Former NPTC Group of Colleges student Keira Bevan has made history this week by signing a professional contract with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). Keira is one of twelve Welsh international rugby players who become the first women to be offered full-time professional contracts in Wales.
The scrum-half joins the likes of two-time Olympian Jasmine Joyce, Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap and half-back partner Elinor Snowsill in turning professional. The twelve-month deals started this week with the players now being based at the National Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort, sharing the facilities with the men’s team.
Keira studied at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, completing a Level 3 Personal Trainer Apprenticeship, and is now a fully qualified Personal Trainer. The 24-year-old made her debut for Wales against England in 2015 and has represented her country 38 times since. She plays her club rugby on the opposite side of the Severn Bridge with Bristol Bears, where she is joined by a handful of fellow Welsh internationals.
This is what Keira told the WRU about the opportunity: “To be given one of the first full-time contracts means so much. It means we can try and reach our full potential. I’ve been working towards this day for a long time. It’s very special to be one of the first full-time players, I just want to keep improving every day now.”
Wales women boss Ioan Cunningham had this to say about the selection process and Keira’s inclusion: “It’s been a tough but enjoyable process. Credit to all the players who have given us selection headaches. We are all now super excited to get the programme started. Talent and ability were the first element in our selection process and then the potential growth of the individual player along with their attitude.”
“We wanted to include two full-time scrum-halves in the group, and we feel Keira Bevan and Ffion Lewis will complement and challenge each other within the environment. Keira is very sharp, Ffion identifies running opportunities and we want to develop them both to be two of the best scrum-halves in the world.”
To find out more about the full-time professional contracted players click the link to the WRU website
To find out more about the range of Sport courses at NPTC Group of Colleges, click here
