Welsh rugby legend joins Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales rugby union legend, Elinor Snowsill has announced her retirement as a professional rugby player with immediate effect. She is joining Cardiff Metropolitan University as the Player Development Lead for the new East Wales Player Development Centre (PDC), a partnership between Cardiff Met and the Welsh Rugby Union to identify and coach the next generation of female Welsh rugby players.

Snowsill’s Test career has stretched over a decade, winning 76 caps for her country, represented the Barbarians and played in the Commonwealth Games. The fly-half made her Wales debut against Sweden at St Helen’s in Swansea in 2009. Her final cap was against Italy in the 36-10 victory in Parma during which she played a key role in Wales’ best Six Nations campaign for 14 years.

Snowsill, 34, played in four World Cups – 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2021 – and was part of the recent Wales squad to qualify for the new Tier 1 Global WXV tournament, featuring the six best teams in the world.

Snowsill said: “I’m excited to be starting my new chapter at Cardiff Met Sport and working with and supporting the next generation of players and leading the attack for the Cardiff Met BUCS team. I can’t wait to meet up with my new team and get started.”

Gareth Baber, Director of Rugby System at Cardiff Met Sport said: “We’d like to extend our congratulations to Elinor on her incredible career and the impact she has had during such a pivotal time for the women’s game. As one of the first players to be awarded a professional contract in Wales, there is no doubt her playing career leaves a long-lasting legacy.

“Looking forward, we’re delighted to welcome Elinor to Cardiff Met. The PDC is a hugely exciting project for us and the WRU in developing female rugby players. Elinor’s experience will be invaluable to the players who are part of the PDC. I’m also excited to see her work alongside Lisa Newton, our Women’s Head Coach, to develop the PDC and the Cardiff Met Women’s Performance Programme collaboratively.”

For more information about Cardiff Met becoming a Player Development Centre for Wales’ stars of tomorrow, visit Cardiff Met announced as Player Development Centre for Women’s Rugby in Wales.