The Welsh Rugby Union has issued 37 new full-time professional contracts to Wales Women players – it was confirmed as the squad prepares to face Australia in the WXV2 tournament hosted in South Africa this weekend.
The move, which, for the first time, includes many extended two-year deals, makes Wales Women one of the best paid international women’s teams in the world game.
The WRU undertook a detailed benchmarking exercise before agreeing terms with the squad and CEO Abi Tierney is confident this Welsh team now has the systems and structures in place to ensure preparations for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England are the best they have ever been.
Squad captain Hannah Jones, who was one of the ’12 originals’ contracted in 2022 when the senior women’s game first went professional in Wales, is a central figure once again, with the likes of 76-cap hooker Carys Phillips, recent matchday captain Kiera Bevan (65-caps) and sevens superstar Jasmine Joyce all retained.
Keira Bevan at the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand
There are also deals for rising stars Nel Metcalfe, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon who are all in single figures in terms of their appearances for Wales and consistent performers Lleucu George, Alex Callender, Abbie Fleming, Sisilia Tuipulotu and Alisha Butchers also feature.
“We have reached a good place with this Wales squad and we are excited about the future,” said WRU CEO Abi Tierney.
WRU CEO Abi Tierney
“It’s our job to ensure that everything is right off the pitch so that the players and coaches can concentrate on their preparations for what happens on it.
“We have a stated aim to continue to invest in women’s rugby and that means both at the professional level and in the structures and systems which underpin it.
“Professional international contracts are a vitally important part of the ecosystem we are creating to promote success.
“We have not completed this work and we will have plenty more to say on this subject when we announce our full strategy this autumn, but this is a hugely positive day for Women’s rugby in Wales.
“These players are role models for our children, young girls and young women throughout the land, but also the pride of the nation as a whole.
“We are delighted to have been able to secure the services of all 37 in a deal which makes this team one of the very best supported women’s teams in the world game, both financially and structurally.”
The 37 newly contracted full-time Wales Women players are:
Hannah Jones (Captain)
Keira Bevan
Hannah Bluck (Brython Thunder)
Alisha Butchers
Alex Callender (Brython Thunder)
Rosie Carr (Brython Thunder)
Abbey Constable (Gwalia Lightning)
Carys Cox
Gwen Crabb
Megan Davies (Brython Thunder)
Georgia Evans
Abbie Fleming
Lleucu George
Jenny Hesketh
Gwennan Hopkins (Gwalia Lightning)
Natalia John (Brython Thunder)
Sian Jones (Gwalia Lightning)
Kelsey Jones
Jasmine Joyce
Courtney Keight
Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning)
Kerin Lake
Bethan Lewis
Ffion Lewis
Nel Metcalfe (Gwalia Lightning)
Lisa Neumann
Carys Phillips
Kayleigh Powell
Gwenllian Pyrs
Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning)
Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning)
Donna Rose
Niamh Terry (Brython Thunder)
Sisilia Tuipulotu
Megan Webb (Brython Thunder)
Robyn Wilkins (Gwalia Lightning)
Kate Williams (Gwalia Lightning)