BRITISH boxing silver medallist Rosie Eccles insists she only has eyes for the gold medal as the Chepstow star prepares for the BUCS Nationals finals in Sheffield later this month.

The Cardiff Metropolitan University student admits it is difficult to juggle her boxing career with her sports studies and sports psychology degree.

But the challenge has not slowed the 19-year-old Chepstow Amateur Boxing Club member down and she is currently the Elite Welsh champion as well as a British silver and European bronze medallist.

And this all means that Chepstow-born Eccles is in confident mood ahead of the BUCS Nationals, the largest annual multi-sport event in the UK which takes place in Sheffield from February 19th to 21st.

“I know the level at BUCS will be good because I know the girl that I’m fighting, she’s on the England squad so she’ll be top level and it will be a really good competition,” said Eccles.

“I’m sure she will be a challenge and it will be a good fight but in all my fights winning is the only option.

“I always just want to win, there is no two ways about that, it is experience as well but winning is the most important thing. I wouldn’t go otherwise.

“If you lose you don’t just lose a race, you get your head punched in.”

It was a whirlwind 12 months for Eccles, in her first year as a senior she fought 14 times and just four days after the BUCS Nationals she will fly to Bulgaria for the Strandja tournament.

The former Chepstow School pupil has upped her training regime to cater for her busy schedule and sees her training camp in Scotland with the Welsh squad as a potential key to victory.

“Training’s been going really well, I’ve been doing loads of sparring. I’ve had a few training camps with the Welsh team as well,” added Eccles.

“It’s good being in Scotland because we go up as a team and we get to experience different sparring, spending whole weeks in camp instead of weekend training camps.

“Getting on to the Welsh squad and going international has been amazing. Being able to represent your country is something to be proud of. It’s good being with a team who all have the same goals and getting to travel with them and fight the best.”