Rugby Union News
The raid on the regional academies continues apace this season – but only in the best possible way! With budgets squeezed and squad sizes reduced, all four regions are giving youth its chance and reaping unexpected benefits as a result. Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt has handed 19-year-old flanker Lucas de la Rua a […]
The post Youth getting its chance to shine with the Regions appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
NRL clubs could be rewarded even greater for targeting talent from other codes.
The Bath No 8 on why he is not an identikit sportsman and his aspirations to make the international grade with England
By his own admission Alfie Barbeary is “different”. He is certainly refreshingly honest. Ask him to describe his perfect day and, having already revealed his dislike of the gym, he does not hesitate. “I’d probably be at home watching the rugby, have a couple of pints with my dad and then finish it off with a curry.” Lob in a game of darts – “My dad isn’t any good so I’d have to get my brother back and play him” – and he would be in absolute heaven.
A mischievous grin, a pair of sparkling studs in his ears – “Mum wasn’t too happy” – and an obvious lust for life are further clues that this might not be an identikit professional sportsman with his nutritionist on speed dial. Stick the fun-loving Bath No 8 on a rugby pitch, however, and – boom – there are few more compelling forces of oval-ball nature in the English club game.
Continue reading...Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, snooker, boxing, darts and golf?
Continue reading...Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has reportedly had his second interview with Japanese Rugby as the fallout of his disastrous second stint with Australia continued.
Watch Wales’ future internationals in the U20 Six Nations 2024 as tickets go on sale at 10am today, Thursday December 7th with prices starting from only £5. International rugby makes a welcome return to Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay for the tournament opener against Scotland on February 2nd. Wales’ other two home games will be […]
The post U20s Six Nations on sale now! appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The British & Irish Lions will take on Argentina in Dublin in preparation for their 2025 tour to Australia in what will be their first ever match in Ireland, the team said on Thursday.
The game will be held at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June 2025, and the two teams will play for the Lions 1888 Cup, which marks the first year British teams toured the southern hemisphere.
Continue reading...Stuart Lancaster has warned “there’s a decision to be made” by Henry Arundell on his future and says the debate about eligibility for England internationals playing overseas is “very tricky”.
The former England head coach became director of rugby at Racing 92 this season after several years coaching at Leinster, and the French club host Harlequins in the opening round of the Champions Cup on Sunday. Arundell joined Racing following the demise of London Irish, with the Rugby Football Union exempting him to play at the World Cup because of those exceptional circumstances.
Continue reading...The biggest family day out in the rugby calendar, Judgement Day, returns for 2024! Hosted at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 1 June 2024 with the double header event featuring the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 18 matches between Scarlets v Dragons and Cardiff v Ospreys. Tickets go on sale to the general public today […]
The post Tickets now on sale for Judgement Day appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The Welsh Rugby Union has revealed the latest investment and innovation for Women’s rugby with the announcement of the two Welsh teams in the expanded Celtic Challenge this season. The two new Welsh teams to play in the cross-border competition will be Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder. Developed in collaboration with current players, the brands […]
The post Two new teams to represent Wales in expanded Celtic Challenge appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The Australian women’s rugby sevens team have provided the sport a rare golden moment in an otherwise gloomy year with an “amazing” victory in the Dubai tournament in a positive sign ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Dual international Lote Tuqiri believes Joseph Suaali’i “could be better” than all of the other rugby league converts that came before him.
At the end of another turbulent week for English rugby there was a collective need for some wintry cheer beside the River Avon. Warm it was not but there was enough crackle and bite to this West Country tussle to hold everyone’s attention right up until the final quarter when a free-flowing Bath properly cut loose.
The second of two tries for the energetic Alfie Barbeary helped to put the icing on an increasingly productive home performance which should also encourage the England management as they look ahead to 2024. Sam Underhill, in particular, was a reliable menace at the breakdown for Bath, and currently looks the obvious replacement for the sadly injured Tom Curry at openside.
Continue reading...Rugby Australia said on Friday it will trial a lowering of the legal tackle height from the shoulder line to below the sternum in a bid to reduce concussions.
A casual viewer of English rugby might consider this season notable for the World Cup at the start of it, but the really meaty exchanges for the future of the sport in the country will take place off-stage. The Professional Game Agreement, an eight-year deal between the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby, is up for renewal in the summer. Negotiations are ongoing.
The whispers have it that hybrid contracts for certain England internationals will be initiated as a means of sharing the players’ salaries between club and country. This is a huge question, particularly if you are a director of rugby trying to weigh up so much uncertainty around finances, recruitment and, simply, the state of mind of your players.
Continue reading...