Coffee fan Phillips brings rugby pedigree to Chiefs Women

Carys Phillips comes from good Welsh rugby stock. Her father Rowland was a back-rower for his country and her maternal grandfather played for Wales too. She started playing international rugby at 20 and recently ran out for the Barbarians.

Her stint in the black and white hoops of the Baa-Baas marked a first for this exclusive international club as her appearance at hooker saw her become the younger half of the first daughter-dad pairing to wear the jersey.

The 33-year-old admitted: “My dad’s very proud of me. He wants to find out stats; he loves talking rugby. When I go home, it's full-on rugby and then…chill.”

She added: “He loves women’s rugby. He came to the Baa-baas game. I am going to get them to come down as a family. I’ve got a nephew as well, so I need to get him a shirt.”

Phillips began playing rugby at the age of eight for her local club Skewen RFC before heading to Neath Athletic and university rugby.

She went on to captain Wales and played in two Rugby World Cup alongside her club career that has seen her go from Bristol to Worcester then Quins and now Exeter Chiefs.

The hooker said: “I know Flo (Robinson) and Robbo (Emily Robinson) from Quins, and they’ve always said good things about Chiefs and the family vibe. There’s a good group of girls here. Getting to know everyone has been fun so far.”

The week’s training in the run-up to the Baa-Baas game against Wales also gave her an early introduction to new team-mate Amy Rule.

“Personally, I think she's AI! She's just hilarious. It’s just good vibes in the gym and around the place.”

Phillips has swapped England’s capital city for the rural and coastal landscape of Devon. She already feels more at home.

“I’m from Wales, so I love the beach. To have the pick of some really nice beaches is great. The lifestyle down here is good too. I’m a really big fan of coffee and there’s 100 coffee shops here, so I’m really happy!”

The coffee has helped her get through preseason, which she admits she’s not a massive fan of. Phillips is looking forward to the rugby getting going with the JAECOO Next Gen Cup just a few weeks away with Chiefs’ first game against Leicester Tigers Women on Sunday, 27 September, at Sandy Park. She is hoping her experience will complement the skills of the squad and win a few fans off it.

“I think I bring experience. I started my international career when I was 20, so to the youngsters in this group, that was many, many years ago. The accuracy of set-piece is probably something that I pride myself on.

“I am looking forward to the fan base at Sandy Park. It’s a big Chiefs fan base and I am excited to hopefully get the opportunity to play in front of them and being part of the home side.”