“After two seasons with Gwent Hockey Club, Rachel would take me down to play every week in the Penarth team alongside her, so yes, I played alongside my teacher from school.
“I was playing at the ladies level at 15 or 16, so I’d say Rachel played a massive part in my early stages.
“I played all sports at school such as netball, hockey and tennis. When I found out I was pretty good at hockey, Rachel helped push me along. I joined Gwent Hockey Club at 13.
“I really enjoyed getting into it because it is such a sociable sport. It involves all ages and they really encourage younger players to play in the women’s teams.
“I grew up quickly in terms of socialising with that team!”
The 35-times capped player juggles her time as an international athlete with her work as a physiotherapist.
She plays for Clifton Robinsons in the Vitality Women’s Hockey Premier Division and shares her time between Cardiff and Bristol.
“I love playing in the Premier League. It’s nice playing with and against some top players, including my teammates at Wales.
“It’s always nice to see some familiar faces and test yourself against the GB girls. It is a really competitive league.”
Balancing training with competition time and a full-time job can be difficult and Webb - whose partner is Wales and Cardiff rugby star James Botham - has looked to her family and friends for some assistance.
“In my earlier days, when I was just getting into the Wales squad, my weightlifting coach, Justin Holly, gave me so much support.
“He was there from the very beginning; he’d sit me down and tell me, ‘You're an athlete. You can’t be going out and training like a normal person.’
“He also taught me how to cook, proper strength training, and how to organise work and really train like an athlete. It had a really big impact on me.
“My partner is really understanding of all this and he helps out a lot.
“He tells me when I’m training too much and to have a rest or if I could push it a bit more. We are obviously active and we do a lot of training together.”
Wales are heading to the Commonwealth Games and Webb insists the team will be eyeing up their best finish in a distinguished history.
“We are in the best shape we have been for a long time. We have had a big squad and we have trained well, so we are definitely ready.
“We are hoping to get the best place finish Wales have ever had in a Commonwealth Games, so we are aiming high!
“It will be my first Commonwealth Games and I can’t wait! I couldn’t be prouder.”
