Bethan Dainton

Bethan Dainton (born 12 April 1989) is a Welsh rugby footballer who has represented Wales in rugby union and rugby league. She currently plays rugby league as a for Wigan Warriors in the RFL Women's Super League and is the captain of the Wales women's national rugby league team.

Dainton formerly played rugby union as back row for the Wales women's national rugby union team and Harlequins Women in the Allianz's Premier 15s. She made her debut for the Wales national squad in 2016, and represented them at the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship.

Rugby union career Club career Dainton has a long-established sporting career, having represented Wales in athletics and cross country in both Union and league codes. However, she did not begin playing rugby until 2015, when she was invited to play for the Dragon's sevens team by Wales player Gemma Rowland. before signing with her current club, Harlequins Women in the Premier 15s.

International career After joining the Dragon's sevens team in 2015, Dainton represented Wales in both legs of the Rugby Europe Championship in Russia and France, where she helped Wales secure a place in the Women's Sevens World Series Qualifiers in Dublin, Ireland. Dainton then returned to the international scene as she was called up for the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship. in Wales' opening game against France in the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship

Dainton has won eight caps in her rugby career to date. She has won international caps in both the backs and the forwards.

On 9 November 2025, she left Leeds Rhinos after three seasons.

In November 2025, she signed for Wigan Warriors in the RFL Women's Super League ahead of the 2026 season.

Personal life Bombardier Dainton is enlisted in the British Army, serving with the 74th Battery of the 39th Regiment Royal Artillery. Over the winter of 2010–11, she was posted to Afghanistan, where her squadron provided precision artillery support to 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand Province. Dainton was one of 71 soldiers to be awarded their Operational Service Medals for Afghanistan at a ceremony in Newcastle in March 2011.