Ireland’s forwards and Sam Prendergast make it 11 wins in a row for Ireland over Scotland.
Cycling legend Chris Hoy hands referee James Doleman the match ball.
He’s almost welling up. Nice touch.
Continue reading...Whiffin frustrated despite claiming last-gasp win against Italy
Richard Whiffin admits that if he had any hair to pull out he would have been taking handfuls as he watched the final few moments of his Wales U20 side’s dramatic 20-18 win over Italy in Treviso. Having seen Harri Ford kick Wales into a two point lead with a penalty in the 69th minute […]
The post Whiffin frustrated despite claiming last-gasp win against Italy appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Team changes for Wales v Italy
Dafydd Jenkins and Liam Williams have been withdrawn from the starting Wales XV for this afternoon’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome. Jenkins has been ruled due to illness while Williams misses the game due to a knee injury. Gloucester’s Freddie Thomas now starts in the second row, while Scarlerts’ Blair Murray comes […]
The post Team changes for Wales v Italy appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Bluck double breaks Thunder drought
Brython Thunder recorded a first win of the season with a dramatic 38-32 victory against Edinburgh in Round 7 of the Celtic Challenge at Parc y Scarlets this afternoon. Wales centre Hannah Bluck’s two tries in the dying moments secured a famous win in a pulsating contest at the home of the Scarlets. Bluck came […]
The post Bluck double breaks Thunder drought appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Gatland has sympathy for nation’s frustration as sorry Wales slump again
- Coach ‘understands frustration’ after 14th loss in row
- Gatland says Wales ‘shot ourselves in the foot’
Warren Gatland said he “understands people’s frustration” after his Wales team slumped to a 14th consecutive defeat and a worst‑ever world ranking of 12th, one place below Georgia, losing 22-15 to Italy in Rome.
Speaking to the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, Gatland empathised with his team’s supporters. “I can understand people’s frustration and we are frustrated and disappointed as well because we created opportunities but we have made mistakes and the penalty count was disappointing,” he said. “As a coaching team and players they are not hard fixes but we need to make sure we focus in those key moments.”
Continue reading...Italy beat the deluge and condemn toothless Wales to 14th defeat in a row
- Italy 22-15 Wales
- Tomasso Allan kicks 17 points as home side win in Rome
Another week, another Welsh defeat, another 80 minutes in which those in red gave their best as individuals but proved that it is nowhere near good enough for this level. A 14th straight defeat has dropped them to 12th on World Rugby’s rankings, one place below Georgia and the lowest position in their history. In Roman rain, Warren Gatland’s Divine Comedy descended another circle.
Perhaps the most damning point of all is that this never felt like a contest. The losing bonus point, procured at the death with a penalty try after two Italians received yellow cards, felt undeserving and failed to gloss over the preceding dross. Even with so much riding on this result, and even with the weather stifling Italy’s attacking threat, Wales simply failed to manufacture a challenge. Forget about a Plan B, Gatland’s team now appear bereft of any plan at all beyond aimless kicks, toothless carries and unjustified hope.
Continue reading...England 26-25 France: Six Nations 2025 – as it happened
Elliot Daly’s try at the death delivered a crucial win for Steve Borthwick
4 mins. The first scrum of the game is a French one near halfway, which they win snappily and move it to the right. Dupont jabs a grubber towards the touchline but Penaud can’t reach it before it dribbles over the line.
2 mins. Ben Earl has a carry up towards halfway and the recycle Fin Smith dallies a bit and this allow Alldritt in to charge it down. The ball bobbles all over the place and mercifully back in English hands to kick clear.
Continue reading...Italy 22-15 Wales: Six Nations 2025 – as it happened
Wales slumped to their 14th consecutive defeat after a hugely disappointing display in Rome
8 mins. Will Rowlands loses a lineout under pressure from Cannone, but Page-Relo ruins the work of his team-mate by booming his clearing kick out of the full from outside the 22.
6 mins. Wales are off their feet at the ruck as Italy venture into their territory. Allan calls for the tee and opens his account for the day.
Continue reading...Forget the Smiths, French pack could cause panic on the pitch in London
If England are blown away up front, Will Smith might as well be playing fly-half for all the difference it will make
Once upon a time France headed to London with a certain amount of trepidation. For 18 years they could not buy a Six Nations win at Twickenham, to the point where people muttered about mental blocks and psychological hang-ups. Until a couple of years ago, that is, when Steve Borthwick’s England were torn apart 53-10 in the heaviest home defeat the old cabbage patch has ever known.
At a stroke all that historical baggage was gloriously jettisoned. Which is precisely what England would now love to replicate on a chilly February day in their retitled concrete citadel. There is no sweeter feeling in sport than unexpected success, particularly when a home victory is widely viewed as up there, in terms of probability, with Donald Trump’s vision for a “Gaza Riviera”.
Continue reading...When it comes to Le Crunch, England don’t seem to know what their best XV is | Ugo Monye
The world’s greatest teams know who plays when everyone is fit and horses-for-courses selection won’t help Steve Borthwick
When it comes to team selection, it’s important to remember that everything is subjective. Different coaches, five million different fans and the 80,000 people in the stadium will all have different views, different affiliations and different opinions about who should be playing for England. It plays a large part of every Test week and it’s fantastic because it creates debate, it gets people talking.
It is not specific to England either but the problem with Steve Borthwick’s recent team selections is that I just wish it felt like it was coming from a place of understanding exactly what his best team is and precisely how to deliver their best gameplan. I’m not sure we have clarity on either of those things yet and as much as I understand the notion of horses for courses, I would much prefer to have a sense that selection is first and foremost about yourselves rather than the opposition.
Continue reading...Crunch Irish test for Gwalia Lightning
Gwalia Lightning hit the road to face league leaders, Wolfhounds, in Round 7 of the Celtic Challenge at Virgin Media Park, Cork, on Sunday, February 9th (KO:12.30pm). The Welsh side travel to Ireland on the back of a three-match winning streak to face the reigning champions in their own backyard. Welsh international Bryonie King captains […]
The post Crunch Irish test for Gwalia Lightning appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
PRA25 nears completion
Welsh rugby’s four professional clubs Cardiff, Dragons RFC, the Ospreys and the Scarlets have reached agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union on the final guiding principles of a new financial and rugby focused deal which will sustain the game in Wales over the next five years. The new Professional Rugby Agreement for 2025 (PRA25), will […]
The post PRA25 nears completion appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Thomas and Dee sign on the dotted line
Wales front row forwards Gareth Thomas and Elliot Dee have committed their futures to their respective regions. The 31-year old Thomas has extended his stay at the Ospreys, while the 30-year-old Dee has given Dragons fans a huge boost by signing up for more at Rodney Parade. Both will be in action for Wales in […]
The post Thomas and Dee sign on the dotted line appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wizards hoping to conjure up some magic against Newport in SRC
Aberavon and Newport will be hoping for fairer weather when they meet against at the Talbot Athletic Ground having had their first attempt in Super Rygbi Cymru washed out by a deluge at half-time back in September. The Black & Ambers were leading 3-0 at the time and since then Ty Morris’ men have picked […]
The post Wizards hoping to conjure up some magic against Newport in SRC appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Favoured Italy face return of Faletau as Wales look to stop their slide
Gatland’s men aim to avoid a 14th consecutive defeat against an Italy side in the rare position of being favourites
Italy are the biggest favourites of the weekend to win their Six Nations match. And it is highly unlikely that sentence has been written before.
Admittedly, there is barely anything in it. At the time of writing, Italy are widely available at evens with a handicap of seven; for France and Ireland, the handicap is six. All three are a little shy of 2-1 on to win their respective matches. That is quite the company Italy are keeping.
Continue reading...