'You are everything I want in a partner and a best friend' — Wales rugby team-mates announce engagement

Wales rugby internationals Jasmine Joyce and Alisha Butchers have got engaged.

Welsh wing Joyce, 26, revealed the news on Sunday as she shared pictures of the proposal from 24-year-old flanker Butchers in Cardigan Bay.

The pair are both part of the 12-strong cohort of full-time professional Wales Women rugby internationals, having been offered historic contracts in December. They also ply their club trade together at Bristol Bears Women, who are second in the table in England's top competition Premier 15s.

Joyce, who just this week linked up with Wales full-time after completing her PGCE teaching qualifications, announced the news and shared snaps of the romantic hotel proposal at The Cliff Hotel and Spa.

Heart-laden bunting in the duo's room read "Jasmine, will you marry me?" while a heart shape was formed on the bed made from rose petals and candles.

The pair looked delighted as they smiled for the camera, accompany by some fizz, and their dog Nala was also roped into the proposal, as she was pictured wearing a bandana which read: "Will you marry my mum?"

"About time", Joyce wrote on Instagram. "But in all seriousness, I have never wanted something as much as this day.

"You are everything I want in a partner and a best friend. We have endless amounts of fun and laughs, you care for me and Nala so much and we bring the best in each other and I can't wait to do this for the rest of our lives. Here's to forever."

Vocal leader and Wales and Bristol back-rower Butchers boasts an excellent skill set, having been capped 32 times after a debut in 2016, and has put her job with Active Carmarthenshire on hold to become a full-time rugby player. She started playing mixed rugby aged six for mixed mini and junior teams at Bynea