Rugby News
Jonathan Humphreys says nobody needs to underline the importance of Saturday’s Round 2 clash against Italy in Rome in the Guinness Six Nations to any of the players or coaches in the Welsh squad. But the former Wales captain, nowadays the Wales forwards coach, believes that every game is equally important. “Every single game in […]
The post Humphreys: ‘Our execution has to improve’ appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
England are poised to select both Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in the same starting team to face France in the Six Nations this weekend.
The young Northampton fly-half is in line to make his first start in the No 10 jersey with his Harlequin namesake expected to be redeployed at full-back against France at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Continue reading...Scrum-half Dupont took time off to snare Olympic gold which has made him even more effective around the rucks
Tickets to watch France play England this weekend are not cheap. Premium adult seats cost £199 apiece and even the most affordable ones up in the gods will set you back £89. Before you phone the Rugby Football Union to enquire if an England win is included as part of the deal, however, ask yourself how often in life you have the chance to witness pure genius.
Admittedly this can be a subjective debate. Taylor Swift fans will have a different opinion to, say, Bob Dylan disciples. However, in contemporary sport there can surely be increasingly little debate. With all due respect to the colossal talents of Novak Djokovic, Max Verstappen, Patrick Mahomes, Simone Biles and Mohamed Salah, the name Antoine Dupont must be close to the top of the list.
Continue reading...Richard Whiffin has pledged to pick up his Wales U20 side after their nine try defeat in France to ensure they stay in the game even longer when they face Italy at Stadio di Monigo on Friday 7 February. The 63-19 loss in Vannes came despite Wales having scored two first half tries and changed […]
The post Wales U20s target rare away victory in championship appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
England have vowed not to put France’s superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont on a pedestal as Steve Borthwick seeks to end his side’s miserable run of form against Les Bleus on Saturday.
Borthwick will be without Cadan Murley for the match after he picked up a foot injury in the 27-22 defeat by Ireland last weekend and has been ruled out until after the Scotland game but, while Dupont and co represent a daunting challenge, Tommy Freeman has insisted that France are “only human”.
Continue reading...RGC director of rugby Josh Leach hailed a “special” victory for his men at the Arms Park where the Gogs beat Cardiff 34-31 to make it two wins from two in the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup. A brace from hooker Rhodri King, tries from centres Danny Cross and Afon Bagshaw and prop Pedr Jones, along […]
The post King double steers Gogs to SRC Cup win in Cardiff appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Scarlets back row Taine Plumtree has been called up to the Wales senior men’s squad while Aaron Wainwright continues his recovery from a facial injury sustained during Friday night’s opening match of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations against France. Ospreys centre Owen Watkin continues to undergo assessment on a knee injury also sustained during Friday’s […]
The post Wales squad update appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Steve Borthwick’s side still lack an effective Plan B while Warren Gatland’s aim is to avoid embarrassment in Rome
Few annual tournaments lay bare the truth as brutally or swiftly as the Six Nations. There are no play-yourself-in pool games, no one-off-the-mark half-volleys. The opposition want your guts from minute one and, particularly away from home, there is no hiding place. Even in boxing they allow you a pair of padded gloves and a breather every three minutes.
If you are not quite at the level of your opponent, even for a relatively short period of time, the scoreboard rarely lies. Until their late, late flurry in Dublin, England were 27-10 down and already pinned on the ropes. Over in Paris on Friday night there were moments when you almost wanted the referee, Paul Williams, to step in and save Wales from any more punishment.
Continue reading...The former England captain Jamie George has been declared fit for the daunting Six Nations clash with France on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury, handing Steve Borthwick a welcome boost as his side seek to “break the dam” after another disheartening defeat.
George missed England’s 27-22 loss against Ireland after picking up the injury in Saracens’ Champions Cup defeat by Castres, capping a miserable week after he had been stripped of the England captaincy six days earlier.
Continue reading...This England side have character and can carry out a game plan, but there is no guarantee they will improve in time
Steve Borthwick is a man of character in an age that prefers to reward personality. Try as he might to explain England’s latest collapse, to reassure supporters that a corner will be turned, he failed to grasp the gravity of a seventh defeat in nine games in a manner that is now his side’s trademark. It was left to his predecessor-turned-pundit, Eddie Jones, to sum up England’s plight far more adroitly and in only four words when asked how he would have reacted if he were in Borthwick’s position: “I’m glad I’m not.”
It is a measure of Borthwick’s character that he chose not to turn on the referee, Ben O’Keeffe, for some questionable decisions against his team during the period in which Ireland scored 22 unanswered points. Borthwick pointed instead to his side’s indiscipline as they let a 10-5 half‑time lead slip through their fingers. “That’s something that needs to be improved this week,” was about as close as he came to chastising his players for capitulating.
Continue reading...James Lowe stood out in a superb Irish backline while for England the Curry twins shone but the backs struggled
Hugo Keenan Exceptional covering tackle on Tommy Freeman in the first half, and joined in the attack with intelligent support lines as usual. 8
Continue reading...Ireland dominated the second half to win in Dublin
4 mins. Marcus Smith finds a bit of space in the Ireland half before he’s hauled down and the phases start. He then drives a low cross-kick towards Tom Curry on the wing but it’s too long and into touch.
Mack Hansen has picked up an early injury and is replaced by Robbie Henshaw.
Continue reading...Gwalia Lightning ran out convincing 26-5 winners against Edinburgh in Round 3 of the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach this afternoon. The Lightning recorded their third win in a row in a convincing display against an impressive Edinburgh outfit. The Welsh side earned a bonus point victory and were well worth the win, with scrum […]
The post Confident Gwalia Lightning cruise to victory appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Brython Thunder are still looking for their first win of the Celtic Challenge after a round six 58-0 defeat against Clovers at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast this lunchtime. A young and new-look Brython side were without a host of players against a Clovers side that was third in the table before this clash at the […]
The post Clovers cut loose against Brython Thunder appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Pre match reading
It’s 25 years since the Six Nations was created, thus rendering Scotland Five Nations champions in perpetuity. Relive the 2000 tournament here with this brilliant collection of images and memories.
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