Rugby Union News
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has been given a long-term boost by the re-signing of centre Aneurin Owen and back row man Harri Keddie. The two former Wales U20 stars are both home-grown regional players who have become mainstays as senior players. The 24-year-old Owen had played in 14 of the 15 games to date […]
The post Double boost for Dragons as Owen and Keddie extend contracts appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Ellis Mee, who would not have registered with many before this tournament, has been one of the shining stars so far
Sure, it’s still early days but Wales’s upbeat performance against Ireland showed how quickly perceptions can change. Even a few weeks ago the name Ellis Mee would not have registered with many Six Nations fans. Now, after an eye-catching debut last weekend, the lanky 21-year-old is being tipped by no less an expert than Jamie Roberts to become a regular fixture for Wales. Less than a year ago the 6ft 4in Mee was playing for Nottingham in the Championship – memo to the Rugby Football Union: there is plenty of untapped talent out there – and was scouted by the former Wales international James “Cubby” Davies while playing for Nottingham Trent University. Then, after just 10 professional games for Scarlets, he was parachuted into the national team as part of a productive back three alongside his similarly positive clubmates Blair Murray and Tom Rogers. Suddenly it’s all Mee, Mee, Mee …
Continue reading...When Ellis Mee made his Wales debut last weekend it was his first representative team rugby. The 21-year-old former Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham wing came within inches of steering Wales to a famous victory over reigning Six Nations champions Ireland in Cardiff as he stretched for the corner. “It was close, very close. My first thought was I […]
The post Mee reflects on rapid rise to the top appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
The Ospreys have moved quickly to find a centre replacement for the injured Owen Watkin and have signed up Fijian skipper Waisea Nayacalevu for the rest of the season. Nayacalevu famously led Fiji to victory over Wales at Principality Stadium earlier this season and was in charge of the team that beat England at Twickenham […]
The post Ospreys sign Fiji captain Nayacalevu appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake has been called up to the Wales senior men’s squad, taking the total number of players to 38. In addition, the following players have been released back to Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys and Scarlets this week ahead of round twelve of the United Rugby Championship at the weekend. Cardiff Rugby Ellis Bevan […]
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The qualification maze might seem unsatisfactory to some, but often it comes down to personal preference
There was no disputing the most iconic rugby image of the weekend. Maro Itoje hoisting the Calcutta Cup might normally have secured the crown but did you see that magnificent picture of Bundee Aki in Cardiff, complete with heroically battered nose and blood-stained Ireland shirt? As the BBC commentator Andrew Cotter wryly observed: “Bundee Aki looks like he’s about to wrestle the whole of Cardiff … and I would back him.”
As warrior portraits go it was up there with some of rugby’s all‑time greats: a blood-soaked Jean-Pierre Rives, a mud-plastered Fran Cotton, a truly terrifying Sébastian Chabal. Test rugby is a game of light and shade and, for all its shafts of beauty, the sport also has its fearsome competitors. The internet loved it, not least the ArtButMakeItSports account on X which drew a brilliant parallel between the striking Aki picture and the work of the late American painter Cy Twombly.
Continue reading...‘I’ve just tried to keep my head down and do my job,’ says the Bath tighthead after seeing off Scotland in Calcutta Cup
Not all heroes wear capes and Will Stuart is not the type you would expect to see in shining armour, but the time has come to recognise England’s unsung tighthead prop. Crisis? What crisis? It was not so long ago that the Rugby Football Union was wringing its hands at the dearth of tightheads across the country but quietly, under the radar, Stuart has emerged as England’s most consistent, reliable performer.
During Steve Borthwick’s first Six Nations in charge two years ago, he lamented that England were “not good at anything” and raised particular concern over the scrum, an area in which they had ranked last of all tier-one nations over the previous 12 months. Fast-forward to now and, under the tutelage of Tom Harrison, England’s scrum has developed into both a solid platform and a weapon they can employ to impressive effect.
Continue reading...Dragons No 8 Evan Minto had a 19th birthday he will never forget last week when he helped Wales make it back-to-back wins in the U20 Six Nations for the first time in six years. The 20-12 triumph over Ireland at a rainsoaked Rodney Parade provided a first win over the Irish since 2018 and […]
The post Irish win perfect birthday present for Minto appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Newport will have to make a return trip to Eugene Cross Park this weekend for a decisive Super Rygbi Cymru Cup clash and head coach Ty Morris will be hoping for a better performance than in the 20-5 league defeat to Ebbw Vale. The Black & Ambers currently top Pool B with two games to […]
The post Steelmen return to top of SRC with big Gwent derby win appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales centre Owen Watkin may be resigned to missing the rest of this season due to injury, but he can look forward to an extended stay at the Ospreys after signing a new contract. The 28-year-old midfield ace was injured in the opening Guinness Six Nations tie against France in Paris, but has now followed […]
The post Watkin signs up for more with the Ospreys appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Steve Borthwick will have to forgo a crucial training camp and guide England into this year’s autumn internationals with a week’s less preparation after the Rugby Football Union arranged an extra lucrative November Test against Australia.
England habitually play three autumn internationals in the same year as a British & Irish Lions tour but the RFU arranged a fourth, which could generate up to £10m in revenue, after its latest accounts reported record losses to reserves of £42m.
Continue reading...Dafydd Jenkins believes Wales are learning from the hard times and can take heart from pushing the Irish, one of the best teams in the world, so far and hard at Principality Stadium in Round 3 of the Guinness Six Nations. The former Wales skipper put in a stellar 80 minute performance in the 27-18 […]
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Wales captain Jac Morgan says his team are ready to build on their performance against Ireland over the next fortnight as they prepare to take on the Scots at Murrayfield in two weeks time. Wales led at the interval thanks to a try by Morgan on the stroke of half-time that overturned a 10-point deficit to […]
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Making tries worth more could be worth considering but for now Steve Borthwick’s men remain in Six Nations hunt
Style and beauty count for only so much in top‑level sport, as Welsh and Scottish supporters were eventually reminded on Saturday. There are no marks for artistic merit, no specific rewards (beyond a try bonus point) for throwing the ball around in the name of entertainment. Occasionally, though, there are days when the losers’ enterprise and energy leaves the deepest impression.
None more so, at long last, than Wales. After barely four training sessions under their interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, they looked a team who have not so much had an extreme makeover as assumed a whole fresh identity. Last time out they were gloomily trudging through Italian treacle; suddenly they were running and passing with elan and briefly threatening to cause the mother of all tournament upsets.
Continue reading...If there were questions over France’s ability to finish teams off after coughing up numerous chances against England a fortnight ago, they have been thoroughly put to bed. A ruthless 11-try demolition of a handy Italy side on their own patch served as a reminder that, on their day, there are few better outfits in rugby than a French team in full flow.
Fabien Galthié, the head coach, made some bold selection decisions, dropping his ace wing Damian Penaud and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert from the match-day 23. A seven-one bench split was a sign of the plan and France’s power game duly delivered. They stomped over the gainline with just about every carry, unloaded six heavies off the bench in one go on 48 minutes and pulverised the Italians, who sparkled on rare occasions but were totally outgunned.
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