Megan Davey has said her desire to represent Wales in rugby union has been renewed, despite reaching what she describes as an advanced age for the sport. At 26, the Loughborough Lightning captain is now part of the 39-player squad preparing for the WXV Global Series.
Davey, who holds the record with 124 appearances for her club side, admitted she had considered leaving professional rugby to become a teacher after missing out on selection for Wales’ 2026 Six Nations campaign. Her chances seemed further diminished when she was also excluded from Sean Lynn’s extended training group ahead of the WXV.
“There was a little bit of a wobble,” Davey acknowledged. “It’s hard to keep going when you’re at my age; you feel old in the game.”
However, the half-back received a call-up last month and expressed delight at being included in the squad that will face South Africa, the USA, and Japan. “There’s always been something inside me, I know I can do it. It’s the voice inside my head that’s kept me going,” she said. “I was really happy that I got an opportunity.”
Davey qualifies for Wales through her grandfather from Llanelli. Although she progressed through the English youth system because the Welsh under-20 pathway was less developed at the time, she noted that the setup in Wales has since improved significantly.
“I’m a little bit older now, but I feel like I can really do people proud,” she added.
Despite joining camp late, Davey reported that the team environment has been welcoming. She faces competition for the scrum-half berth from Keira Bevan and Seren Lockwood but highlighted the strong camaraderie within the backline. “We all really enjoy each other’s company. We want each other to do well, so there’s never that hatred towards each other,” she explained.
Wales open their WXV campaign against South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, 18 September at 19:15 BST. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.
For Davey, who earned her first of eight caps at age 19 in 2021, making the final squad represents a culmination of a long journey. “Playing international rugby is such a privilege and I want to make everyone proud—my family, but also the coaches that have been behind me for the last 15 years,” she said. “It’s just that final step, like ‘I made it’. I’m really excited and hopefully it comes at some point.”
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