After making an encouraging start to life as a fully-fledged Tier 2 outfit, Worcestershire Rapids Women’s star Gwen Davies says her team are brimming with confidence and must aim big with a new season on the horizon.
Gwen was at the heart of the action last summer for the Rapids Women’s side and is adamant that despite a strong finish to 2025 where her side showed signs of their capabilities, there is plenty more to come from a team high on confidence.
After taking some time away from cricket during the close season, the opening batter has similar reflections on both her personal performances and the fortunes of the team from 2025.
“I probably have similar feelings on both fronts – we didn’t really show our full potential. There were some really good bits, where we showed how good we could be, like at Yorkshire, Derbyshire at Wolverhampton, posting over 300. But we weren’t consistent enough, so hopefully we can find that consistency this coming season.”
Holidays and some down time at work have helped Gwen break up the frantic summer schedule, but it hasn’t been all rest bite for the 31-year-old, who has been tasked with keeping up with her two-year-old niece across the off-season.
“In October I managed to get away from the cricket life & gate crashed my parents holiday in their villa in Paphos, Cyprus! You can’t beat only having a flight to pay for!! Family time, good food, good wine and sunshine was just what was needed!
“Then it was straight back to work in November, starting the winter programme for the Warwickshire pathway girls! I enjoyed a bit of family time again in December back in Swansea – I’ve got a 2-year-old niece who’s an absolute lunatic, so I was kept on my toes over Christmas but it’s always good fun!
“I am definitely ready for some sunshine again now though, so hoping these next couple of months go quick!”
Since the turn of the year, the squad have slowly been returning to training, with the returning faces welcoming in some new players to the ranks, but the squad have picked up where they left off according to Gwen, who says that despite persisting with her personal development, socialising away from cricket has helped harness squad togetherness.
“We’ve been back in for training throughout the winter, a couple of new faces around – so nice to freshen things up a bit. The new girls have settled in well & was great to see Sanya get into a World Cup with the Dutch girls. We’re looking forward to supporting her this summer in the World Cup!
“There’s a coffee club going on a Saturday after training, thanks to self-appointed social sec, Goughy! So there’s a good buzz around the group.
“I have been back in training 2-3 times a week, whether with the girls or 2:1 sessions at Malvern, topped up with some personal hits at Edgbaston when I’m not coaching.
“My winter has been based around that consistency I’m looking for this summer and just tinkering with a couple of bits to hopefully allow for that consistency to flourish!
A driven individual, Gwen has identified personal improvements, but when it comes to defining success in 2026, there is only thing that will suffice in Davies’ mind from a team perspective.
“Trophies! It would be easy to say to finish top 3 and make sure we finish in a better position than we did last year, but I think this group of players have got what it takes to bring trophies home to New Road, so that’s what we’ll be aiming for in 2026.
“Personally, I’m hoping to make those big runs that bring trophies to the club. I think we have a very good chance in both formats this year, and I’m keen to make big contributions.”
The exciting part for supporters of the Rapids Women’s side is the genuine belief from inside the camp, that exudes from Gwen herself, that this year could be the year a team blessed with a blend youth and experience, firmly put their stamp on the Tier 2 game.
“This group of players could go quite far! There’s a lot of talent around – and the younger talents in Bryony and Beechy have just returned from a great learning experience in India – so they’ll be keen to implement what they’ve learnt in their game back here.
“Bry, Beechy & Tweets are also a year older so that bit more mature. Flora is chomping at the bit to get back now that she’s fully recovered from her knee op, and the new faces have filled the gaps that we had last year.
“Everyone is striving to make themselves better, whether in team training or away from the group – so that can only mean positive things for us moving forward!”
