Rugby News
Harry Thomas couldn’t extend his try scoring record in the U20 Six Nations, but the Scarlets hooker still picked up the man of the match award for another barnstorming performance in the 23-13 win over Grand Slam chasing England in the Welsh capital. He also had his mother in tears at the end of the […]
The post Tackle tyros Thomas and Beddall happy to cut England down to size appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
After watching his side take down England, the reigning World Rugby U20 champions, Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin wants his side to now set their sights on getting even better for this summers’ championship in Italy. The 23-13 triumph over unbeaten England at the Arms Park made it three wins in the campaign, the […]
The post England win just the start for Wales U20 says Whiffin appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey eye records, but main focus is on backing up stunning win over Ireland with trophy
There could be a blizzard of broken records in Paris on Saturday night. On one wing, Damian Penaud could score his 39th try to overtake Serge Blanco as France’s all-time leading try-scorer, on the other Louis Bielle-Biarrey needs his eighth try to break the record set by Jacob Stockdale for the most in a single tournament, and in between the two, Thomas Ramos needs seven points to go past Frédéric Michalak and become the country’s record scorer. If their team score four tries between them, they will break the mark of 29 in one Six Nations, set by England back in 2001.
None of which will matter a damn if they don’t win.
Continue reading...Former Australia rugby union captain Rocky Elsom was handed a two-year prison sentence by a French court on Friday after being found guilty of misusing corporate funds.
A tournament that has produced tries galore reaches its glorious climax on Super Saturday with England and Ireland hot on the heels of favourites France
The best Six Nations campaigns tick two crucial boxes. The first is a consistent sense of jeopardy from start to finish and the second is a level of entertainment that elevates the tournament into the mainstream consciousness. When both occur simultaneously, as they have done this year, the championship’s final round ranks among the most gripping days in modern team sport.
This particular “Super Saturday” certainly has all the necessary spicy ingredients, starting with the prospect of France’s second title since 2010 if they can beat Scotland in Paris. A bonus-point win for England over Wales in Cardiff, though, could yet be enough to sneak the trophy in the event of a breathless Scotland win. Which, from a Scottish perspective, looms as the ultimate catch-22 scenario.
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Pontypool head coach Tom Hancock has pledged to pick his strongest side for tonight’s Super Rygbi Cymru Cup tie in Newport even though getting through to the final is a long shot. The Gwent derby will at least set a target for Ebbw Vale in Pool B when they complete their pool campaign at Swansea […]
The post SRC Cup finalists to be decided in final round of pool games appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
World Rugby has today confirmed that Italy will host the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 from 29 June-19 July with matches held in four cities across the Lombardia and Veneto regions. It will be the third time that Italy has hosted the prestigious tournament featuring the 12 best U20 teams in the world but the […]
The post Italy to host rugby’s next generation with World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales head coach Sean Lynn has announced his first squad for the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign. Lynn, who will lead his club side Gloucester/Hartpury in their third successive PWR final on Sunday, has named a 37-player squad for the tournament. Wales open their campaign away to Scotland on Saturday, March 22nd (KO: 4.45pm). […]
The post Lynn names 37-strong Wales Women squad for Six Nations appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
England will drive back to an empty stadium if France slip up, but their performance in Cardiff will define campaign
If all goes well for England, somewhere around half past nine on Saturday they will be preparing to clamber on to the team bus and head back to the stadium. They will have decamped to their hotel a couple of miles away in Cardiff Bay but if they have held up their end of the bargain against Wales and it appears that Scotland could do them a favour, England are due back at the Principality Stadium just after 10pm for a possible trophy presentation.
It will be a replica trophy in Cardiff – the real thing is in Paris given France remain hot favourites – but broadcasters and sponsors want their champagne moment, come what may, and as a result England must oblige, even in an empty stadium. It means that England could be left a touch red-faced if France leave it late to put Scotland to the sword. All dressed up at the Principality with nowhere to go.
Continue reading...The former Australia rugby union captain Rocky Elsom was sentenced to two years in prison by a French court on Friday, for misusing corporate assets during his time as the club president of Narbonne.
Elsom was also fined €100,000 (A$109,000) with half of that sum suspended. The 42-year-old did not appear in court; his whereabouts are currently unknown and a French arrest warrant has been issued against him.
Having taken charge of the southern French club Narbonne from 2015-16, Elsom went on trial for embezzling club funds by making unjustified expenditures to pay a coach or a general manager who was living in Australia at the time.
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Matt Sherratt will be back at Cardiff Rugby on Monday but admits he might have to delay his return to the Arms Park if he can get his Wales side to beat England in their Guinness Six Nations finale at Principality Stadium this weekend. After games against Ireland and Scotland, Sherratt leads Wales for the […]
The post Sherratt: ‘It’s about getting that balance between heart and brain’ appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The Wales U20 team will complete their Six Nations campaign against England at the Arms Park tonight, but the age-grade international action continues apace with Wales U18 meeting their Scottish counterparts at Kingston Park, Newcastle on Sunday. (3pm kick-off). It is the first step on the international ladder for the youngsters, who have only three […]
The post Wales U18 set for season opener against Scotland appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Context dictates that England have to be on the front foot in Cardiff – let’s have that as their modus operandi
Play the match, not the occasion. Lap up the theatre, the dramatics, the pyrotechnics, the hostility, if that is what gets you going, but when you cross the white line, play what is in front of you. If there is one message that should have been hammered home to England’s players this week, it is exactly that.
Sport rarely plays out the way we fully expect it to, otherwise the Principality Stadium would not be sold out on Saturday, there would not be a growing sense of belief among Wales supporters that this is the day their desperate run of defeats ends, there would not be a nervousness, a tension among England fans heading to Cardiff. It’s why we love our sport but if England can play the match and not the occasion, they have the potential and the players to put Wales away comfortably.
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Aaron Wainwright is back in the Wales starting XV to face England and wants to get the sold-out Principality Stadium crowd cheering like it’s 2019. The Dragons star will pack down alongside skipper Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau in a back row trio that is gearing up for a showdown with the Curry brothers and […]
The post Wainwright urges fans to play their part appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
England have won each of their last four U20 Six Nations fixtures against Wales, averaging 5.8 tries per game and enjoying an average winning margin of 27 points in that run. This will be the second time Wales and England have met at Cardiff Arms Park in the U20 Six Nations, the previous clash there […]
The post Match stats: Wales U20 v England U20 appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.