Gwen Crabb

Gwen Crabb (born 28 June 1999) is a Welsh Rugby Union player. She plays second row for Wales internationally and for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premier 15s.[1][2]

Gwen Crabb
Date of birth (1999-07-28) 28 July 1999
Place of birthSwansea, South Wales
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight77.3 kg (170 lb; 12 st 2 lb)
SchoolMorriston Comprehensive School
UniversityCardiff Metropolitan University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second row
Current team Gloucester Hartpury
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–present
2019–2020		 Gloucester Hartpury
Worcester Warriors		 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–present Wales 25 (0)
Correct as of 11 May 2021

Rugby career

Club career

Crabb began her sporting career as a goalkeeper in football – her main sports pursuit from the age of four until her mid-teens. Her skills were such that she was even selected for the Wales under-17s squad.[3]

In an interview with WRU.Wales, she explained her decision to switch sports:

"As soon as I started playing rugby at about 15, it was a no-brainer. I really enjoyed the family atmosphere and ethos in rugby. And I can’t lie – I really enjoyed the physical contact, too. As a goalkeeper, the handling skills transferred really nicely across to rugby – spatial awareness and things like that. The line-out quickly became my thing as well.”[4]

Crabb then played for both Pencoed Phoenix under-18s and Hendy under-18s before joining Worcester Warriors in 2019. In June 2020, she signed with her current club, Gloucester-Hartpury.[5]

International career

Following a year out due to a knee injury, Crabb made her international debut against Hong Kong in the 2018 autumn series held at Cardiff Arm's Park.[6][7] She has since represented the Wales women's squad at each subsequent Six Nations Championship, and has won 22 caps to date.[8] She competed at the 2021 Six Nations Championship.[8]

Crabb is one of 31 Welsh players who have received full-time contracts as of January 2022.[9] She was named in Wales 2022 Six Nations squad.[10] She was in the starting line-up in every match of the Six Nations tournament.[11][12][13][14][15]

Crabb scored the only try in Wales warm-up match against England ahead of the World Cup.[16][17] She was selected in Wales squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[18][19]

Personal life

Born in Swansea, Crabb attended Ynystawe Primary School and Morriston Comprehensive before joining the Llandarcy Academy of Sport to develop her rugby skills.[3] She then moved to Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2018 to study strength conditioning, rehabilitation and massage.[3] She balances her role as personal trainer and online coach alongside her rugby career.[6][3]

References
  1. Shepard, Kit (2022-10-09). "Wales Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Wales 18-15 Scotland". Rugby World. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  2. "Hartpury well represented in Women's Rugby World Cup squads". Hartpury University and Hartpury College. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  3. "Catch of the Day – Gwen Crabb's transfer from Football to Rugby". Sport Wales. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  4. "Gwen aiming high in Six Nations". Welsh Rugby Union. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  5. "Crabb signs for Gloucester-Hartpury". www.newschainonline.com. 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  6. Thomas, Graham (2019-11-29). "Gwen Crabb . . . From Keeper To Jumper As She Rises With Wales". Dai Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  7. "Dragon News : McComish handed start by Wales Women". dragonsrugby.wales. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  8. "Gwen Crabb". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. Masters, Tom (2022-07-06). "Wales Women award 17 further contracts as Cunningham extends stay". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  10. "Wales name squad for 2022 TikTok Six Nations". Scarlets Rugby. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  11. Baber, Andy (2022-03-26). "Rose powers Wales to second-half comeback in Dublin". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  12. Jefford, Oli Dickson (2022-04-02). "Wales fight back to stun Scotland in Cardiff". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  13. Reid, James (2022-04-09). "Forwards power England to victory over Wales". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  14. Bray, Jonny (2022-04-22). "France win against Wales to set up clash with England". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  15. "Italy strike late to stun Wales". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  16. "Red Roses defeat Wales in Bristol". www.englandrugby.com. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  17. Grey, Becky (2022-09-14). "England become first team to win 25 Tests in a row". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  18. Jones, Liz (2022-09-21). "Wales Rugby World Cup squad named". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  19. "Wales: Siwan Lillicrap captains 32-player Rugby World Cup squad featuring 19 tournament debutants". Sky Sports. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
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