Since she last ran out for Wales – versus Scotland in the 2020 Guinness Women's Six Nations – she has married, become a stepmother to four children, joined the fire brigade and thoroughly enjoyed herself playing in the Celtic Challenge.
Her husband is Nick Wakley, the Pontypool backs and attack coach, which means that while rugby is never far away, she admits that she didn’t avidly follow the sport for the past couple of years as family life has taken over.
That said, she is certainly impressed with how the team, the set-up, and the professionalism around the squad has developed for the better in her absence.
“It's been amazing to be back,” she told us. “It’s so different, a different environment completely. Obviously for the better."
Access to all the facilities used by the men's team is another step up, explained Wakley. “You can't fault the access that the Vale [Resort] has given us. Girls using the main gym, they've access to supplements, physios. It's top quality to be able to perform in the way that you want to perform.
“For the two years that I’ve gone away and come back, it looks completely different, and these new things have now been implemented. We all heard about contracts, and nothing ever came of it, but they've actually started to put these things in place. It’s completely different from when I was a part of it beforehand.”
RISING PROFESSIONALISM
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) first brought in professional contracts for 12 players in 2022. The number increased to 25 for the 2023 Championship when Wales finished third, and for this season there are 32 contracted players.
While those contracts were being developed and handed out, Wakley was going in the opposite direction. She began training as a fire fighter and as such had to step away from her contract with English side Gloucester-Hartpury.
Once her training was over and she began life as a firefighter, she played in some sevens competitions, but thought her days as an elite athlete were over. However, spending time away from the sport has given her a new perspective on life, and she is relishing being back in camp with the sole focus on the forthcoming tournament.
“When you've been in a rugby environment for so long and you dedicate your life to rugby, the stuff on the outside you don't really have because you spend more time in a rugby environmental with rugby girls,” she said.
“It's allowed me to reset and have an amazing life on the outside and be able to manage it. Now it is easier, with women having babies and they’re trying to implement the things for maternity leave. Back in the day these are the conversations that you never had because you'd be scared if you left the programme, you'd never be able to come back and stuff like that.
“I've been massively lucky. I've changed jobs completely and gone to the fire service now, which I absolutely love. I've got a family. I've lost some amazing people in my life in the last year, so it's been quite hard, but at the same time flipping that it's almost like I've got a brand-new lease of life.”
BRYTHON CALLING
Things changed for Wakley when World Rugby Hall of Famer Liza Burgess gave her a call and asked how she fancied being involved in the expanded Celtic Challenge.
Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning are Wales’s two teams and they faced Irish sides Wolfhounds and Clover, and Scottish teams Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh.
Wakley signed with Thunder, who are coached by former Wales centre Ashley Beck, and it didn’t take long for her to feel the buzz of competitive action.
“After those two years I felt like rugby was over for me,” Wakley said. “I was a bit sceptical, because I hadn't been in fifteens for about two years, and I didn't think I could do it. A lot has happened in over two years, and I just wanted to make sure that I fitted into that environment.
“I went to that one training session and Ashley Beck come up to me after the session and asked if I’d enjoyed it and I said, ‘I’m not gonna lie, I loved it.’ Seeing players that I hadn't seen for two years was really scary because it was just like, ‘Oh my god, what if they don't talk to me anymore?’
“I was so grateful for the challenge. Ashley Beck and all the coaches were absolutely phenomenal. They created such an amazing environment to help players grow and be themselves. It really brought back to me who I was as a person. I lost my Mam last year and I got a bit lost and for them to give me an opportunity, it was just phenomenal.
“The Celtic Challenge has been a breath of fresh air for women's rugby in Wales, for the talent coming through. What the Celtic Challenge has done is allow these players to be exposed and play against top international players that have played for Wales.”
IT’S THE BOSS CALLING
The 33-year-old Wakley impressed in the Celtic Challenge to the extent that Wales’s coach Ioan Cunningham was forced to sit up and take notice. That said, she reveals that she was a bag of nerves when her phone pinged with a message from him asking for a chat.
Wakley relished playing at number eight, and she impressed throughout the tournament with her control at the breakdown and strong running.
With last season’s starting number eight Sioned Harries having retired from rugby, Wakley has the chance to re-establish herself in the Wales side.
“I'm so grateful that I did receive that message from Ioan,” she said. “He said, ‘When are you free for a chat?’ and to be honest, I looked at the message and I got into a panic.
“Inside I was dreading that phone call. I don't know why, but I was so anxious. ‘What do I say? What do I do? How do I act?’ but I'm so grateful to the whole management for allowing me this opportunity.
“I'm really content in my life, so it's almost like I've got nothing to lose. I'm just being me and doing what I can. I'm back playing rugby and just enjoying it for what it is. I've had an opportunity, and this is where I've ended up.”
