Crabb to 'make impact' on return to Wales after Gloucester Hartpury success

Wales second row forward Gwen Crabb has returned home to represent Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge.

The 26-year-old, who has won 39 caps for her country, has committed her future to playing club rugby in Wales and has concluded her five year association with Premiership Women’s Rugby outfit Gloucester Hartpury.

She will now bring all of her experience, which includes appearances at two Women’s Rugby World Cups, back to Wales in the hope of helping the next generation of players’ development.

To get match minutes ahead of this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Crabb represented Thunder in last season’s Celtic Challenge.

Currently out with a knee injury Crabb is expected to return to fitness in the New Year.

“As a young Welsh player, I never saw an option to stay in Wales and develop to the best of my ability — but now that has changed, and that excites me so much,” Crabb wrote on Instagram.

“A huge part of my ‘why’ is about inspiring the next generation and being the person I needed when I was younger. Having the opportunity to play in the Celtic Challenge and come home is something that fills me with so much pride and excitement.

“So here’s to the 25/26 season at home with Brython Thunder — and to growing the game in Wales.”

In the wake of Wales’ Women’s Rugby World Cup exit several months ago Sean Lynn, the nation’s head coach, emphasised the importance of the Celtic Challenge.

He said, “we need players to be playing regular rugby and not just training”, after it was confirmed that the three-peat winning Gloucester Hartpury coach was planning a performance review.

It has been a challenging year all round. Lynn was installed as Wales’ new head coach just days before their Women’s Six Nations campaign began and picked up just one point from five matches.

At the Women’s Rugby World Cup the side failed to pick up a win and exited the tournament with a loss to Fiji at Sandy Park. They have won just one game out of 10 played this calendar year.

Crabb is just the second-ever player to commit wholly to Celtic Challenge rugby after Kerin Lake joined Gwalia Lightning.

Teenage trio Seren Lockwood, Branwen Metcalfe and Tilly Vucaj, along with Alaw Pyrs, Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Nel Metcalfe and Bryonie King who are all pegged as the next core members of Wales have played Celtic Challenge rugby.

“Gwen is a player I know well and her decision to return to Wales demonstrates her commitment to Welsh rugby,” Sean Lynn, Wales’ head coach, said.

“Having worked with her at club and international level, her experience and rugby knowledge will make an impact on the young players we know have coming through the system.

“We have spoken about Gwen developing her leadership skills and passing on her international experience and of playing in England to the young players in the Brython Thunder squad.”

“We welcome Gwen’s decision to return home and to commit to playing her domestic club rugby in Wales in the forthcoming Celtic Challenge for Brython Thunder,” Belinda Moore, Welsh Rugby Union’s Head of Women’s Rugby, said.

“We have made no secret of our ambition to have WRU contracted players for Welsh clubs and to boost the playing quality as we build the women’s game in Wales.”