Siwan Lillicrap awarded honorary degree by Swansea University

The 37-year-old was presented with an honorary Master of Science (MSc) on Friday 25 July during the university’s summer graduation ceremony at the Swansea Building Society Arena.

Lillicrap’s journey to the international stage began at Waunarlwydd RFC, where she spent her childhood watching her father coach and her brother play. With no junior girls’ team available at the time, she waited until she was 17 to join the women’s side — making her debut just two weeks later.

A former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr, Lillicrap studied sports science at Swansea University, graduating in 2009 while continuing to play for Waunarlwydd. Her club career flourished with stints at Neath RFC, Swansea RFC, and Ospreys Women, before moving to Bristol Bears in 2020 and Gloucester-Hartpury in 2022.

She earned her first cap for Wales during the 2016 Women’s Six Nations and was named national captain in 2019, leading the team through multiple campaigns including the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. In total, she earned 51 caps for her country before retiring from international rugby in November 2022.

Alongside her playing career, Lillicrap served as head of rugby at Swansea University from 2017 to 2022, overseeing more than 300 players across the men’s and women’s programmes and helping to foster an inclusive and high-performing rugby community.

In March 2022, she made history by becoming the first female player to sign a professional contract with the Welsh Rugby Union. She now leads the WRU’s women’s performance pathway, supporting the development of under-18 and under-20 players, and regularly appears as a commentator and pundit for the BBC.

Siwan Lillicrap said:

“I am truly honoured to receive this award from Swansea University. The university holds a special place in my heart due to the many positive experiences I’ve had here, both as a student and as a staff member.

It has always been an innovative, passionate, and caring institution — one that allowed me to thrive and grow. Receiving this award fills me with great pride, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with Swansea University again in the future.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea University celebrates summer graduation 2025
Thousands of students and guests gather at Swansea Building Society Arena for week-long ceremonies.

WRU announces new leadership for women’s performance pathway
Siwan Lillicrap appointed to oversee development of under-18 and under-20 squads.

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