Fly half Robyn Wilkins has announced her retirement from all rugby after more than a decade at the top of the women’s game.
Wilkins, 30, will retire from all rugby immediately and take up a new key coaching role with the Welsh Rugby Union’s Player Development Centre in Colwyn Bay for North Wales.
Wilkins, who won 72 Wales caps, played in three World Cups in 2014 in France, Ireland 2017 and in New Zealand in 2021.
She made her Wales debut as an 18-year-old against Italy in the 2014 Women’s Six Nations campaign and was primarily a fly-half but played for her country at centre and full back.
Wilkins’ talent was recognised as a 16-year-old when she was invited in to train with the national senior squad. She won her 50th Wales cap at the age of 25 against Ireland in 2021.
Her new role with the WRU will see her pass on all her playing experience to the next generation of players across North Wales which is a hotbed of talent in the women’s game.
The likes of experienced international prop Gwenllian Pyrs and Wales full back Nel Metcalfe along with lock Alaw Pyrs and Branwen Metcalfe are from North Wales.
She took a volunteer role with the PDC North while a player but has now been appointed in a full-time role to deliver the high-performance programme for the area.
Wilkins, said: “Rugby has been a big part of my life and I knew this day would come, but having the opportunity to stay in the game is something I could not turn down.
“My Wales career has seen the game go from being amateur and playing in front of hardly anyone to being fully professional and playing in front of record crowds.
“There have been highs and lows through my Test career, but I have to thank my family, friends, teammates and coaches for what has been an unbelievable journey over the past 12 years.
“Representing Wales has been an incredible privilege and one I look back on with pride. As this chapter of my playing comes to a close, a new one begins. Over the past few years, my ambition to coach and contribute to the development of future Welsh rugby talent has grown stronger. I am excited to be able to support the next wave of athletes through our performance pathway.
“We have already seen the impact of players emerging from North Wales, with Gwenllian Pyrs, Alaw Pyrs, Nel Metcalfe and Branwen Metcalfe all demonstrating the strength of talent in the region.
“I’m proud to be joining the PDC team and am looking forward to getting started as we look to continue to build a strong foundation for future Welsh rugby talent in North Wales.”
The WRU established three PDC’s for Women’s rugby in East, Wales and North Wales back in 2023, to help identify and hone and identify the next generation of talent.
The purpose of the PDC’s is to support the development of high potential young players across Wales and help them to achieve their ambition of being elite players.
Each centre jointly funded by the WRU and its partners Cardiff Met, Swansea Uni and RGC delivers high-quality training and coaching for 25 to 35 selected players in an Academy-style approach for players seen as future Wales U18s, U20s and Wales senior squad Test players.
WRU Women’s Pathway Manager Siwan Lillicrap, said: “Having played alongside Robyn, I know exactly what she will bring to this role. Her experience on the international stage and the insights she has into the professional game will be of huge benefit as we continue to develop talent in North Wales.
“She is a great communicator, has the game in her blood, and made it clear she wanted to give back to the sport – having already begun her coaching journey before this role even became available.”
Belinda Moore, WRU’s Head of Women’s Rugby, said: “Robyn’s appointment demonstrates the WRU’s commitment and investment in the Women’s game and into identifying the next generation of talent.
“Her experience and knowledge of what it takes to play at the highest level will be invaluable for the young players who we identify as possible stars of the future.”