Alex Callender says she drew strength from her mother’s cancer battle during Wales’ World Cup campaign and believes the tournament will be a springboard for greater things.
The 22-year-old was voted players’ player of the tournament by her teammates on the back of four stellar displays and leads the way with 80 tackles following the quarter-final stage.
Ahead of the team’s return home, Callender said her mother had been on her mind for the duration of Wales’ World Cup run.
“Before the quarter-final, Ioan (Cunningham) spoke to us about whose shoulders we were standing on, who we were playing for. My mother, Donna, is 100% my inspiration, as she is to many people,” said Callender.
“She’s my No.1 supporter. I’m gutted to be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup but I’m excited to go home and see my mum and spend time with her. I hope our performances have made her and everyone at home proud.”
Wales progressed to the last eight before falling short against hosts New Zealand for the second time in the tournament, going down 55-3 in Whangarei.
Callender feels the team’s performance in Saturday’s quarter-final was a vast improvement on their Pool stage effort and believes the challenge of playing the world champions away from home is one the squad can only benefit from.
“We stepped up physically on the weekend, which is what we were asked to do, and there was so much improvement on Saturday compared to our Pool match against New Zealand, but we’re still gutted about the result,” she said.
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“We knew it was going to be a tough encounter because they are world champions. We were in the fight from the outset with our response to the Haka. That is an important tradition for them. We wanted to show them we were up for the challenge and I think they respect that.
“It’s their home, to play them in front of 16,000 people in their home World Cup is massive for us too and the matches have given us so much to learn from. We are satisfied with our progress but we can also improve more from here.”
Callender was awarded a full-time contract by the WRU in July and having scooped the Worcester Warriors Players’ Player of the Season award last season, she looks set to be involved in the Wales set-up for years to come.
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The next focus for Callender and co is the Women’s TikTok Six Nations in the spring which will take place just two years prior to the next World Cup, one that Callender is desperate to be involved in.
“We’ve grown so much since January,” she said. “To come third in the Six Nations was a great start and coming into this Rugby World Cup we worked so hard. We had a tough pre-season which gave us confidence and allowed us to back ourselves over here.
“It’s about belief. There’s so much more growth in us and we’ve got so much more to bring. That 2025 World Cup is going to be so exciting. Hopefully I can be a part of it.”
