The Welsh Rugby Union would like to extend its congratulations to Welsh internationals Alisha Joyce-Butchers and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers on the news that they are expecting a baby.
The pair confirmed the news that Butch was pregnant on social media and the whole of the Welsh rugby family wishes them well.
The duo, who married in Pembrokeshire in December 2023 and who have been an ever-present in the Wales Women’s squad, are now expecting their first child. The couple are both WRU contracted players and widely respected and popular members of the Wales squad.
Butch will return to the squad in a controlled manner under the WRU’s new Performance Maternity Policy for the Wales Women’s squad.
The backrower will miss the two Test series against the Wallaroos in Australia this summer and the RWC in England.
The WRU, as part of the performance maternity policy for all of Wales’ professional female players, will support her during pregnancy and when she is on maternity leave.
Alisha Joyce- Butchers, said: “We appreciate there has been interest and speculation around my absence from the Wales Six Nations campaign but now you know.
“We had the 12-week scan today and now we are excited to share with you all that I am pregnant, and we are having a baby.
“We wanted to let all our family, friends and the Wales squad know before we went public and am sure everybody can relate to that.
“The morning sickness has been a new experience, especially while Jaz has been off playing rugby, but we are both delighted with our special news.
Jasmine Joyce-Butchers said: “To say we are excited would be an understatement. We have been desperate to share the news but knew we had to wait for obvious reasons.
“It hasn’t been easy keeping it a secret but once we got married, we always planned on starting a family and we both know this is a new chapter in our lives and it does put everything, including rugby, into perspective.”
Belinda Moore, WRU Head of Women’s Rugby, said: “On behalf of the Wales women’s squad, the players, coaches and staff, the WRU and everybody in the Welsh rugby family, we send our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to both Alisha and Jaz.
“The WRU offers them our full support, and we look forward to welcoming a new Wales supporter to the family.”