ST DAVID'S Schools sixth former Jaz Joyce is certainly hitting the headlines in ladies rugby because she recently scored eight tries in a Sevens Tournament to help Welsh Schools beat four English teams, one each from Scotland, Ireland, plus the Welsh B team.

Jaz must have really impressed there because she has since received a call-up to the Welsh Ladies squad and is attending regular training sessions with the full squad as reward for her ability to use her electric pace to good effect, as well as being a more than useful defender with her ability to tackle well.

Jaz plays on the win but showed her ability to adapt in her most recent match with Haverfordwest RFC as she slotted in at scrum half and scored both of the Blues tries in a defeat by nine tries to two.

It was a far cry from the tournament in Sheffield where the squad stayed for three days under coach Ritchie Pugh, himself a member of the Welsh men's sevens, and Darrell Morgan (team manager).

The squad, which also included former St David's School student Steph Harries (now studying at Bath University), had a days training and then played four matches against tough opposition on the Saturday, with three wins and a draw. It qualified them to play against England's south east region in the semi-final (where they won 17-0) with Jaz getting on the try sheet, as she did in the final, where they beat a very tough South-West Region of England by 10-0 to collect the silverware.

 It was a great weekend, admitted Jaz, with the whole squad working hard together in training as well as enjoying each others company off the pitch.

I started off with two tries against Scotland in a 48-7 win and then had two more as we beat the Midlands Region 33-19 and I was pleased to score so many tries but it was even better to be a part of the winning team.

Her performances caused team manager Morgan to say to the national press, "Jasmine Joyce was a revelation on the wing. She stepped up for this tournament and is certainly one to watch in the future." High praise indeed from someone who knows his rugby onions.

Ask Jaz about influences on her rugby development and she would be quick no nominate her parents, Bethan and Jason Joyce, who both played sport in their younger days and have been great chauffeurs, while granddad, David Brasher, also takes a real interest.. Her younger brother Ben also plays rugby for St David's and Ysgol Ty Ddewi, where Ms Rachel Thomas has always given Jaz every encouragement. Ritchie Pugh and Darrell Morgan have also been influences in her play with the Welsh Schools team.

Outside of her rugby, Jaz has also represented her school and county as a centre in netball and she plays hockey for school as a centre half. Not content with that little lot, she has also used her pace to good effect in athletics; where she won the 200 metres in school and in the Pembrokeshire championships before going on to compete well in the Dyfed Sports.

It seems a long time now since Jaz started out in rugby by playing tag rugby with the boys and carried on under the guidance of Geraint Richards until she was 12, when mixed rugby is brought to a halt. It left her unable to play because there was no girls team in the area but then she heard that Clodagh Llewhellin was starting up a girls team in Haverfordwest and Jaz received a warm welcome when she asked about joining.

She took to it immediately and soon attracted the attention of the Scarlets, going up to Llanelli to attend squad trials and quickly finding herself in the team to play against the Ospreys, the Blues and the Dragons and scored a few tries as the Scarlets beat all three other regions.

Jaz clearly caught the eye because she was then selected for the West v East trial match which decides the current Welsh schools squad and again got her name on the try sheet to earn selection for Wales.

She is now a very busy young lady because Welsh training is held on Wednesdays and the Scarlets have theirs on Fridays and Jaz still trains every Monday evening at Haverfordwest, plus games with Clodagh and Co at Merlins Bridge on Sunday afternoons. It is all a big commitment because Jaz loves being involved in the game and the training is very much part of it.

Jaz would love to be involved on a regular basis with the Welsh senior team at seven a side and in the full game - and certainly has time on her side because she is only just 18. She hopes to attend UWIC, to take a degree in Sport and Coaching, when her school days are over at the end of this year and being in Cardiff will certainly help because it will reduce the travelling needed to Welsh training sessions.

Jaz is a pleasure to have in our squad at Haverfordwest, said Clodagh Llewhellin, because she is not only a high quality player who is a real asset on the pitch but is a real example to others for her hard work ethic and willingness to learn.

When she goes from this area she will be sorely missed but I know she will keep in touch because she is a great club member.

We could pay Jaz Joyce no higher compliment and we wish her continued success in Welsh Ladies rugby, where she is certainly a name to watch out for in the future!