Lowri Norkett will follow in her late sister Elli's footsteps when she earns her first Wales rugby union cap this weekend.
Lowri, who has been training full-time with Wales Women this summer ahead of the World Cup in October, starts on the wing against Canada on Saturday night having come off the bench in the red jersey in an uncapped Six Nations warm-up match in March. See the full Wales v Canada team news here.
It comes five years after the death of her beloved sister Elli, who died from her injuries following a car accident in 2017 aged 20. She was one of the brightest young women's rugby talents in the country, and had been the youngest player at the 2014 Rugby World Cup.
Former netball international player Lowri caught the rugby bug after picking up the oval-shaped ball to play in Elli's memorial match, and now she is about to earn her first Wales union cap in Halifax, Canada, having previously represented Wales in rugby league. Lowri has opened up about the incredibly close relationship she had with her sister in this moving interview with WalesOnline.
"I've been ecstatic all week, it's been a long journey and a lot of hard work but it's just absolutely exciting and I can't wait to take the pitch on Saturday," she told BBC Sport ahead of her imminent cap.
"Rugby union has always been my dream and what I've been building to. After we lost Elli, that's always been my ambition. From the moment I first took the pitch I always said 'I want to wear a Welsh jersey in 15s in honour of my sister'. To be able to do that on the weekend, I just can't wait to make my family and her proud.
"I think she'd be a very happy person right now and I think she'll be looking down with a beaming smile."
It's a proud moment for the family, including dad Kim and mum Caroline.
"I actually told my mum and she sent a WhatsApp picture crying, her eyes were streaming and she said 'I'm so proud' but they were happy tears not sad tears," Lowri added. "It is a sad time but also it's a happy time.
"We speak about her in such a way and we carry on her legacy and it's a happy time. It is emotional but it is something that I've worked for and dreamed of, and it's a dream come true."
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said Lowri has "trained the house down", adding: "She’s been excellent in our environment. A lot of stuff we talk about with regards to things that don’t take talent, where you just run hard, chase kicks hard, being physical, workrate, she’s ticking all those boxes and we want to see her go. She deserves that opportunity."
Canada are ranked fourth in the world while Wales are ninth. The two sides faced each other last autumn in Cardiff, with the hosts leading at the break before going down 24-7, but Wales have since effectively turned professional, boasting 29 full-time, two part-time and a number of non-contracted players in their summer squad.
Wales v Canada kicks off at 9pm UK time on Saturday, August 27, in Halifax. The match will be broadcast live online on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer, S4C Chwaraeon Facebook and S4C YouTube channels.
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