Wales lock Alaw Pyrs commits to Gloucester Hartpury for a second PWR season

Wales lock Alaw Pyrs has committed to Gloucester Hartpury for a second season in the Premiership Women’s Rugby, the West Country club confirmed. The 20-year-old made five league appearances and scored one try in her debut PWR campaign, a season that ended without the fourth consecutive English title the club had been chasing.

Pyrs joined Gloucester Hartpury after a breakout year that included her Wales debut against Scotland in a WXV 2 warm-up fixture in October 2024. She went on to make two further international appearances in South Africa before featuring prominently in the Celtic Challenge and the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Head of Rugby Dan Murphy highlighted the young lock’s attitude as the key factor behind the club’s decision to retain her. “Alaw has continued to grow every time she’s pulled on a Gloucester Hartpury shirt, and it’s been fantastic to see her development mirrored on the international stage with Wales,” Murphy said. “What stands out most is her appetite to improve. She’s incredibly coachable, embraces every challenge and has the mindset to keep pushing herself, which is exactly the type of player we want at this club.”

Pyrs, who studied at Hartpury, said the environment at the club had accelerated her development both on and off the pitch. “I still feel like I’m only at the start of my journey here, so I’m excited to keep developing, keep challenging myself and hopefully help the team create even more special memories together,” she said.

Outside of the PWR, Pyrs was again influential for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge last season. The Llanelli-based side finished third in the overall standings before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Clovers.

Rugby runs in the family: her older sister Gwenllian has earned 56 caps for Wales and recently re-signed with Sale Sharks in the same league.