Cara Mai Hope (born 24 November 1993) is a Welsh Rugby Union professional player who plays prop for the Wales women's national rugby union team and for Gloucester Hartpury in the Premier 15s.[1]
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| Date of birth | 24 November 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Bangor, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.63 m (5.3 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97.27 kg (15.317 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ysgol David Hughes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Swansea University Cardiff Metropolitan University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Professor Sian Hope OBE (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Medical Student, Rugby Player | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hope announced a hiatus from international rugby in July 2023 on her instagram, citing the difficulty in balancing her rugby career with her medical career studies at Swansea University Medical School.[2]
Rugby career
editClub career
editHope began playing rugby as a child with the Bangor RFC boys' team, before joining the newly created Bangor RFC girls' team in 2007. In 2011 she moved to Caernarfon Ladies. She has also played for the Ospreys.[3]
Hope signed with her current club, Gloucester-Hartpury, in 2020.[4]
International career
editCara earned her first cap in the 2018 Women's Six Nations as a second-half replacement in Wales’ third round defeat to Ireland at Donnybrook. She represented Wales at each subsequent Six Nations Championship.[5] She also featured at the 2021 Six Nations Championship.[5]
Hope has won 27 caps in her career to date.[5] She was selected in Wales squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[6][7]
Personal life
editBorn in Bangor, Hope attended Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan and Ysgol David Hughes before joining Cardiff Metropolitan University, where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in sports and exercise science in 2015. In 2018, she graduated from Swansea University with a research-based master's degree in professional practice in healthcare.[8]
Alongside her rugby career, Hope has been a part-time lecturer at Gower College Swansea, and is currently studying Medicine at Swansea University Medical School.[9]
Her mother, Professor Siân Hope OBE, was appointed High Sheriff of Gwynedd in 2017.[10]
Hope is in a relationship with former Welsh captain Siwan Lillicrap.[11]
References
edit- ^ Shepard, Kit (2022-10-09). "Wales Women's Rugby World Cup Squad 2022 – Wales 18-15 Scotland". Rugby World. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ "Cara Hope: Wales prop to step away from international rugby". BBC Sport. 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
- ^ "14 Ospreys Women selected for Six Nations | Ospreys". www.ospreysrugby.com. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "Wales' Hope joins Gloucester-Hartpury Women". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ a b c "Cara Hope". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ Jones, Liz (2022-09-21). "Wales Rugby World Cup squad named". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
- ^ "Wales: Siwan Lillicrap captains 32-player Rugby World Cup squad featuring 19 tournament debutants". Sky Sports. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ Hope, Cara. "Education". LinkedIn. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Hope, Cara. "Experience". LinkedIn. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ "Colourful ceremony to appoint new high sheriff". Cambrian News. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ World, Rugby (2022-03-26). "Who is Siwan Lillicrap: Ten things you should know about the Wales No 8". Rugby World. Retrieved 2024-08-20.