Rugby News
Richard Whiffin has made 10 changes to his Wales U20 starting line-up for their second clash with the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground on Friday 17 January (kick-off 7.30pm). Bristol Bears wing Aidan Boshoff, Bath prop Ioan Emanuel, Bristol Bears lock Kenzie Jenkins, Bath back five man Arthur Moore (Bath) and Dragons […]
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Ex-Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is coming out of retirement to play for Japan’s Toyota Verblitz after receiving a call from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, he said Wednesday.
The captaincy is due reward for a fine player – but for Steve Borthwick, it comes with one or two risks attached
England no longer announce their new captains with a grand theatrical flourish. Back in 1996 Bath’s Phil de Glanville had to lie down in the back of the taxi taking him to Twickenham so no one could identify the skipper poised to replace Will Carling before he was unveiled dramatically from behind a large curtain like a nervous contestant in Stars in Their Eyes.
Fast forward to 2025 and Maro Itoje, the 136th man chosen to lead his country, was not even present for his inauguration. People like to talk about spreading the rugby gospel and here was another example of how not to do it. A good news story (if not for poor old Jamie George) and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Itoje to strike a smiling pose for the snappers and propel English rugby back on to the front pages? Nah, we’ll just stick out a bog-standard press release.
Continue reading...Belinda Moore has been appointed as the Welsh Rugby Union’s new Head of Women’s rugby. Moore, who was CEO at England’s flagship professional women’s competition, Premiership Women’s Rugby, until November last year is a highly experienced and senior figure in the game. A former senior BBC producer her skillset is also derived from further senior […]
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Rugby union player Rynard Landman has been banned from all sport for three years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a prohibited substance. On 8 August 2024, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected a urine Sample from Mr Landman, Out-of-Competition, at a Newport RFC training session. Analysis of Mr Landman’s urine Sample […]
The post Player receives three-year ban for anti-doping rule violations appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales men’s head coach Warren Gatland is looking no further that the first two games of the Guinness Six Nations after naming his 34-player squad for the championship. France host Wales in the opening game of the 2025 championship at Stade de France on Friday 31st January before Wales head to Rome where they will […]
The post Gatland: ‘We need to show an improvement in performance’ appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales U18 head coach Richie Pugh got a double dose of U18 Academies Championship rugby at the weekend as he took in both first round matches in Cardiff and Ystrad Mynach. The staggered kick-off times allowed Pugh to run his eye over four of the five teams in the tournament that builds on the WSC […]
The post Cardiff and Ospreys off to flying start in U18 Academies Championship appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The coach whose enduring belief that the next match is always winnable is not ready to abandon all hope just yet
The lyrics of that old Kenny Rogers favourite The Gambler sprang to mind as Warren Gatland sat down in Wales’s team hotel this week to explain his desire to stay on as head coach. “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away …” Approaching his 18th Six Nations campaign – he has been involved in 13 previous ones with Wales and four with Ireland – Gatland is clearly not ready to abandon all hope just yet.
There is a fair amount of professional pride involved too. Plus the enduring stubbornness of a competitor who, unlike Tyson Fury, still feels he has some unfinished business. While Wales may have lost 12 consecutive games, the key to Gatland’s coaching longevity remains his enduring belief that the next game is always winnable. Even if it involves a pumped-up France in Paris on the opening night of the 2025 Six Nations. “If we can go out there, play well and get a little bit of luck …”
Continue reading...Maro Itoje will lead England into the Six Nations after Steve Borthwick made the radical decision to ditch Jamie George as captain and promote the second row before a campaign that promises to make or break the head coach’s tenure.
Borthwick said George was “disappointed” to lose the captaincy after only 12 months in what he described as a challenging conversation with the hooker but explained the decision to appoint Itoje was made on the basis that he is a “world‑class player who has the respect of everybody”.
Continue reading...Warren Gatland, the Six Nations’ longest-serving head coach, insists he is still up for the challenge of reviving Welsh rugby fortunes after naming two uncapped players, the Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and the Scarlets wing Ellis Mee, in a reshuffled 34‑man squad for the 2025 tournament which commences on 31 January.
Gatland has also dropped Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer, Cameron Winnett and Taine Plumtree, among others, in a bid to rediscover a winning blend after a grim 12 months during which Wales extended their losing run to 12 consecutive Tests and collected their first Six Nations wooden spoon for 21 years.
Continue reading...There are two uncapped players picked by Warren Gatland in the 34-strong squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations. Twenty-one-year-old Ospreys outside half Dan Edwards was man of the match for his region in their EPCR Challenge Cup win over Newcastle Falcons last weekend – an accolade he also enjoyed in the New Year’s Day […]
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Newly appointed Wales Six Nations captain Jac Morgan has signed a new contract at the Ospreys. Since making his Ospreys debut in 2021, Morgan has made 43 appearances for the club since his debut in the 2021/22 season. He has also won 17 caps for Wales during that time. After bursting onto the international stage, […]
The post Jac Morgan extends contract at Ospreys appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Harry Beddall is hoping the Regional Academies XV come on strong against his Wales U20 side to help them get ready for their U20 Six Nations opener against France in Vannes on 1 February. The two teams will meet twice to give Beddall and co a stiff work out before they take the field at […]
The post Beddall expects tough workout against Regional Academies XV appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has named a 34-player Wales squad to come into camp on Monday 20 January to begin preparations for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations. Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan will captain the side. Josh Adams, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Roberts and Liam Williams return having missed the Autumn […]
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Gwalia Lightning returned to winning ways with a last ditch 31-26 victory in Round 4 of the Celtic Challenge against Glasgow Warriors at Ystrad Mynach on Sunday afternoon. The Lightning finally ground out a win after trailing for the majority of the game when skipper Bryonie King crashed over for the winning try with the […]
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