An age-grade international in both football and basketball, the 20-year-old from Porthcawl joined Ynysybwl in February 2017. The coach promptly suggested she attend a Talent ID session overseen by Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips.
“The next day, Rowland rang to say he was impressed and could I come train with the women,” says Bluck, taking up the story. “I was shocked. They were training for the World Cup at the time, but I had already committed to going to America to coach football.”
Phillips was willing to wait, and once Bluck had finished her coaching trip to Denver, Colorado, she joined Cardiff Blues and was soon back learning the ropes with the Welsh training squad.
Enrolled on Strength and Conditioning course at the University of South Wales, she is the perfect student for Wales Women S&C coach James Nolan and his assistants. However, it was only after a bad injury that she picked up her first weights.
“When I was 16 I dislocated my ankle 180 degrees and fractured my fibula during a football warm-up,” says Bluck, who has four brothers. “I was with the Welsh squad at the time, and once I’d had surgery, my two S&C coaches got me in the gym three times a week. I loved it, and once I was back on my feet I didn’t stop with the conditioning work.”
Getting the call-up for the Women’s Six Nations was “amazing”, she says, but not something she quite expected. “I’m more of a go-with-the-flow person, but I like to get feedback,” she says. “I’m new to the game and I like honesty. When I do something wrong I can get frustrated, because I do look for perfection.”
In new assistant coach Gareth Wyatt, she’s got a mentor who knows what it takes to play out wide at the highest level. “Gareth’s great. He’s taught me a lot, because I’m still getting to know the game, but I’ve picked up many things from him. This team wants to spread the ball wide, looking to use our wingers.”
And how will she feel come kick-off this evening in Colwyn Bay? “I’ll be very nervous,” she admits, “but privileged to be playing. It’s an honour to play for your country.”
Wales Women v Scotland Women (18:00) is part of a double-header with Wales U20 (20:15) at Stadiwm Zip World tonight. Tickets available from Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre today.
