Elli Norkett
{{Short description|Welsh international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Elli Norkett
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1996|05|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ribchester, Lancashire, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|02|25|1996|05|30|df=y}}
| death_place = Neath Port Talbot, Wales
| height = {{convert|1.68|m|ft}}
| weight = {{convert|76|kg|st}}
| university = Cardiff Metropolitan University
| position = Winger
| amatyears1 = 2014–16
| amatyears2 = 2016–17
| amatteam1 = Neath Athletic
| amatteam2 = Swansea Ladies
| ru_amateurclubcaps =
| ru_amateurclubpoints =
| years1 = 2016–17
| clubs1 = Ospreys
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| ru_clubupdate = 26 February 2017
| repyears1 = 2014–17
| repteam1 = Wales
| repcaps1 = 4
| reppoints1 =
| ru_ntupdate = 26 February 2017
| repsevensyears1 = 2013–17
| repsevensteam1 = Wales
| repsevenscomp1 =
}}
Elli Norkett (30 May 1996 – 25 February 2017) was a Welsh rugby union player who played for Swansea Ladies/Ospreys and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She was the youngest player at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, having made her debut earlier that year in the Six Nations Championship.
Early life
Elli Norkett was born on 30 May 1996 in Ribchester, Lancashire. She attended Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Primary School in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.{{cite news|last1=Hayward|first1=Will|title=People have been sharing lovely memories of Welsh rugby player Elli Norkett|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/people-having-been-sharing-lovely-12659822|accessdate=26 February 2017|work=WalesOnline|date=26 February 2017}}
Sporting career
Norkett studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University for bachelor's degree in sports development. While there, she played for the University's teams which competed in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) women's rugby competitions. In early 2016, she was part of the Cardiff team that defeated Northumbria University at Twickenham Stadium to win the BUCS rugby union tournament. Afterwards, she spoke of her home to also win the BUCS rugby sevens tournament for her University, and hoped to appear in the International University Sports Federation world rugby sevens later that year.{{cite web|title=International full back, Elli, eyes gold at BUCS Rugby Sevens Championship|url=http://www.bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=20491&itemTitle=International+full+back%2C+Elli%2C+eyes+gold+at+BUCS+Rugby+Sevens+Championship§ion=8§ionTitle=News|publisher=BUCS|accessdate=26 February 2017|date=1 April 2016}}
At a club level, Norkett played for both Neath Athletic and Swansea Ladies, both feeder clubs for Ospreys. During the course of 2017, she played for Swansea.{{cite web|title=Watkins to the Four against Cofis|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/37943.php#.WLMaHDuLTIU|publisher=Welsh Rugby Union|accessdate=26 February 2017|date=23 January 2017}}
In rugby sevens, Norkett represented both Wales and the Great Britain students team. She was selected for the Wales women's national rugby union team at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, becoming the youngest player at the tournament. During the course of her career for the senior rugby union squad, she earned four international caps.{{cite news|title=Welsh rugby international Elli Norkett dies in A4109 crash|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-39094781|accessdate=26 February 2017|work=BBC News|date=26 February 2017}} Her debut was against France earlier that year in the Six Nations Championship when she was brought on as a substitute in the second half.
Personal life
Norkett lived in Llandarcy, Neath Port Talbot.{{cite web|title=Elli Norkett|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_women.php?player=114906&includeref=dynamic|publisher=Welsh Rugby Union|accessdate=26 February 2017}} Prior to enrolling at Cardiff Metropolitan University, she attended Neath Port Talbot College, where she was named sportswoman of the year as well as player of the year for both rugby and netball.{{cite web|title=Sporting Stars Shine|url=https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/en/media/news/news-article.php?newsid=399|publisher=NPTC|accessdate=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227062605/https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/en/media/news/news-article.php?newsid=399|archive-date=27 February 2017|url-status=dead}}
Death
On 25 February 2017, Norkett died as a result of a car crash on the A4109. She was on her way to a local take away to get food for her and her partner when the accident happened, near Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot. She was 20 years old.{{cite news|title='Serious' two-car collision on A4109 near Glynneath|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39093073|accessdate=26 February 2017|work=BBC News|date=25 February 2017}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Wales 2014 WRWC Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norkett, Elli}}
Category:Welsh female rugby union players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen
Category:Wales women's international rugby union players
Category:People from Ribchester
Category:Alumni of Cardiff Metropolitan University
Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen