Liza Burgess at the Wales Women PDC Development Programme Skills Clinic
Coaches present offered player development and skills advice to all the players so they could use when they returned to the PDC’s.
WRU staff attended the sessions with S&C, medical and analysis staff to support throughout both evenings.
Siwan Lillicrap, for Wales captain and WRU PDC’s Lead and Pathway Manager, said: “This was a real opportunity to see the first intake of players to benefit from the PDC’s we have introduced in Cardiff, Swansea and Colwyn Bay.
“These players were identified as real talents, and these sessions allows us to track high performing pathway players and for them to train with each other and therefore test each other.
“It also allowed coaches from national set up and the WRU pathway to work with these talented players and highlights the alignment and collaboration we now have at our disposal for players who have ambitions to play Celtic Challenge rugby and to play professional rugby and ultimately play for Wales.”
