Elli Norkett Explained

Elli Norkett
Birth Date:30 May 1996
Birth Place:Ribchester, Lancashire, England
Death Place:Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Height:1.68m (05.51feet)
Weight:76kg (168lb)
University:Cardiff Metropolitan University
Ru Position:Winger
Ru Amateuryears:2014–16
2016–17
Ru Amateurclubs:Neath Athletic
Swansea Ladies
Ru Clubyears:2016–17
Ru Proclubs:Ospreys
Ru Clubupdate:26 February 2017
Ru Nationalyears:2014–17
Ru Nationalteam:Wales
Ru Nationalcaps:4
Ru Ntupdate:26 February 2017
Repsevensyears1:2013–17
Repsevensteam1:Wales

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.

Early life

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

Sporting career

Norkett studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University for bachelor's degree in sports development. 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.[2]

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

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.[4] 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.

Personal life

Norkett lived in Llandarcy, Neath Port Talbot.[5] [4] 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 on the A4109. She was on her way to a local take away to get food for her and her partner when the accident happened, near Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot. She was 20 years old.[4] [7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Hayward. Will. People have been sharing lovely memories of Welsh rugby player Elli Norkett. 26 February 2017. WalesOnline. 26 February 2017.
  2. Web site: International full back, Elli, eyes gold at BUCS Rugby Sevens Championship. BUCS. 26 February 2017. 1 April 2016.
  3. Web site: Watkins to the Four against Cofis. Welsh Rugby Union. 26 February 2017. 23 January 2017.
  4. News: Welsh rugby international Elli Norkett dies in A4109 crash. 26 February 2017. BBC News. 26 February 2017.
  5. Web site: Elli Norkett. Welsh Rugby Union. 26 February 2017.
  6. Web site: Sporting Stars Shine. NPTC. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170227062605/https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/en/media/news/news-article.php?newsid=399. 27 February 2017. dead.
  7. News: 'Serious' two-car collision on A4109 near Glynneath. 26 February 2017. BBC News. 25 February 2017.