Dad's poor geography leads to De Vera's Wales debut

TL;DR

Jenna De Vera made her Wales rugby debut as a replacement in a Six Nations match against France. Her journey to international rugby was influenced by her father's geographical mistake.

Key points

Jenna De Vera made her Wales rugby debut
She played as a replacement against France
Wales lost the match 38-7
De Vera is a centre for the Bristol Bears
Nine uncapped players were in the squad

Jenna De VeraBristol BearsWalesSix Nations

Jenna De Vera was one of nine uncapped players named in Wales' Six Nations squad [Huw Evans Agency]

We have all taken a wrong turn or misread a map. But what if that contributed to your daughter becoming an international rugby player?

For Jenna De Vera's parents, that has certainly been the case.

The Bristol Bears centre won her first senior cap on Saturday, coming on as a replacement in Wales' 38-7 Six Nations defeat by France at Cardiff Arms Park.

De Vera described it as "the most perfect day ever", but had it not been for her father's oversight many years before, it may never have come.

"My parents met in Saudi Arabia. They were both born in the Philippines and moved there to find better work," De Vera explained.

"Dad saw an advert saying there were jobs in the UK.

"He saw all these places which he assumed to be streets in London, but when he landed in Heathrow, he got on the bus and three hours goes by, four hours.. he's like 'where on earth are we?'"

It turned out to be Llanelli, where the family settled and where De Vera was born 22 years ago.

Rugby family

Growing up in west Wales, De Vera credits rugby for playing a "pivotal role" in connecting her dual identities.

"The community, friends and family that I've built through it is absolutely incredible," she said.

"You've got 15-20 other players that automatically become your family for the rest of your life, and it keeps growing every time I enter a new phase of rugby.