Wales' Sisters Doing It For Themselves (and Nant)

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v Wales

Venue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BST

Coverage: Live connected BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds

You will beryllium difficult pushed to find a prouder rugby nine successful Wales correct now than Nant Conwy.

The northbound Wales nine has produced not conscionable 1 but 2 sets of sisters for Wales women's 2025 Rugby World Cup squad.

Nel and Branwen Metcalfe person been named alongside Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs successful Sean Lynn's 32-player group which will kick-off their run against Scotland later this month.

And while nan Pyrs sisters are getting utilized to packing down together, it will beryllium a caller acquisition for nan Metcalfes, pinch Wales Under-20s skipper Branwen yet to make her elder debut.

"I'm mislaid for words to beryllium honest, everything that's happened successful nan past twelvemonth has been a whirlwind," said Branwen.

"I haven't trained overmuch pinch nan squad yet, but it's been really awesome coming into this environment, I'm learning a batch arsenic I go.

"Everyone is really bully and it's bully to travel successful arsenic a young subordinate pinch each these knowledgeable players."

Asked who she looks up to successful nan camp, Branwen said: "Definitely Al Cal [Alex Callender] and Kate Williams, they're conscionable domiciled models, nan measurement they play, nan measurement they talk, I conscionable want to beryllium for illustration them.

"Hopefully I tin make a breakthrough astatine immoderate point, I'm conscionable trying to study astatine this time."

Nel said she was delighted for her not truthful small sister.

"The family is buzzing," she said.

"People person asked 'how do you feel?'. I couldn't beryllium prouder. I've seen really difficult she has worked, she deserves this.

"I would opportunity I do look retired for her [in camp] and cheque she's ok, but she tin grip herself, everyone has been beautiful welcoming."

Wales is nary alien to having siblings tally retired together, Horgan twins Claire and Louise some won world honours against France successful 2008.

But 2 sets of sisters is thing rather special, moreover much truthful erstwhile they each travel from nan aforesaid grassroots club.

Gwenllian, Alaw, Nel and Branwen each sewage their commencement astatine Nant Conwy, a organization rugby nine nestled betwixt nan villages of Llanrwst and Trefriw.

"They are ever truthful supportive of america immoderate we do," said Nel.

"It's conscionable everything astir Nant, it's not conscionable a club, it's nan full community, everyone knows each other."

That consciousness of belonging is underlined by Branwen: "Growing up we were astir apt location each day," nan younger Metcalfe adds.

"The nine has been specified a large portion of, not conscionable our journey, but our full family. It's really bully that we tin do this together."

The siblings will find retired if they will play alongside each different erstwhile Wales announces its squad to look Scotland adjacent Thursday.

Nant Conwy RFC president Marc Jones said it was pinch a "heartfelt sincerity" that they celebrated nan occurrence of their erstwhile players.

"Congratulations to nan girls, their achievements are down to their full dedication and commitment," he said.

"Their occurrence is intrinsically linked to their coaches, unit and our full nine ethos.

"Being portion of nan Nant Conwy community, it was only a matter of clip that awesome practice was achieved. They will done their achievements, I'm sure, beryllium a catalyst for each of our players moving forward."

Tudor Roberts leads nan girls section, Ceirw Nant, and he excessively is "immensely proud" of nan girls for making nan Wales squad from "humble beginnings".

"It surely spurs nan young ones on, and shows that nan pathway is location and done difficult activity and committedness it is possible," he said.

"We wish them each nan champion of luck and will beryllium cheering them connected for sure.

"The modular of girls rugby successful northbound Wales has bloomed, pinch value games being played weekly. It's only a matter of clip earlier much girls from northbound Wales commencement putting their manus up for selection."