Elli Norkett

Elli Norkett (30 May 1996 – 25 February 2017) was a Welsh rugby union player who played for Swansea Ladies/Ospreys and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She was the youngest player at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, having made her debut earlier that year in the Six Nations Championship.

Elli Norkett

Date of birth	30 May 1996
Place of birth	Ribchester, Lancashire, England
Date of death	25 February 2017 (aged 20)
Place of death	Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Height	1.68 m (5.5 ft)
Weight	76 kg (12.0 st)
University	Cardiff Metropolitan University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–16 2016–17 Neath Athletic Swansea Ladies () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–17 Ospreys () Correct as of 26 February 2017 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–17 Wales 4 Correct as of 26 February 2017 National sevens team(s) Years Team Comps 2013–17 Wales

Early life

Elli Norkett was born on 30 May 1996 in Ribchester, Lancashire.[1] She attended Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Primary School in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.[2]

Sporting career

Norkett studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University for bachelor's degree in sports development.[3] While there, she played for the University's teams which competed in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) women's rugby competitions. In early 2016, she was part of the Cardiff team that defeated Northumbria University at Twickenham Stadium to win the BUCS rugby union tournament. Afterwards, she spoke of her home to also win the BUCS rugby sevens tournament for her University, and hoped to appear in the International University Sports Federation world rugby sevens later that year.[4]

At a club level, Norkett played for both Neath Athletic and Swansea Ladies, both feeder clubs for Ospreys.[1][3] During the course of 2017, she played for Swansea.[5]

In rugby sevens, Norkett represented both Wales and the Great Britain students team. She was selected for the Wales women's national rugby union team at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, becoming the youngest player at the tournament. During the course of her career for the senior rugby union squad, she earned four international caps.[3] Her debut was against France earlier that year in the Six Nations Championship when she was brought on as a substitute in the second half.[1]

Personal life

Norkett resided in Llandarcy, Neath Port Talbot.[1][3] Prior to enrolling at Cardiff Metropolitan University, she attended Neath Port Talbot College, where she was named sportswoman of the year as well as player of the year for both rugby and netball.[6]

Death

On 25 February 2017, Norkett died as a result of a car crash near Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot. She was 20 years old.[3][7]

References

1. "Elli Norkett". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
2. Hayward, Will (26 February 2017). "People have been sharing lovely memories of Welsh rugby player Elli Norkett". WalesOnline. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
3. "Welsh rugby international Elli Norkett dies in A4109 crash". BBC News. 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
4. "International full back, Elli, eyes gold at BUCS Rugby Sevens Championship". BUCS. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
5. "Watkins to the Four against Cofis". Welsh Rugby Union. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
6. "Sporting Stars Shine". NPTC. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
7. "'Serious' two-car collision on A4109 near Glynneath". BBC News. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.