Wales call for Llanfair youngster

After hundreds of hours driving thousands of miles just to train, a Llanfair Caereinion youngster’s dream has come true by representing Wales at rugby.

Kelsie Webster has been in the Wales squad competing at this week’s Women’s U18 Six Nations Festival, the latest chapter in a success story that has seen an incredible rise through the ranks for the teenager who only started playing at the age of 12.

After asking her parents if she could have a go at rugby, despite never playing before, Kelsie joined the lads playing at COBRA U12s where she remained for a year until rules govern that girls and boys should split from the age of 13.

She then joined the club’s Rebels Girls Rugby Hub but as she grew older, players dropped by the wayside so Kelsie transferred to the U15 set-up at Oswestry Rugby Club where she was selected to play for the North Midlands.

Her talent was recognised, and she was invited to join the Worcester Warriors Centre of Excellence.

Trials for the Rygbi Gogledd Cymru regional side followed and she was selected to join their U18 set-up to play against Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys in a Wales Regional Competition.

But her latest success followed months of weekend travel to Swansea for training, and it has paid off by becoming the only Mid Wales-based player included in the Wales squad this week.

The competition, held at Wellington College, Berkshire, saw her start games against England and France at centre, suffering narrow 10-0 and 7-0 defeats. The team also beat Scotland 17-7, but lost to Italy 7-0.