Rugby teacher cleared of misconduct allegations

A former PE teacher at a school known for producing rugby players has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

Lowri Mair Williams was facing a fitness to practice hearing over alleged unacceptable conduct while in charge of girls' rugby at Llandovery College, Carmarthenshire.

She joined the private school, where ex-pupils include Wales internationals George North and Alun Wyn Jones, in September 2023.

Williams had denied nine allegations at a fitness to practice hearing at Eastgate House in Cardiff.

These included allowing pupils to continue playing rugby despite hitting their head, which is against the Welsh Rugby Union concussion protocol.

Williams was also alleged to have behaved inappropriately during a residential trip in March 2024.

Evidence was heard from students and teachers during a four-day hearing, with Williams' representative putting forward an application of no case to answer.

The committee found "the weight of evidence was that Williams was a diligent rugby lead who, when she was presented with an injured pupil, acted appropriately".

There was no case to answer, it found, regarding claims Williams had not followed guidance for reporting concussions and injuries.

The opposite appeared to be true, the committee said, and concluded there was "no satisfactory evidence" in relation to any of the EWC's allegations.