Carys Marsh: Meet the Wigan Warriors and Wales star balancing Super League glory with life as a quantity surveyor
Wigan Warriors star Carys Marsh says her role in the team’s historic quadruple-winning season has been made even more rewarding by the challenge of balancing life in the Women’s Super League with a demanding full-time job as a quantity surveyor.
The 28-year-old, who has worked in the construction industry for nearly a decade, played a key role as the Warriors Women swept all four trophies on offer in 2025 – the Challenge Cup, the Nines title, the League Leaders’ Shield and the Super League Grand Final.
But whilst most fans see the performances on matchday, far fewer will see the long hours, tight schedules and physical toll that come with combining a full-time career with top-flight rugby.
“It is a challenge but I love it,” Marsh told the Wigan Post. “I love my job, and I love playing.
"I just try to balance it all the best I can – get to training when I can, fit my training in outside of rugby as best I can, and make sure I know what my body needs.”
Marsh began her career as a quantity surveyor straight from college, joining an apprenticeship scheme that set the foundation for her working life, which she adores.
“I’ve been a QS for nine years now,” she said. “I’ve gotten quite used to having to balance the workload and the rugby – it’s just part of my life now.”
Her days often involve early starts, site visits and project deadlines, followed by training sessions with Wigan in the evening and gym work where she can fit it in.
As the Warriors developed into the standout side in the Women’s Super League, the demands increased – but so did Marsh’s determination and drive to keep pace.
“Being a bit older now, it’s about making sure I know what my body needs and giving myself the best chance,” she smiled.
The success Denis Betts’ side enjoyed in 2025 was probably made even sweeter for Marsh, given she underwent operations on both of her shoulders last year.
Not only did she face months of rehabilitation to return to rugby, but she also had to manage the impact of her day job being affected by it, too.
“I was really worried about it at the time,” she admitted. “The impact of having time off work and things like that – especially having one shoulder done and then the other in quick succession.”
But despite those concerns, she was encouraged by the words of reassurance from her coach.
“Denis spoke to me and said it’ll be over before you know it – you’ll get through it and think, what was I worried about? And he was so right,” she said.
Marsh pushed through her rehab and was back within four months, earning her place to become part of Wigan’s historic campaign in 2025.
After several years of difficult results and near misses, Wigan’s clean sweep of silverware in 2025 felt like the ultimate honour – not just for Marsh’s resilience, but for the hours of hard work she has put in, both on and off the field over the years.
“It’s been so special,” she said. “We’ve had some difficult years struggling against the top teams and suffering some quite heavy defeats, so it’s been amazing this year to get these competitive games in and then come away with wins. It’s been really special after coming through the pain for so long.”
Marsh credits Wigan’s investment and the emergence of academy players for her side’s meteoric rise in recent years.
"The club has clearly invested in us for several years, and we are getting the benefit of all the academy players coming through now, as Izzy (Rowe) and Jenna (Foubister) came through last season,” she added. “We had them last year, but it is their first full year at Super League and things like that.
"It’s not just that, though, it’s all the younger players really, they are starting to mature and grab hold of it. I think it’s coming to fruition now.”
On top of club and work commitments, Marsh also represents Wales on the international stage – a schedule that brings additional travel, training camps and responsibilities – but the hard-working hooker wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s really special to me playing for Wales because it’s a chance to represent my mum’s side of the family,” she said.
"I’d say my dad, being from St Helens, got me into rugby league. We always went watching Saints and stuff growing up, and my mum always liked that, but this is a chance to represent her and my nan’s side, which is nice.
"They don’t make it to many of the Wigan games, but they love the chance to come and watch Wales and sing the national anthem.”
Marsh, who hails from Newton-le-Willows and lived in Sutton whilst growing up, began her rugby journey at Newton Storm before joining Warrington Girls, where she played alongside future international stars in the shape of Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge and Tara Jones.
She later moved to Thatto Heath Crusaders and then into the St Helens Women’s setup before joining Wigan in 2019, where she is now preparing for her eighth season in cherry and white.
Since then, she has effectively taken on two careers: working full-time as a quantity surveyor whilst helping the Warriors Women from underdogs to champions of everything.
Whilst professionalism continues to grow in British women’s rugby league, Marsh represents the reality for the majority of players in the sport: training like a professional on top of a demanding day job, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“You just make it work,” she smiled. “It’s part of my life now.”