Rugby News
Momentum may be with the Scarlets, but Dwayne Peel knows his side can take absolutely nothing for granted when they head to the Swansea.Com for the Christmas cracker derby against Ospreys. The two teams come into the game having suffered very different fortunes this season. The Scarlets are one point off the play-off places in […]
The post Peel ready to pounce on wounded Ospreys in west Wales derby appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Jotham Russell switched from Tweed Heads Seagulls to the Pats’ practice squad and dreams of making the grade
By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required
Desperate to find breakthrough international stars, NFL talent scouts seem to have found two avenues well worth pursuing. Of the athletes in the league’s International Player Pathway (IPP) in 2024 and 2025, the latter group was announced last week, around half were rugby players of both codes from Australia or athletes with Nigerian heritage. In Jotham Russell, the NFL have both.
A year ago, Russell was pursuing his rugby league career at Tweed Heads Seagulls in Queensland’s Hastings Deering Colts competition. Identified as a potential NFL player, by January he was at trials for the IPP program at the IMG Academy in Florida. The Australian with Nigerian heritage survived the Rookie Camp in May and pre-season to sign for New England Patriots’ practice squad, watching an NFL game from the sidelines for the first time when the Pats lost to Jacksonville at Wembley in October. It has been a bewildering whirlwind.
Continue reading...Much has been made of Super Rygbi Cymru being a great development tool for Wales’ up and coming players, but it’s also a competition where players with a proven pedigree can still show the young bucks a thing or two. Pontypool’s Morgan Allen is a classic example. The well travelled back row has proven a […]
The post Allen giving young pups a run for their money appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Premiership rugby clubs who “have been teetering on the edge” are set to come under further scrutiny by the government over the repayments of their £124m Covid bailout loans.
A report by the National Audit Office details how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] awarded 26% of its £474m loans to Premiership clubs, including £41.6m to Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, who have all since gone bust. According to the report, they are three of nine borrowers who in total received £46.1m and their collective demises mean that the DCMS does not expect to recover up to £29m in loans awarded.
Continue reading...Ospreys Rugby have confirmed that Toby Booth has departed from his role as head coach with immediate effect. Mark Jones will assume the role of head coach with immediate effect, supported by the current coaching staff and management. Jones, a former Wales U20 head coach and Wales backs coach, was due to take over from […]
The post Jones takes charge as Booth departs Ospreys appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Ebbw Vale avenged their only defeat of the campaign so far in Super Rygbi Cymru as they came from behind to beat Cardiff 32-20 at Eugene Cross Park and replace them at the top of the table. The 29-12 reverse they suffered at the Arms Park in round two back in September provided added motivation […]
The post Steelmen gain revenge as they overtake Cardiff at top of SRC appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Pontypool went on the rampage with seven second half tries to secure a thumping 58-25 win over Bridgend in Super Rygbi Cymru. The Ravens had led 20-10 at the interval thanks to tries from wing Ben Evans, on debut, Evan Yardley and Chris Williams. Ben Burnell kicked a penalty. Wing Walker Price was Pooler’s try scorer […]
The post Pooler power to SRC victory with magnificent seven second half tries appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Taulupe Faletau made a winning return to rugby as he managed 52 minutes in only his second appearance for Cardiff this year in the 26-10 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in the EPCR Challenge Cup at the Arms Park. The second coming of 2024 for the 104 times capped Wales No 8 was a much […]
The post Faletau back with a bang as Cardiff beat Cheetahs appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Something will have to give at Eugene Cross Park when the top two teams in Super Rygbi Cymru go head-to-head for the second time this season. When Ebbw Vale went down to the Arms Park on 19 September they were beaten 29-12 by Cardiff, their only defeat in eight games, and they will have added […]
The post Crunch time at the top in SRC as Ebbw host Cardiff appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Christmas has come early for Wales head coach Warren Gatland with both Dafydd Jenkins and Taulupe Faletau finally returning from injury to play in the second round of European competition. Hot on the heels of Josh Adams return for Cardiff Rugby against the Dragons two weeks ago, Exeter Chiefs lock Jenkins and Cardiff’s legendary No […]
The post Early Christmas bonus for Wales as Jenkins and Faletau return appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales U20s ran in five tries to record a 31-7 victory against Scotland Development U20s at a boisterous Merthyr Rugby Football Club. Local schools and colleges packed out the stadium at the Wern and although it was a crisp afternoon, they were treated to some clinical finishing by the home side. Wales scored two tries […]
The post Wales U20s repel challenge of Scotland Development U20s appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Head coach Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin has named the Gwalia Lightning squad for the new home and way Celtic Challenge 2024/25 campaign. The Lightning have named a squad full of Welsh internationals and a host of new young talent to play the best in Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The Lightning will play all their homes games at […]
The post Gwalia Lightning squad named for Celtic Challenge appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Head coach Ashley Beck has named the Brython Thunder squad for the new home and away Celtic Challenge campaign for 2024/25. Experienced Wales second row Natalia John is joined by fellow Wales internationals Niamh Terry, Hannah Bluck and Meg Webb in a new-look Thunder squad. Fifteen of the 30 players named are new to the […]
The post Brython Thunder squad named for Celtic Challenge campaign appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Police searching for missing former England rugby player Tom Voyce said Thursday they had found a body in the river where his car was swept away in a storm.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association (WRPA) and World Rugby have today launched a new Brain Health Service to support former elite players in Wales. The WRU is one of the first to launch this new initiative, which is available free of charge, and follows services already available in Ireland and […]
The post WRU, WRPA and World Rugby launch Brain Health Service in Wales appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.