Wales back-rower Alisha Butchers has been named Wales Women player of the year by the Welsh Rugby Writers Association.
The 37-cap Bristol Bears player has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months, going from crowdfunding for surgery for an injury to signing a full-time professional contract and then a series of barnstorming performances in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
Last year, Butchers, 25, had to resort to appealing for donations for an operation after suffering an ankle injury during a club training session, which was not covered by insurance. Her decision to speak openly about her situation led to insurance cover being improved for many players across the Premier 15s, England's top women's club rugby competition.
The Carmarthen native, who can play at blindside or openside flanker, was the epitome of everything that was good about Wales during the Six Nations, which yielded their best table finish (third) since 2009, with her work rate, defence and ball-carrying coming to the fore.
She was named player of the round after Wales' opening comeback win against Ireland, during which Butchers made 57 metres from a staggering 19 carries, 11 tackles, second to only captain Siwan Lillicrap on Wales’ side, and won two turnovers, more than anybody else in Dublin. She could easily have claimed the player of the match award in Wales' home win against Scotland, too, with Ffion Lewis' match-winning try coming from a superb break from Butchers. Across the whole tournament, Butchers was Wales' top tackler (60), fourth top carrier overall (53) and top for turnovers won in the tackle (four).
Butchers also helped her club Bristol to their first-ever Premier 15s semi-final.
She had been juggling club and international rugby with her full-time job as a participation officer for Actif Carmarthenshire before being offered one of 12 historic full-time Wales contracts for 2022, which she accepted thanks to a 12-month sabbatical.
“Thanks so much for selecting me for this Welsh Rugby Writers Award, I’m looking forward to the rest of the year ahead,” said Butchers, currently on holiday in Greece.
“I’m super happy with the progress we’ve made, it just shows what we can do with a bit of belief and hope.
“When I think of the roller coaster we’ve been on, to finish third in Six Nations is brilliant compared to the wooden spoon we had last year. Having said that, you don’t finish third and put your feet up.
“I love this environment, being pushed to my limit is what’s making me perform and performing under pressure is what defines your character as an athlete. We work for the next thing now which is the Rugby World Cup. July is going to be hard, it’s World Cup year, I’m a competitor, I want this more than ever.
"I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of the team and I’m excited to work even harder for the World Cup and to go out to New Zealand and perform well."
Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunnigham said: "She’s had an outstanding season, she works so hard and has consistently been one of the best players week in, week out.
"She has 100% grabbed the opportunity of becoming professional and I am excited by where she can get to in next six months. Her work ethic is outstanding, along with her openness to grow and learn, and she is clearly reaping the rewards of that hard work with recognition such as this award."
Wales are enjoying a rest period before a pre-season involving a tour to Canada and a friendly against England ahead of their trip to New Zealand for the postponed Women's Rugby World Cup in October, where the women in red will face hosts New Zealand, Australia and Scotland in the group stages.
