The 42-year-old Birchgrove School science and PE teacher will be taking her East Swansea Eagles Hwb players to Cardiff to see the Wales v England Guinness Women’s Six Nations game on Saturday before returning to Principality Stadium on Sunday for a bumper day of action.
But before she even sets out from her Swansea home to head up the M4 to the Welsh capital on Sunday she will have taken a training session in the morning. When she gets to Principality Stadium she will be an assistant referee for the second of three women’s cup finals in the latest round of matches in the ‘Road to Principality 2025’ series of WRU Community events.
Once she has done her duty on the touchline in the Plate Final between Seven Sisters and Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd, she will race to the Arms Park to join up with her Bonymaen teammates to prepare to play in the Cup Final against Burry Port.
“My head teacher has very kindly given me the day off on Monday, so I should be able to get some rest then. It’s going to be a very exciting weekend,” admitted Evans, who plays at centre for Bonymaen.
“I was a latecomer to rugby at the age of 32 having played hockey for most of my life. An old university friend suggested I give it a go just before Covid hit and I was hooked immediately.
“It was a bit frustrating having to wait during Covid to actually play but I’ve loved it ever since.”
13.03.25 – WRU – Lucy Rees at Morrison RFC –
Not that the sport-a-holic confines herself to playing. She got into coaching first and more recently refereeing.
While she admits her playing career is likely to end this season, she still sees her involvement in the game continuing long into the future.
“I decided to do the WRU Level 1 referees course to be able to take charge of games in school and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been doing some Division 2 2nd XV men’s matches as well as women’s games and I hope to push to go as far as I can,” added Rees.
As well as coaching the girls in the East Swansea Eagles Hwb, Rees also coaches the Morriston Ladies team and has started two girl’s teams at school. She has also been involved in coaching the Ospreys U18 side.
“I love the involvement at all levels and I’m just pleased that I discovered rugby and all it has to offer in my thirties. I’m really excited about playing in the Cup Final with Bonymaen, but also in taking my girls squad to meet the Wales Women’s team before we watch them play against England at Principality Stadium.
“We’ve had a great run to the final and beat the reigning champions Llandaff North in the semi-final. We played Burry Port in the first round of matches in the Premiership and won 24-5, but we know it is going to be a very tough day.
“It will be my third final at Principality Stadium. We lost to Llandaff North a few years ago in the Cup Final and beat Haverfordwest in a Plate Final.”
The action kicks-off with the Bowl Final between Taffs Well and Senghenydd, who are led by ex-international Rafique Taylor, while the Plate Final is between Seven Sisters and CRICC.
WRU WOMEN’S CUP FINAL – 5.35pm kick-off
Burry Port: Rhian Jenkins; Ceulyn Davies, Mari Jenkins, Darcy Thomas, Oliwia Bakowaka; Rhiannon Griffin, Keely Evans (captain); Ebony Bennett, Brooke Kerry, Sophie Jones, Roxanne Perego, Sophie Marsh, Kathryn Joseph, Catrina Williams, Ffion Jones
Reps: Carlie Reardon, Carla Giannini, Carys Lewis, Ellie Gravell, Rhyanne O’Hara, Sophie Delaney, Charlotte Stallard, Alice Morgan
Bonymaen: Lily-Anne Roberts; Cerys Beynon, Lucy Rees, Angharad Jones (captain), Seren Croydon; Lauren Smyth, Sophie Moore; Tyler Tipene, Sianon Nolan, Tegan Rumming, Amy Thomas, Cherry Morris, Natalie Murphy, Amy Price, Tili Hopkins
Reps: Bethan Rickard, Taylor Briggs, Karis Stevens, Charlotte Peters, Ffion Clarke, Kirsten Field
Route to the Final
20 October – Round 1: Lampeter Town 7 – 24 Bonymaen; Old Penarthians 39 – 56 Burry Port
19 January – Round 2: Burry Port 48 – 39 Caernarfon; Haverfordwest 5 – 60 Bonymaen
16 February – Semi Final: Bonymaen 26 – 12 Llandaff North; Burry Port 33 – 12 Whitland
WRU WOMEN’S PLATE FINAL – 3.15pm kick-off
Seven Sisters: Cerys Bowden; Caitlin Moffatt, Holly Cooper, Jami Davies, Joy Hall; Rachel Rees, Hannah-Mâi Jones; Emma Powson, Kirsten Flower, Bethan Howell (captain), Jenny Adams, Seren O’Neill, Leah Griffiths, Melissa Gnojek, Alicia Demery-Goatson
Reps: Nia Williams, Heledd Lewis, Shae Wallis, Emily Preedy, Victoria Morgan, Jenna Dyckhoff, Jessica Thomas, Caris Llewelyn
CRICC: Mirain Jones; Lydia Marsh, Georigia Liddington, Rhi Gower, Molly Webster; Sophie Longland, Alaw Hughes; Meleri Daniel, Elin Davies, Nia Jones, Anwen Hopkins, Laura Satterly, Maddie Rees, Carys Parry, Georgia Cummings
Reps: Beth Jones, Katie Heir, Sarah Turner, Jude Dowers, Georgina Wren, Zoe Tudor, Niah Orlandea, Catrin Jones
Route to the Final
19 October – Round 1 Cup: Caernarfon 21 – 12 CRICC
27 October – Round 1 Cup: Llandaff North 58 – 10 Seven Sisters
19 January – Round 1 Plate: Lampeter Town 14 – 53 Seven Sisters
16 February – Semi Final: CRICC 48 – 10 Llantwit Fardre; Seven Sisters 29 – 19 Old Penarthians
WRU WOMEN’S BOWL FINAL – 1.00pm kick-off
Taffs Well: Kirsten Field; Danni Stokes, Holly Brown, Georjia Teuma, Amy Clayton; Jade Edwards, Louise Shanahan; Jamie-lee Knight, Kayleigh Cushing (captain), Taryn Hurley, Katy Priddle, Sharon Macdonald, Lauren Hughes, Stacey Wright, Bonnie Heath
Reps: Chelsea Martin, Alice Clayton, Paige Price, Jodie-Leigh Hobbs, Rhiannon Beth Morgan, Hannah Thomas, Ceri Parkin, Sarah Grant
Senghenydd: Kayley Smith; Georgia Pritchard, Rafiuke Taylor (captain), Imogen Shide, Lauren Stevens; Courtney Greenway, Hayley Skym; Yasemin Sen, Rhian Bowden, Elin Jenkins, Sarah Creak, Joeann McGuire, Sarah Harper, Lianne Fletcher, Hollie Dempsey
Reps: Gemma Bisi, Catrin Davies, Tara-Mae Fitzgerald, Shauna Bowman-Rees, Esme Davies, Beti Jones, Megan Phillips, Shirey Webley
Road to Final
20 October – Round 1: Senghenydd w/o v Deri; Taffs Well w/o v Whitchurch
1 December – Round 2: Senghenydd 86 – 0 Abercwmboi; Taffs Well 10 – 5 Blackwood
19 January – Quarter Final: Treorchy 12 – 32 Senghenydd; Wrexham 5 – 15 Taffs Well
16 February – Semi Final: Taffs Well 14 – 10 Pembroke; West Swansea Hawks 26 – 59 Senghenydd
