‘We think of her every day, she was a caring person and that gives us comfort’

THE father of Welsh international rugby player Elli Norkett has paid tribute to his daughter on the first anniversary of her death.

Elli, a sports development student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, died after her car crashed on a South Wales road last year.

The 20-year-old played rugby for various women’s teams including Cardiff Met and the Ospreys, and was a Wales international with four caps to her name.

She was also the youngest player at the 2014 World Cup, at the age of just 17, and also represented Wales at Sevens, being selected for the Great Britain Students side.

On the club front Elli, from Llandarcy, in Neath, represented Swansea Ladies and the Ospreys.

Her father Kim Norkett says Elli’s room has been left as it was.

“It’s just been numb,” he said. “We think of her every day. She is always there. We want to remember her always.

“She was an exceptionally happy, outgoing and caring person and that gives us comfort.”

Since Elli’s death, a new member has also been added to the family and her younger sister, Lowri, has moved back home.

“The family are really close,” Mr Norkett added.

“Lowri is back home now too so we are together.

“About a week after Elli’s death, we bought a puppy – a cockapoo called Rolo – which has been great. Pets can really bring you happiness in difficult times.”

Mr Norkett has also been supported by the rugby community, which displayed a mass outpouring of grief when Elli passed away.

“The rugby community have been fantastic and have really helped us through this time,” he said.

“We have had her friends and other rugby players around us throughout, and they are always popping by to see us, even now.

“The Swansea RFC vicar, Pete Orphan, has been a huge comfort and is such a kind and caring man.

“The women’s Welsh side will play Ireland on Sunday and they are going to be wearing shirts with EN14 on the sleeve. It was their idea.”

Mr Norkett has also come out of retirement and now coaches the Swansea Sevens rugby team.

“They talked me out of retirement,” he said. “It has really helped me.”

The family are also spending their time organising rugby events, with one coming up on March 2 in the Manor Park Country Hotel in Clydach where former English rugby union player Maggie Alphonsi, and former rugby union back row forward for Wales, Rowland Phillips, will be speaking to help celebrate women’s rugby.

It’s also particularly poignant for Elli’s family as they have a photograph of Maggie with their late daughter.

“It’s a really lovely picture,” Mr Norkett said.

“She looks beautiful and happy in it.”