By Lee Clow
The Neville Brothers, The Williams Sisters, and now the Hughes sisters – meet the latest sibling sporting duo bursting onto the scene – in Wales netball.
Beca and Catrin Hughes are two of Wales’ rising under-21s talents looking to push on and represent their country at a senior level.
The twin sisters are currently students at Bangor University and have been playing netball from a young age after strong influence from their parents.
The pair played for their school and local club before making their way up to county level. During a county tournament in Cardiff, the pair, only 14 at the time, were spotted by Welsh selectors who offered them a chance to play for Wales’ under-17 squad.
Beca and Catrin would continue to play for the under-17 squad for three years before going into the under-21s squad.
Speaking on her and her sister’s call ups to the Wales squads, Beca said: “For me and my sister to both play together and be selected means the world to us and our families.”
Congratulations to Sport Sci student Catrin Hughes and her twin, Beca, BA Primary Education student @bangoruni, on being chosen to represent Wales in the Welsh netball tournament at the European Champions netball tournament in the Isle of Man this November.👏 pic.twitter.com/jfiX04VDkK
— SportSciBangor (@SportSciBangor) November 1, 2021
It wasn’t all plain sailing however, as the sisters would not always be picked together to represent their country.
“There were a few years where she [Catrin] wasn’t selected which was very difficult”
“I know for our parents the selection process was very stressful for them as they want both of us to be selected, so it is extra special when both of us are in the squad.”
With it being their final year in U21 age group, Beca and Catrin are both determined to advance into the senior Wales squad and pursue a career in netball.
Beca said: “I am going to keep pushing now, work harder towards the next selection and hopefully if I work hard, I will be included with the seniors”
“For the senior squad, I am not at the level of the final 12 yet, but to be part of the longer squad, like a training partner, would be amazing”
Despite their determined ambitions, the pair have found it tough over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In lockdown when we did not have any games to work towards, it was hard to keep the motivation levels up high”
“As we couldn’t train as a team, more pressure was on us as individuals to work harder and keep our fitness levels up without the usual training sessions or fitness testing”
With restrictions easing across the country, Wales netball is beginning to start up once again.
The pair were involved in the Netball Europe tournament which took place earlier this month in the Isle of Man. The girls came away with a bronze medal, but just to play again and be involved with the squad was the main highlight for the sisters.
“It’s been two years since we have been able to play for Wales again, so it was nice to be back in that level of competition”
“We went in with a goal to get Silver, but we came out with Bronze which was slightly upsetting as we worked so hard”
“It was a really good experience, like we got to go on a plane and travel with the senior squad, so it was nice to have them there supporting us and us being able to support them.”
What a weekend it’s been for our seniors and U21’s!
Onto the next training block now💪🏴 pic.twitter.com/RJeO3Zmktf
— Wales Netball | Pêl-Rwyd Cymru (@WalesNetball_) November 14, 2021
Beca and Catrin will continue to pursue their careers in netball together and without doubt will become huge stars in the future.