GWENT student Megan York has dreamed of playing rugby for her country since she was five.

Next week the 17-year-old from Pontypool gets her second cap when she flies out to Canada with the under-19s squad.

"I'm thrilled to bits, and I feel really confident I'll get a game," she said.

And in a show of support, local businesses have banded together to raise 500 towards the trip.

"It's brilliant, I'm so grateful," said the young prop, who plays her club rugby with Blaenau Gwent.

She added: "This means the world to me, to play for Wales. I really wish there was a professional team for women, because that would be my ambition. Unfortunately there isn't. But I would love to play for the full Welsh team."

Megan, an art student at Pontypool's Coleg Gwent, got her first cap when she played against America during a test series in England last year.

Parents Van and Gareth are proud of their daughter, who wanted to follow the footsteps of her three brothers, Daniel, 26, Christopher, 24, and Owain, 19, who all played rugby for their schools and various local teams.

"The first thing I said to my mum and dad was,'when do I get to have a go at it?'" she laughed.