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A physical education teacher at Llandovery College, a prominent rugby-playing school in Wales, is currently facing serious allegations related to the handling of head injuries among players. The case concerns Lowri Mair Williams, who was the lead for girls’ rugby at the school. She is accused of unacceptable conduct, including allowing students to continue playing despite suffering impacts to the head, which would breach Welsh Rugby Union concussion protocols.
Williams began working at the private school in September 2023 but was suspended following the allegations and subsequently resigned. She is contesting nine charges at a hearing held by the Education Workforce Council Wales (EWC) in Cardiff. Among the claims are that she permitted players to participate after potential head injuries and did not adhere properly to concussion management guidelines. Witnesses at the hearing have recounted troubling instances demonstrating Williams’ approach to player safety.
One pupil gave testimony describing an incident at the Rosslyn Park sevens tournament in London in March 2024. During a match, a player suffered a “head clash” and although Williams repeatedly inquired about the player’s well-being, the injured individual expressed a desire to continue playing. Another player, who served as team captain, was reportedly stood on the head by an opponent during the same event. When asked if she was all right, Williams allegedly responded to the captain, “Good, because captains should not come off and should carry on,” a comment that left the captain visibly distressed. The same witness criticized Williams for focusing more on congratulating try scorers than on assessing injured players, describing her behavior as unprofessional during the trip.
In contrast, Sophie Hands, the head of girls’ sport at Llandovery, provided a more favorable account, describing Williams as professional, enthusiastic, and having built strong relationships with the pupils. Hands, who worked with Williams for seven months, stated that Williams met the high standards expected of the role, which was previously held by a former Wales international player. Hands noted that Williams did follow the WRU concussion protocol, although the college itself did not have an official concussion policy at the time. She also highlighted that during the tournament, any player suspected of injury would have been withdrawn from play for medical evaluation. The hearing was also told that after the event, five pupils reported symptoms such as tiredness and headaches to medical staff, though these complaints only came to the attention of school officials afterward.
Johanna Edwards, who oversees student welfare at the college, explained that a formal investigation was launched following concerns raised post-trip. Edwards noted that Llandovery is known for its rugby tradition and that Williams would have been expected to understand and apply the concussion protocol. She detailed her method of conducting interviews with the pupils involved and affirmed that concussion guidelines applied equally to both girls and boys at the school. Edwards confirmed there was “a very rigorous process” for assessing the five students who sought medical attention after the tournament, and stated the sports department had initially reported no injuries. Llandovery College, established in the mid-19th century, is a mixed day and boarding school with approximately 215 students, including several notable Welsh rugby internationals among its alumni. The disciplinary hearing regarding Williams’ conduct is set to continue
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