A HEREFORD Sixth Form College student has been selected for the Welsh women’s rugby senior training squad.

Sisilia Tuipulotu, aged 17, has only recently taken up the sport but has already been signed for Gloucester-Hartpury Women in the Premier 15s - the top tier of the women's English rugby union domestic league.

Colleague rugby coach Ben Parfitt encouraged her to play rugby once joining the college.

Follow coach Kieram Hallam said: "She is second year student and only started playing rugby when she started college so to be called up to the Welsh squad is pretty impressive.

"It's pretty remarkable and I don't know of anybody her age in a squad at that level of rugby.

"She is very highly talented, she has got an island of skills and the size to go with it.

"When she came to the college she didn't sign up for rugby but Ben Parfitt could see her talent and encouraged her to play.

"Unfortunately with the way it has been with the virus this year there have been no matches.

"Students have still be training and developing their skills and have also had some video calls with England players."

Gloucester-Hartpury Women's coach Sean Lynn was instantly impressed with the teenager.

"We could see that she had a lot of potential," said Lynn.

"She came to Gloucester for training which she really enjoyed so we signed her.

"I think her ball carrying, her attributes are really good and she gets onto the front foot.

"She is young and is a great prospect for us. You can tell rugby is in her blood, her brother plays for Scarlets and her dad was a very good rugby player for Newport."