She Emerge Global Magazine


Wales Under-18s defeated Ireland, Scotland and Italy in the Women’s Six Nations Festival.

“I have been in Edinburgh watching our under-18s who had about five or six training sessions but won all three games,” added Walker.

“We are going to establishing an under-20s squad over the next few months, that’s the top end of the pathway.

“I have appointed John Alder as head of player development and he will straddle the male and female game.

“The important things is from the age of seven or eight, when a boy or girl picks up a ball, there is a seamless pathway through to the senior team.

“There is a plan and I am hoping we will reap those rewards in the next three to five years.”

Walker has implemented the first professional contracts for the women’s game with 12 being given full-time deals and a dozen more having part-time retainer contracts.

Walker says the question of whether further contracts will be given out is “constantly under review”.

“We want the women’s team to be successful,” he added.

“Clearly, if we had 35 full-time contracts, and you selected the right people you’d probably have a better chance, but there are other considerations as well.”

Meanwhile, the WRU claim participation numbers who are registered have risen above 50,000 for the first time since digital records began.

The numbers they have given are 51,299 which includes the men’s, women’s and youth and junior players.

The male game figures recorded from under-sevens to seniors total 45,613 with 13,238 registered for the senior game.

The female game figures recorded from under-sevens to senior total 5.686 with 1,514 women registered.

What is not distinguished is how many players that are still registered remain active players.

“Two years ago we weren’t playing and everybody was saying the game is gone and dying,” said WRU community director Geraint John.

“When you look at it, we have more players actively registered in our game than we have ever had before.

“We have hugely positive participation figures for the current season. We are buoyed by these figures but this is not a case of job done.

“We work hard in these areas and have a wide range of initiatives and structures in place to address and improve participation at all levels but also invest in people that nurture players as they come through the system.”



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