BOXER Rosie Eccles won a bronze medal in her first full international in a competition featuring a strong field from across Europe.

The Chepstow Amateur Boxing Club member beat a former European bronze medallist and a twice Scottish champion before losing on points to world silver medallist.

Head coach at Chepstow Steve Woods praised his Welsh international's "absolutely brilliant" achievement at the European Boxing Confederation's Boxam tournament in Cartagena in southern Spain.

But it was bittersweet for Rosie whose defeat to England's Sandy Ryan was the first in her 11-bout career.

Rosie said: "I'm really chuffed at how I did but I'm gutted at the same time because I don't like losing."

She won all three rounds of her opening fight against German Cindy Rogge and was given the nod by all three judges the following day against reigning Scottish champion Elaine Greenan.

In the semi-final the 18-year-old, from Caldicot, faced the hugely experienced Ryan who had also had one less fight in the Spanish heat.

"I think I got the first round and it was a really close second.

"She'd only had one fight before that and I got on the chair after the second round and I was shattered.

"I gave everything but she beat me fair and square."

Next up for Rosie is the British championship this weekend in Rotherham – and the club is hoping to take a minibus of supporters if it can get a sponsor.

Rosie's dream is to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.

Currently her weight division – lightwelterweight – is not included at either Commonwealth or Olympic level but it is hoped that could change in time for 2018.

The tournament in Spain came just a couple of weeks before Rosie, a sports studies student at Cardiff University, was due to sit end-of-year exams.

She said: "The wi-fi in the hotel broke and I had essays to send for my exams so two and a half hours after my fight I was sat in a chair by a wi-fi hotspot typing my essays so I could send them."

Fellow Chepstow boxer Patrick Larkin won his first bout with a technical knockout in the second round of the match in Newport.

Anyone who would like to assist with sponsorship for the British championship trip should contact Steve Woods on 0779 3047 941.