Prior to receiving their recent contracts, the Welsh women’s rugby squad were forced to balance playing professional rugby with full-time jobs in order to support themselves. Alisha Butchers, one of the recipients of the contracts, was once forced to ask for financial help to pay for her own medical procedures<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the professional contracts they have received will give players more financial freedom and the ability to commit to rugby full-time. Wales\u2019 inspirational captain, Siwan Lillicrap, captured the emotions of viewers with a tear-jerking reaction<\/a> to the contract news. She showed just how much this opportunity means to her and her teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the chance to change the face of Welsh Women\u2019s rugby and a chance to change the narrative,\u201d said Lillicrap, \u201cThat is bigger than any of us personally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n