Land of my fathers – and daughters – the women following in their famous dads’ boots
No fewer than five starters so far in the Wales team for the Women’s Six Nations are the daughters ghters of former rugby players. Katie Sands takeskes a look at some of the rugby-playing fathers and daughters of Wales
Carys and Rowland Phillips Former blindside flanker Rowland Phillips was capped 10 times by Wales in rugby union before making 17 international rugby league outings.
Educated in the school for hard knocks at Neath RFC, he was part of the Wales team which lifted a Five Nations Triple Crown back in 1988, and he also played in a rugby league semi-final for his country and appeared for Great Britain.
He plied his 13-a-side trade with Warrington and Workington, and had spells with Aironi and London Welsh.
As for coaching, 56-year-old Rowland was Gareth Jenkins’ defence chief with the Welsh men’s senior team between 2006 and 2007, was head coach of Wales Women for four years and has recently been appointed Merthyr RFC’s new head coach.
Yet he has openly admitted that he’s not the best rugby player in his own house, thanks to daughter Carys. The former Wales captain and 29-year-old hooker captained her country when they were led by dad Rowland, but spent time in the international wilderness which coincided with her father’s departure from his role.
He officially left the Welsh Rugby Union in March 2020 but had been absent from his posi t i o n since 2019.
Carys made a remarkable return to o the Test st arena in the autumn of 2021, helping Wales es beat South Africa a via a hat trick of tries s despite not having played yed for Wales for more than 700 days. d
An exceptionally talented throwing hooker with the eye for the whitewash, she was one of 12 players to be awarded historic Welsh Rugby Union full-time professional contracts in January 2022, and has started in each of Wales’ Six Nations matches so far this campaign.
Rowland said of his daughter: “From a father’s point of view, I am very pleased for her.
“With Carys, quite similar to myself, she was out of the equation for a couple of years.
“From a selfish point of view, to watch the way she has come back through last autumn and the Six Nations is a credit to her. She is appre
■ Sisilia Si ili and d Sione Si Tuipu- i lotu Hard-running former Tonga and Newport utility back Sione Tuipulotu is part of a well-known rugby family and is among those to have lived at Eugene Cross Park’s famous house in Ebbw Vale, a hub which was dubbed the Tongan Embassy, such was the volume of Wales-based players from the South Seas island.
Taulupe Faletau’s father, Kuli, is among those to have once called the house home.
So it’s no surprise that Sione’s daughter Sisilia, 18, has been tapping into the rugby knowledge of her rugby-playing cousins Taulupe, Carwyn Tuipulotu and England’s Vunipola
brothers as she forges her own rugby path.
University psychology student Sisilia is one of 12 Wales players to be offered a part-time retainer WRU contract, so she combines Wales and Gloucester rugby duties with her university studies.
Earning a contract at her age is one thing, but it’s even more remarkable considering she only took up rugby two years ago – when she joined Hereford College’s sixth form.
She had played touch rugby and passed with her family as a child, but was discouraged from playing competitively amid fears she would be injured.
But, often being blown up for obstruction while playing netball, it was only a matter of time before rugby took hold.
Sisilia says of her family: “Seeing how hard they work inspires me to push, to do whatever it takes, reach for my goals. They’ve always reached what they’ve put their heads to so why can’t I? My dad’s always said to just be me. On that field, off that field, he’ll be proud. However I perform,
what ever I do, he’ll still be there. The main thing is to be myself and play how play.”
Sisilia got her first cap after coming off the bench in Wales’ stunning come back win against Ireland in their Six Nations opener, and made her first start against England last timeout.
Robyn and Gwilym Wilkins
Wales international Gwilym Wilkins enjoyed a distinguished career on the wing for Bridgend and Aberavon in his playing days, and earned an international cap against Tonga back in 1994 – taking to the field alongside Neil Jenkins and Gareth Llewellyn that day.
It’s no surprise, then, that his daughter Robyn – a utility back whosse preferred jersey is No.10 – has forged a similar path. “I watched Dad play rugby and I guess I wanted to follow in his footsteps”, the 27-year-old has said.
“I remember growing up, we had one of his games – I was a mascot – so we had that taped on the old-school video player. I had that game, and the
1999 World Cup final, and I remember even at the age of six years old, I used to watch those all the time. I don’t know why, I never got bored of it.”
Robyn, who is not contracted with the WRU and balances rugby with her job as a physics teacher, has come on from the bench in Wales’ first two tournament games this year – against Ireland and Scotland – and started at fly-half against England ahead of Elinor Snowsill.
Natalia and Gareth John
Father-and-daughter duo Natalia and Gareth John share the unique feat of both facing the Barbarians in a No.4 jersey.
Gareth played for Penarth in the final Good Friday fixture against the invitational side in March 1986, won by the Baa-Baas by 39-14.
Full-time Wales professional Natalia, meanwhile, started in the first Wales Women’s side to face the Barbarians at a Principality Stadium double-header in 2019 (the visitors won 29-15).
“My dad played for Penarth against the Baa-Baas back in ’86, so to get the opportunity to run out in the same number jersey that he did way back then was a real honour for me,” said the 26-year-old second-row, who left her job as a science teacher to play rugby full-time in January.
“The whole family came to watch me at Principality Stadium and I think my dad shed a tear because rugby’s been such a big thing in my family and for him to see it come full circle was really special.”
Brought up in a pub where rugby was always on TV, Bristol Bear Natalia first played rugby at Swansea University – coached by Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap – before joining Bonymaen and Swansea RFC to get more experience.
“I only started playing rugby because my sister did, and I wanted to make friends in university.
“My dad was a good rugby player in his day. I talked to my dad a lot about how I could be better on the field.
“He’d kind of give me his tips from way back when, and that kind of inspired me then to push a bit further and see how far I could go with it.
“I always thought the Ospreys would be my top level, and to think of how much further I’ve gone since then has been absolutely crazy. If I’d told myself four years ago what I’d be doing now I’d have probably laughed in my face.”
Natalia started Wales’ opening two Six Nations before playing the second half against England from the bench.
Keira and Richard Bevan
Rugby fans of a certain era will remember Richard Bevan turning out for Swansea, Aberavon, Neath, Gorseinon and Hendy.
Years later, his daughter – Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan – practically grew up at Pontarddulais RFC, where her dad coached the men’s senior team.
The 24-year-old No. 9 would head to the ground in her home town to kick a rugby ball as a way to pass time instead of staying home alone while her dad coached, and it is there that a passion for the sport flourished.
“I’ve grown up with boys my whole life and grown up on the rugby scene with Pontarddulais RFC and things like that,” she previously told us. “I played for Hendy when I was younger as well, my dad played for Hendy as well, and my brother.”
She actually grew up in the same street as a fellow Wales international, having been playmates with Josh Adams.
Bevan started Wales’ first two Six Nations matches and came off the bench against England in the 56th minute.