Sky Sports: Living for Sport Athlete Mentor

Sky Sports: Living for Sport Athlete Mentor

Philippa was appointed as a Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor in 2015, making her one of over a 100 world-class Athlete Mentors from a range of sports who deliver free visits to schools to share their inspiring stories of success and support teachers to deliver their projects.

Phillippa’s own story could certainly inspire the next generation. From a young age, Philippa enjoyed participating in Sport and was particularly talented at playing Hockey, Netball and Athletics. She always wished to get involved with Rugby, but felt this was never an option for her whilst growing up as it was a male dominated sport in her school.

When Philippa left school she went on to study at Cardiff University. It was at University that she first got the opportunity to play Rugby and found that she loved the sport and played as often as she could.

She worked her way from her University team, to a Club team, Welsh Regional team and then Welsh Development team before being made Captain of the Welsh Development team in 2005. Following her hard work and resilience, she was incredibly proud to get her first call up to the Senior Welsh Women’s Rugby Squad in 2005.

After receiving her first cap against Spain in 2006, she went on to play rugby 7’s and Touch Rugby for Wales. Throughout her sporting career, she has played in 3 World Cups, 6 European Championships, 7 Home Nations and 7 Six nations Championships.

Her hard work and determination was recognised when she was awarded Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Development player of the year, Touch Rugby Home Nations player of the year and most recently WRU Regional Player of the year.

Philippa was appointed as a Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor in 2015 and said: ‘It is fantastic that I have been given the opportunity to support an initiative that teaches young people how life skills can be built through sport. Sport has taught me that hard work and resilience are necessary for success and I look forward to sharing this with young people who have their own ambitions’.