Bethan was born in Edinburgh where father Tim worked for Bass Brewery until moving to work for Bass in Burton on Trent. Settling in Barrow on Trent Bethan attended Barrow School then Chellaston.

Watching her broth Seb play mini rugby 8 year old Bethan asked why she couldn’t play. Three girls joined the Juniors, one of whom was Georgia Groome now married to the actor Rupert Grint. At 12 years old the girls had to split from the boys and so they went to play at Coalville in the U15s. They were too young to deal with the fight which broke out and so came back to Melbourne to decide the next step. For their first girl’s game at Melbourne they had six players, rounded up another six, played Burton and lost heavily. But now they had the nucleus of a Minxes team which gradually grew to a full U15s and U18s with their own dedicated coaches.

A-Level Psychology, Sociology and Maths but failed French (ironic that she now lives in France) was followed by Sheffield Hallam University and a degree in Psychology. Continuing her rugby at University Bethan was Captain in her last year.

A year working as a Teaching Assistant in Long Eaton was followed by a year in Switzerland as an au pair where her French speaking skills improved considerably. Three winters were spent out in Switzerland, two of them as a ski instructor teaching children and adults. Next came a stint in France as a Language Assistant at a Secondary School teaching 6th Formers.

Three years were then spent in Mayotte, a French Department in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, as an English teacher in a Secondary School. Along with kite surfing and diving Bethan was able to continue playing rugby during her time there.

Bethan is now back in France in the mountains she loves, teaching English having taken the equivalent of a PGCE, and her Level 1 Rugby Coaches qualification.

1. First position you played in rugby: Scrum Half

2. Worst injury: Broken Arm

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere: MRFC – Taisya Marsh
Elsewhere – Emily Scarratt
4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics: Tim Boyse

5. What should your nickname be: Boysie

6. What bad habit do you have: Procrastination

7. Your sporting hero: Jenny Jones

8. Your non-sporting hero: My Parents

9. Favourite food/meal: Anything with Cheese - Raclette

10. Favourite TV programme/film: Notting Hill

11. Favourite book: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with: Nelson Mandela

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be: Music – mix tape of Indie Classics

14. Dream job: English Teacher abroad

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows: I was never made out to be a back player (well my Dad does know this)

16. A phrase that reflects your life: Pourquoi faire simple quand on peut faire complique – Why do simple when we can do complicated

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried: Climbing

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article: Tim Boyse

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC: A return of Melbourne Ladies

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present:

Elodie Marsh
Mark Coyne
Roger Lucas
Taisya Marsh
Tom Warren
Jacob Watts
Andy Gates
Anna McDonald
Olie Page
Jack Fisher
Ashley Stringer
Emma Fox
Sam Smith
Amy Sheldrake
Ashleigh Aiston