Carys Phillips targets Wales comeback as she banks on Worcester form to revive international career
Worcester hooker and former Wales captain Carys Phillips has vowed to play some of the best rugby of her career when Premier 15s returns as she targets an international comeback.
Phillips, who has 51 caps for her country, fell out of favour last autumn when Chris Horsman took over coaching duties of Wales women. She was left out of the Six Nations squad earlier this year.
Her father, Rowland Phillips, stepped down as Wales’ head coach last October, when the Welsh Rugby Union said he was “taking some time away” from the set-up. He officially vacated his role in March this year.
Last week the WRU launched a search for a new women’s head coach who will oversee the side at next year’s World Cup in New Zealand, which 27-year-old Phillips has already set her sights on.
“I’ve just got to play as best as I can,” she told Telegraph Sport. “I know I’m good enough to play, so I’ve got to just work hard and put myself out there.
“It was obviously disappointing [to be dropped] and tough to take. I’m just looking forward to enjoying the game, getting back into it and hopefully start to play some of my best rugby.”
Rugby is in Phillips’ blood given her maternal grandfather, Brian Thomas, a lock, represented Wales in the 1960s and her father, a back rower, earned 10 caps in the late 1980s.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to be where I am and to play rugby for my country and be captain over 25 times,” added Phillips. “I’ve put a lot of sacrifice in, and that’s something you don’t give up easily. I’m going to keep my head down and work hard.”
Having come through the ranks at Skewen RFC before joining Ospreys, Neath-born Phillips played for Bristol when the Premier 15s launched three years ago, where a healthy contingent of Welsh internationals have since followed.
“Hopefully it will make Wales more competitive at international level,” said Phillips. “I feel like the Prem 15s could be one of the best leagues in the future to play in. I’ve only been at Worcester a short time but I’ve learnt so much from [head coach] Jo Yapp and [lead coach] Sian [Moore].
The Rugby Football Union is yet to announce a date for the return of its elite women's competition after it was declared null and void in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
After Worcester secured Premier 15s status for another three seasons in April, Phillips is optimistic about the team's progression.
“We’re definitely working towards not just being competitive against the higher teams, but winning as well,” she said. “It’s exciting to see where we can go.”
