Wales fly-half Wilkins retires for WRU coach role

Wilkins played for Worcester, Gloucester-Hartpury and Exeter before joining Sale

Wales fly-half Robyn Wilkins has retired from playing to take up a new coaching role.

The 30-year-old, who was with Sale Sharks, has hung up her boots with immediate effect for a full-time job with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) player development centre in Colwyn Bay.

One of Wales' most capped players, Wilkins ran out for her country on 72 occasions, making her debut as a teenager in 2014.

She went on to play at three Rugby World Cups and featured in the squad which famously beat England 13-0 in the 2015 Women's Six Nations - one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.

Wilkins missed the 2025 Six Nations and World Cup, with her last Test appearance coming at WXV2 in South Africa last year.

Wilkins had a volunteer role with the Player Development Centre (PDC) north while playing but has now gone full-time.

She will be tasked with helping the next generation of north Walians follow in the footsteps of the likes of Gwenllian Pyrs, Alaw Pyrs, Nel Metcalfe and Branwen Metcalfe by rising to international rugby.

Wilkins said: "Rugby has been a big part of my life and I knew this day would come, but having the opportunity to stay in the game is something I could not turn down.

"My Wales career has seen the game go from being amateur and playing in front of hardly anyone to being fully professional and playing in front of record crowds.

"There have been highs and lows through my Test career... representing Wales has been an incredible privilege and one I look back on with pride."

Wilkins followed in the footsteps of father Gwilym, who was capped as a fly-half for Wales.

She began her club career at Pyle and Pencoed before moving to the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Llandaff North.

She made the move to the English Premiership in 2020 and was part of the Exeter side which made the final in 2022.

WRU women's pathway manager Siwan Lillicrap said: "Her experience on the international stage and the insights she has into the professional game will be of huge benefit as we continue to develop talent in north Wales."