Gwen Crabb on suffering with endometriosis: 'I was lucky not to get yellow cards, I couldn’t think straight'

One in ten women live with endometriosis. Picture a rugby squad of 23 players – statistically, at least two are likely to be managing an invisible, chronic condition that causes severe pain, fatigue and inflammation, all whilst being expected to perform at the highest level.

Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries, pelvis, bladder or bowel. Endometriosis symptoms often include heavy menstrual bleeding, severe pelvic pain and debilitating period cramps.

For the recently signed Brython Thunder Captain and Wales international, Gwen Crabb, this was her reality and it became impossible to ignore.

“I was lucky not to get lots of yellow cards when we played Canada in the pool stages of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. That was the worst my endometriosis has ever impacted my playing abilities. I was high tackling people, and I couldn’t think straight at all. It was like I wasn’t on the pitch. I was so consumed with how horrific I felt, and I just wanted it all to stop,” explained Crabb.

“During a World Cup Test match, you should be so focused and always thinking about the next job, especially as Canada were scoring lots of points against us. That game was the turning point in getting help and explaining my symptoms to my coaches.

“I was functioning at around 20% of my ability and that’s not good for me, for the team or for my confidence. We had a conversation about endometriosis, and they realised how much it was affecting me as a person and also as a player. It was massive weight off of my shoulders talking to our Head Coach, Sean Lynn, and the team doctors about it.”

The 26-year-old’s symptoms started long before she ever wore a Welsh, Gloucester-Hartpury or Brython Thunder jersey.

“I had my first period around the age of 14 and it was extremely painful. We’d just got a family dog, and we were so excited. My sister was playing
with him, and I went to stand up and play too and I just felt such extreme clots and my period was so heavy.”

The pain quickly became routine. “It was always like that. I would have to change pads between all of my lessons at school and I felt so self-conscious whilst playing sports,” she said.

When Crabb turned 18, she went on the pill. For four years, it masked many of her symptoms, but wanting to be more in tune with her hormones, she eventually made the decision to come off it. “My first period afterwards was horrific. I thought it was a vengeance thing like, ‘You’ve not had one for four years, here we go!’” she chuckled. “Then, it happened every month.”

In 2023, Crabb grew close with her Welsh teammate, Ffion Lewis. Both athletes had torn their ACLs around the same time and supported each other through long spells of rehab, as well as both being endometriosis sufferers. Together, they launched a podcast named ‘Say It How It Is’.

One episode in particular proved pivotal for the Welsh second row. Mr Tony Griffiths, a highly experienced Consultant Gynaecologist, and Anna Cooper, Co-Founder of the Menstrual Health Project, joined the duo for a conversation all about female health, off the back of Lewis’ endometriosis diagnosis earlier that year.

Crabb said, “The cogs in my brain started whirring. I had a lot of symptoms Ffion didn’t have but I also had lots that she did. I’d started having really bad flare ups of endo symptoms during my last few injuries, I was in agony and at times, I was having to get out of the car to throw up from the pain.

“During the recording, I remember thinking that I might have endo and that I really needed to speak to someone, but I was injured all the time and so focused on my knee that I just cracked on with the symptoms.

“Why have I got period pain when I’m not on my period and what is that stabbing pain?” were just two of the many questions that crossed Crabb’s mind.

“I eventually went to the GP last year and I said, ‘I think I’ve got endometriosis.’ The doctor responded, ‘Right, we’ll put you on the pill,” she recalled. “I was so frustrated and disappointed with that being the go-to, as I hadn’t actually been diagnosed yet.” It was only through tests required by the Welsh medical team that Crabb was referred to gynaecology.

Shortly after the 2025 Rugby World Cup concluded, the call to book an internal ultrasound came. From speaking to her former teammate Lewis and also the conversations on the podcast, Crabb knew scans would not always show endometriosis.

Instead, the news was close to definitive. “‘Yep, you’ve got big endometrial cysts on both ovaries and the right one is large and filled with blood. Ring the GP for the next steps’,” she was told.

“It was said so blasé. I went to the toilet and burst out crying. It was so overwhelming,” said Crabb.

An MRI shortly after confirmed the severity of her diagnosis: stage four endometriosis, present in multiple areas.

“I was so scared and overwhelmed but also relieved to have an answer. I felt very lucky that through rugby I was able to go privately for my diagnosis – otherwise I’d still be waiting now.

“I’m also a very logical person and so I wanted to think of ways to manage my symptoms after the initial emotion subsided. The first two things the doctors tell you to focus on are diet and exercise, and when you’re a professional athlete, your diet tends to be pretty good and your exercise is taken care of.

“However, endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, and rugby is a sport that encourages inflammation. That’s been a big learning curve and I’m trying to find ways to recover twice as hard now – to calm down the inflammation from games but also from the endo,” she explained.

“One of my biggest triggers is really high intensity exercise and you can’t get much higher intensity than Test rugby. Before a match day, I’m piling in as many carbs as I can because I need to eat around 4,000 calories and that’s hard to do without some processed food. How do I fuel myself to perform without giving myself more pain?”

 

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The impact of caffeine has been another revelation. She said, “My game day coffee consumption was the equivalent of six coffees in a short space of time as well, and I now realise I need to manage my caffeine consumption better as it can contribute to flare ups.

“I was in the habit of getting up and making coffee before I’d even eaten anything. Now, I have a peppermint tea with breakfast before going anywhere near caffeine. Although, I’m definitely not giving up my coffees!”

The 26-year-old has endured more than her fair share of injuries and surgeries. After announcing her departure from PWR champions, Gloucester-Hartpury before Christmas and facing a fourth knee rehab, Crabb returned to action with Brython Thunder in round three of the Celtic Challenge.

“I’ve probably had more injuries and surgeries than most rugby players that are 26 have had. They will probably affect me longer term and I’ll most likely need a knee replacement in the future, but with injuries, you have a recovery date. With endo, it never gets better – it’s just there forever.”

She added: “The perspective I’ve gained through my injuries has been huge during my endometriosis diagnosis though. I may end up being infertile because of the endometriosis, but I may also be completely fine. If I can’t have kids, it will really suck, and I’ll let myself be sad but there are other ways to go about it.

“Perspective is key and having supportive people around you that treat you the same is so important and also knowing that things may suck now, but you will eventually feel better and learn to manage.”

With a surgery being scheduled for after the 2026 Women’s Six Nations, there are some further uncertainties for the 26-year-old. Crabb laughed as she said, “I get hit in the abdomen for a living! I can’t just return to a contact sport within a couple of weeks post-surgery.

“There’s no controlled study of how quickly women have recovered from endo surgery and then played rugby! It’s such a learning curve and rollercoaster but I’m taking things a step at a time and surrounding myself with good people.”

Determined to create the visibility she never had growing up, Crabb has launched a series online called ‘Reel Talk’. “Social media was just starting when I was 14. There was so much I was influenced by, but it was all very negative ended up contributing to the negative relationship I had with food.

“I wish I’d had positive role models and influences growing up. Not once did I ever see anything shared about mental health or women’s health. It was just posts telling you to do a 21-minute ab workout before bed. I really want to be that person for the 14-year-olds now that I would have wanted to see.

“It is so important to trust your body and advocate for yourself and if sharing my story helps even one person do that, it’s worth it.”