Cardiff Met student Freya Bell Makes Senior Wales Debut Against England

Cardiff Met student-athlete Freya Bell marked a major milestone in her rugby career after making her senior Wales debut against England in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations at Ashton Gate.

Bell, who studies BSc (Hons) Sport, Physical Education and Health at Cardiff Met, came off the bench in the 72nd minute as Wales faced the Red Roses in front of a record crowd in Bristol.

England went on to win 62-24, continuing their remarkable winning run in the Championship, but Wales produced a spirited performance and finished strongly with late tries from captain Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood. The result also saw Wales record their highest-ever score against England and secure a bonus point.

For Bell, the afternoon represented another significant step in a rapid rugby journey. Having only started playing rugby at the age of 16 with Horsham RFC in Sussex, Bell’s progress through the game has been impressive. After growing up playing netball, football and cricket, she followed in the footsteps of her brother, who plays rugby, and her father, who coaches, before quickly finding her place in the sport.

Bell was later selected for the Harlequins Centre of Excellence before joining Cardiff Met, where her development continued through the Wales age-grade pathway. She has since represented Wales at U20 and U21 level, including in the Six Nations Women’s U21 Series.

Speaking previously to Six Nations Rugby about her journey, Bell said:

“It has been a quick turnaround but I have loved every minute and haven’t looked back. I love the physicality of it. I have always loved watching rugby on TV, women’s rugby has become more visible on TV and it is really exciting. I thought ‘as this grows, I can become part of it’. I’m so glad I started playing.”

Her rise has also been supported by Cardiff Met’s Dual Career Athlete programme, which helps student-athletes balance academic study with high-level sporting commitments.

Reflecting on that support, Bell said:

“Being part of Cardiff Met’s Dual Career Athlete programme has allowed me to balance my ambitions on the rugby pitch alongside my academic degree. The support network allows me to push myself in both areas without compromise.“Having been involved with Harlequins, the Celtic Challenge, and the Welsh setup, I’ve experienced some great rugby environments, but what stands out at Cardiff Met is the sense of professionalism and community. Cardiff Met challenges you to grow as both a person, student and athlete. I’m excited to be working for my degree while continuing to compete at a high level.”

For Cardiff Met, Bell’s senior Wales debut is another proud example of the university’s dual career environment helping student-athletes combine academic study with elite sporting ambitions.

Lisa Newton, Head Rugby Coach at Cardiff Met Sport said "Freya has been an integral part of Cardiff mets recent success and the development of the programme. Freya has taken every opportunity presented to her at Cardiff Met bought into the high performance standards of the programme. This achievement is credit to the hard work Freya has put in on and off the field."

Her progression from a late starter in rugby to the senior international stage underlines both her talent and the growing strength of the women’s game.