MELKSHAM teenager Steph Holman is hoping that she can make the grade as an international rugby player after earning a spot on the Wales U18 women’s development squad.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Bowerhill, has spent the last four seasons playing for Newport Gwent Dragons’ regional squad. After trials earlier this year, she has been picked to step up to national level with the Welsh development team.

Winger Holman, who qualifies for Wales through her mother’s lineage and also plays club rugby for Melksham and county rugby for Somerset, will begin training with the U18 development squad this summer and is already setting her sights high, with rugby sevens set to feature at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

“I’ve played rugby since I was five or six. I’ve spent a long time playing with a regional team but I was pretty nervous when I got asked to go for national trials but luckily, it went well and I got picked,” said the Melksham Oak School pupil, who is in the middle of taking her GCSE exams.

“The squad met up about two or three weeks ago in Llandovery, where we played with the girls from the East against the girls from the West, and you could tell that everyone wanted it a bit more.

“It was a bit rougher but I’m one of the youngest in the squad and I’ve got plenty of time to get used to it.

“I was never planning on playing international rugby but now I want to try and go as far as I can. There’ll be the Commonwealth Games in 2018, which I’d love to make it to.”

Dad Robert Holman added: “Back when she was 12, she was at a training session for Somerset and luckily she was wearing her Wales shirt.

“There were some WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) reps there and that’s how she got a trial for the Dragons regional team,” he said.

“We’re very proud of her and it would be great if we could get one of her international shirts on the wall in the Melksham clubhouse one day.”

A HOST of girls from Melksham have been picked for county squads:

  • Dorset & Wilts U18: Mary Wallington (captain), Chloe Wallington, Clare Whittaker, Aalyiah Williams.
  • Dorset & Wilts U15: Vicky Rolph.
  • Somerset U18: Steph Holman, Anna Wolf, Chantelle Miell, Fay A’Bear.
  • Somerset U15: Robyn Price, Georgia Phillips.

MELKSHAM are also holding a girls-only open training session for anyone aged 11 and over on Sunday, June 16, 11am-2pm, at the club.

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