Team Wales Rugby Announcement

With only a week to go until the Games, Team Wales Announce the Women’s Rugby Sevens team for Trinbago 2023

Today, Team Wales announce the players selected as part of the Women’s Rugby Sevens team for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which takes place in the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago from 4-11 August this summer.

Rugby will have a squad of 13 players amongst the team of 38 athletes and 20 support staff who will compete across four sports; Athletics, Swimming, Women Rugby 7s and Cycling.

Trinbago Women’s Rugby Sevens Team Leader Jonathan Hooper said ‘This group of players have an amazing opportunity ahead of them. Competing against some of the best Rugby 7s nations in the world at a multi-sport event will be a very special experience.

 

Preparations have gone well over the past few weeks, the level of competition for places within the training squad has been extremely high. The players are really excited for the tournament in Tobago.’

 

The Games will see more than 1,000 athletes and para-athletes between the ages of 14-18 across the 72 nations and territories around the Commonwealth compete across 7 sports this summer;

Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track) and Triathlon, as well as FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball.

Since its launch in 2000, the Youth Games has continued to grow to provide a unique opportunity to experience elite sport on the international stage, promote cultural understanding and create lifelong friendships across the Commonwealth.

At the last Youth Games in Bahamas 2017, Team Wales brought home 13 medals across six sports, with the Women’s Rugby Sevens winning a bronze medal, and creating Welsh history by winning Wales’ first ever team medal at a Commonwealth Games or Commonwealth Youth Games.

They lost their first game against Canada but went on to secure an impressive 58-0 win against Bermuda and 53-0 against Trinidad and Tobago. They lost to Australia 0-26 in their fourth match,

followed by a 26-7 win against Fiji in their final group game, and then cemented their place on the podium with a 19-14 victory against Fiji in the Bronze Medal match.

Commonwealth Games Wales President, Helen Phillips MBE added ‘Firstly, congratulations on securing a qualification spot in the games in a competitive field. The Youth Games are a great opportunity for the sport and the players to experience a multi-sport event and to play some of the World’s best teams on a world stage. We know from the last games what an impactful presence Women’s Rugby Sevens team had. It’s these moments of creating history and inspiring others who follow is what’s important. I wish all the players and coaching staff the best of luck’

Introducing Team Wales Women’s Rugby Sevens

Catrin Stewart

Poppy Ellis

Branwen Metcalfe

Lola Bogerd-Mitchell

Tia Jones

Nia Fajeyisan

Katie Bevans

Seren Lockwood

Hanna Marshall

Rhiannon Griffin

Ffion Davies

Hannah Lane

Katie Johnson