Wales’ largest repair group is supporting Andrea Lang-Cosh, a Customer Service Advisor at its Merthyr branch, for her second season with Dowlais Women’s RFC. Its sponsorship will provide Andrea with all of her off-field club kit that she wears to games including tracksuit, waterproof jacket, fleece and gilet.

Andrea only took up the sport 10 years ago when her twin sister, Alex, invited her to go training.

“Alex’s local club, Deri RFC, were trying to start a women’s team so she phoned me up and asked if I would go training with her,” recalled Andrea. “I agreed and only intended to go once to keep Alex company but I ended up staying and the rest is history.”

The siblings enjoyed tremendous success with Deri as the team progressed from the lower leagues to the Admiral Women’s National League Premiership division including an unbeaten season when they did the double by lifting the Championship title and winning the cup. Unfortunately the club folded in 2023 when Andrea and Alex moved to Dowlais, who play in the third tier of Welsh rugby in the East Wales League and will be kicking off their season with a home fixture against Ebbw Vale on Sunday 21^st September.

“I was a Centre when I started but I was younger and faster then and it seems like you go down the numbers as you get older as I’m a Number 8 now!” joked Andrea.

“Like being at work, it’s great to be part of a team and playing rugby has given me some fantastic times and wonderful memories. I’m 41 now and last season was going to be my last but I’ve decided to give it another year so it was brilliant when iRG came forward with their offer of sponsorship.”

She added: “Who knows when I’ll retire but my daughter Gracie is just about to start a Sports Science course at college and wants to be a physio which could prove quite handy if I’m still going by the time she qualifies!”