Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Ffion Lewis is among the 23 players who will head down under to face pool games against England, Samoa and host nation Australia
- Published28 minutes ago
Ffion Lewis is relishing the prospect of donning the Wales kit while making history as the first woman from her nation to become a dual-code World Cup player.
The 28-year-old played for Wales in union at the 2022 Rugby World Cup and heads to Australia for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in October.
Having overcome a serious knee injury and dealt with the disappointment of not being offered the chance to renew a contract with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Lewis says the last few years have "been very tough".
But having returned to the 13-a-side code with London Broncos, Lewis is "grateful" to be able to play in another World Cup.
"It's been a journey this last few years, been very tough, but I knew I had a goal in mind and didn't want to give up on myself, just having the opportunity to go out and play," she told the Scrum V Podcast.
"I didn't think I was ever going to still be in a position to wear a Welsh shirt, different codes [and] a very different path to where I thought I would be at this point in my career."
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Lewis was part of the Wales squad at the 2022 union World Cup and was set to play in the inaugural WXV tournament a year later.
But she suffered a serious knee injury as Wales beat Italy in the 2023 Six Nations.
Since her recovery Lewis has played for Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge but, with no WRU contract, felt she had unfinished business and "didn't want any regrets".
"I could have easily just walked away from rugby at that point. I could have just been like 'I'm done'," said Lewis.
"But internally, I knew I wasn't, and I put so much time and effort into coming back and getting back fit, and I was only 28, and I was like, 'I've still got so much time left', and I just felt individually I didn't deserve my time to be done based on someone else's decision.
"So I took some time, and then I just set a goal to myself. If I got the opportunity to play rugby league, great.
"If I had the opportunity to play union, I wouldn't say no. But this opportunity came up, and I just grabbed it with two hands, and hopefully now it's paid off."
Wales World Cup squad
Hannah Bluck (Cardiff Demons), Hollie Brussels (Warrington Wolves), Leanne Burnell, Katie Carr (both Cardiff Demons), Georgia Cussions (Huddersfield Giants), Bethan Dainton (captain, Wigan Warriors), Lucia Davies, Jasmine Gibbons, Zoe Heeley (all Cardiff Demons), Gracie Hobbs (Huddersfield Giants), Emily Hughes (London Broncos), Frances Layton (Cardiff Demons), Ffion Lewis (London Broncos), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors), Dani McGifford (St. Helens), Jade Mullen (London Broncos), Tayla Preston (Canterbury Bulldogs), Amberley Ruck (Cardiff Demons), Kathryn Salter (London Broncos), Paige Travis (St. Helens), Erin Williams (Cardiff Demons), Sian Williams (North Queensland Cowboys), Agnes Wood (York Valkyrie).
Wales' World Cup pool schedule
Saturday, October 17 v England, HBF Park in Perth (07:45 BST)
Friday, 23 October v Samoa, CommBank Stadium, Sydney (07:45 BST)
Sunday, 1 November v Australia CommBank Stadium, Sydney (04:40 BST)
