A nine-year-old girl was overjoyed to receive Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis' jersey in the post in a gesture which has left the family "deeply touched".
Aoife Walters was in the home crowd when Wales stunned Ireland in Dublin in round one of the Women's Six Nations to come away with a memorable 27-19 win. It was the team's first Test match since historic professional and retainer WRU contracts came into effect in January.
Aoife, whose dad Owen is Welsh, sent her favourite player Ffion a TikTok message to congratulate her after attending the fixture with her club Mullingar RFC, but was bowled over when she received a package complete with a handwritten note in the post just a few weeks later.
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"Thank you for supporting us," the scrum-half's letter said. "Just thought I would send you my matchday shirt vs Ireland that I wore. You are a special young lady who has a bright future ahead of her. Hopefully you can wear the jersey to one of our home games in Cardiff if you ask your dad really nicely.
"Keep dreaming big and work hard always - as hard work does pay off! Lots of love, your new fan, Ffion xxx".
Aoife said: "Ffion was giving me her first professional capped jersey, it's so special I thought she would want to keep it! Maybe some day I can meet Ffion to say thank you. If she can do it, then so can I and maybe one day I can play for Wales too and make my Nanna Sue proud!
Dad Owen hails from Llangattock, near Crickhowell, and moved to County Westmeath in 2007 after meeting his wife at Aberystwyth University. He used to play for Trefil RFC and now coaches Mullingar RFC, who ran the trip to the RDS to watch the match to help promote girls' rugby at their club. Owen got in touch with former teammate Robin Davies, deputy head teacher at Lewis' former place of work Bishop Hedley High School in Merthyr Tydfil, post-match to pass on his congratulations and let her know that his daughter had been cheering her on. He said he was "deeply touched" and thanked Ffion for her "incredible gesture" and "kindness and demonstrating the value of strong female role models for young girls everywhere".
Ffion, who left her job as a Welsh and PE teacher in December to become a full-time professional rugby player, added: "It just hits home how privileged we are to be in a position where we can have such a positive impact on the future generation. Aoife - next star in the making."
Aoife comes from a family rich in rugby history, with Owen's late grandfather Philip Morris and his three uncles Howard, Kevin and Clive Morris all being instrumental in establishing rugby in Trefil, with Howard continuing to be club secretary and involved in the club for 70 years. Owen’s brother David previously played too with his cousin Jack Morris continues the family tradition to this day.
Wales' next Women's Six Nations clash is this Friday (8pm kick-off) when they face France at Cardiff Arms Park in their penultimate match of the tournament.
