Ffion Lewis: Injured Wales scrum-half concerned over club future
- Published
Ffion Lewis is currently in rehabilitation with an anterior cruciate ligament injury
It has been a stressful year for Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis.
The 27-year-old suffered a long-term knee injury in this year's Women's Six Nations, ruling her out of the WXV tournament in New Zealand.
This was followed by a traumatic endometriosis diagnosis in the summer which almost left her infertile.
Now Lewis has been dealt the cruel blow of losing her club, with Worcester Warriors Women collapsing after their sponsor withdrew.
Lewis said the news from Sixways was "definitely unexpected".
"Everyone at the club is devastated especially after everything that happened last year and the hard work that went into getting the club back up and running," she told BBC Radio Wales.
"The girls were in such a good position to be really successful this season too. The years of history of women's rugby at Worcester too, it's so sad that that's come to an end. No one at the club deserves this, staff or players."
Lewis is joined by Wales team mates Carys Phillips, Alex Callender, Natalia John, Hannah Bluck and Carys Cox in searching for a new club.
But she admits her prospects are less than favourable given her injury.
"I'm in a position where I'm long-term injured, so being realistic, what club is going to want to sign a someone recovering from an ACL injury?" Lewis said.
"The girls who are out in the WXV tournament in New Zealand on international duty, that's quite a stressful time for them to think they're coming home without a club.
"Where do we play? Our job is to play for Wales and we're in a position now where we won't be playing or having anywhere to play, it's a really difficult position to be in.
Lewis says the situation now strengthens the call for Wales to have its own professional team.
"For us as Wales players it makes it evident why we need more professional teams in Wales and why it's important that things are put in place for us to come back and play in Wales," she said.
"That will really help build the strength and depth of the national team and develop club rugby in Wales.
"I just really hope with all the uncertainty in women's rugby at the moment and the sad things as Worcester something like this is really going to encourage this change."