Alex Callender (born 29 July 2000) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays back row for the Brython Thunder team and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She won her first international cap against France in the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship.
| Date of birth | 29 July 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Carmarthen, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.63 m (5.3 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (11.5 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editCallender initially played netball, competing at county level and representing Wales at under-21 level. Her first rugby training sessions took place in 2017, and after a short period of playing both sports Callender opted to drop netball to focus her efforts on rugby.[1] After a successful tryout for the Scarlets under-18 side, Callender went on to play for the senior Scarlets Ladies team in the WRU Women's Regional Championship, including as captain in 2019.[2]
In December 2018, Callender left the Scarlets to join English Premier 15s side Worcester Valkyries.[3] She remained with the club until its collapse in October 2023.[4]
Callender was part of the Wales 7s squad for the Paris Sevens tournament, which was the first appearance for a Wales Women's 7s team at a World Rugby Sevens Series event.[5] Callender was made captain of the Wales 7s squad for the 2021 Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series.[6]
Callender was included in the Wales senior squad for the 2018 Autumn Internationals series of games,[7] but ultimately did not make an appearance during the series. Her debut for Wales came in 2019 against France in the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship. In July 2022, after having made 18 appearances for Wales as an amateur player, Callender was awarded a full-time contract until the end of that year's Rugby World Cup.[8] She made four appearances during the World Cup, and was voted players’ player of the tournament by her squad teammates.[9] Her contract with the WRU was renewed for the whole of 2023.[10]
After the collapse of Worcester Warriors Women in October 2023, Callender joined up with the newly formed Brython Thunder team to play in the 2024 Celtic Challenge tournament, captaining the side.[11]
She joined Harlequins at the end of the 2024 season.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Alex Callender Bio". RugbyPass.
- ^ "Callender to Captain Ladies in first regional Championship match". Scarlets Regional Limited. 9 August 2019.
- ^ "New recruit Callender to make Valkyries debut". warriors.co.uk. 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Celtic Challenge: Test stars boost Wales' two squads". BBC Sport. 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Butchers back for Series finale". Welsh Rugby Union. 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series: Alex Callender to captain Wales". BBC Sport. 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Wales Women name 20 uncapped players in squad for autumn series". BBC Sport. 19 October 2018.
- ^ Jones, Liz (8 July 2022). "The smile says it all". Welsh Rugby Union.
- ^ Hamersley, Elise (1 November 2022). "Callender inspired by mother during Wales' World Cup campaign". Six Nations Rugby Ltd.
- ^ Sands, Katie (3 March 2023). "Wales announce 25 new full-time professional contracts in women's game". WalesOnline.
- ^ "Celtic Challenge: Gwalia Lightning 20-5 Brython Thunder". BBC Sport. 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Alex Callender: Wales flanker joins Harlequins". BBC. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.