Brogan Evans is set to make international rugby league history when she plays for the Wales Wheelchair side against Ireland and Scotland in the Celtic Cup at Archers Arena, Cardiff Metropolitan University on Saturday 24 May.
The 29-year-old previously won a cap for the Wales women’s rugby league in 2023 when she played against England. Now, after suffering an injury which has put her out of the “running game”, she is set to become the first person in the world to win a senior international cap for more than one of the three major world international disciplines – men, women and wheelchair. She is currently playing for North Wales Crusaders in the Welsh league and Salford Red Devils in the English set-up.
Wales coach Alan Caron today confirmed his ten-player squad for the exciting three-match three-team one-day tournament, with Evans being one of three debutants.
The other two newcomers are North Wales Crusaders duo, the 39-year-old Jonathan Gill and 16-year-old Jakub Wasieczko. They will become the first Crusaders players that have been developed and introduced to the sport by the club’s schools’ outreach programme to win an international cap, which impressed both teachers and pupils alike.
Two players return after missing last year’s Celtic Cup – last season’s Super League winning captain, Jodie Boyd-Ward of Leeds Rhinos, who was co-captain on Wales’ tour to USA last year, and Stuart Williams, who captained Wales in the 2022 World Cup.
The remaining squad members, Jess Booth, Alex Powell, Lee Sargent, Scott Trigg-Turner and Mark Williams, all played for Wales in last year’s Celtic Cup.
Caron said: “Brogan’s work-rate in the build-up to this tournament has been second to none. She’s been putting in extra sessions to improve her chair skills and she scored a well-worked try for Salford last weekend. Her ball-skills are already there of course, and the fact she won multiple awards in the women’s game a couple of years ago just proves what she can accomplish. I know she’ll grip this opportunity with both hands.
“Jonathan and Jakub have been on our radar for some time. It’s the first year we can field Jakub due to his age and Jonathan was unavailable last year. Crusaders’ development system is impressive, from schools work to club to international, and I’m sure they’ll both give a hundred percent.
“Having Stuart and Jodie back is very exciting. They’re both very experienced players and they’ll help us have a very dynamic side.
“We’re delighted to be hosting the Celtic Cup in the Welsh capital for the first time and I’m sure the Welsh public will come out to cheer us on.”
The Wales squad, which contains some players who turn out in different sides in the English and Welsh leagues, is as follows.
Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Hereford Harriers), Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos), Jess Booth, Jonathan Gill, Jakub Wasieczko, Stuart Williams (all North Wales Crusaders), Brogan Evans (North Wales Crusaders/Salford Red Devils), Alex Powell (Torfaen Tigers/Hereford Harriers), Scott Trigg-Turner, Mark Williams (both Torfaen Tigers/Wigan Warriors)
Schedule
11am: Wales v Scotland
1pm: Scotland v Ireland
3pm: Wales v Ireland
Admission can be paid at the gate, but we will only accept card payments.
