Gabriel Hamer-Webb has opened up about how family grief influenced his decision to play for Wales instead of England.
The Bath-born wing had already played for England Under-20s in the Six Nations, but after losing his father and brother, he was persuaded by his Cardiff-born mother to switch to Wales.
"That loss taught me a lot. I try to see the positives even in tragedy," Hamer-Webb said. "Being the only male in my immediate family comes with pressure, but I’d do anything for my mum and sisters. I asked my mum what would make her happiest, and she said, 'Wales of course.' That really mattered to me."
When he got the call from Steve Tandy, it didn’t feel real until he shared the news with his family. "Seeing my mum and sisters proud was the best part. I even have a screenshot of my mum crying—it’s going on the fridge."
