The Wallabies have locked in what looms as a spicy encounter with former coach Eddie Jones and Japan in Tokyo in October, if he’s still in charge.
Where there’s a Will there’s a way!
Wales may be playing away from home against France in the opening round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations, but for lock Will Rowlands the match at Stade de France will kick-off in the city where he currently lives. Rowlands is playing club rugby at Racing 92 in the Top 14 these days and believes […]
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Tierney creates new streamlined WRU executive team
Abi Tierney has announced a new, streamlined, executive team structure at the Welsh Rugby Union, as she kicks-off her second year as CEO. The new executive leadership team consists of five roles, where previously there were up to nine individuals, and will include a new Chief Growth Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, the Chief People […]
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Ireland hit by Joe McCarthy injury blow for Six Nations opener against England
- Tadhg Beirne moves into second row to partner James Ryan
- Leinster playmaker Sam Prendergast keeps hold of No 10 shirt
The Ireland lock Joe McCarthy will miss Saturday’s Six Nations opener against England due to injury. The interim head coach, Simon Easterby, has moved Tadhg Beirne into the second row to replace McCarthy, with Ryan Baird given a rare international start after being named at blindside flanker.
The Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast is again preferred to Munster’s Jack Crowley, having worn the No 10 jersey for his country’s final two autumn fixtures, victories over Fiji and Australia.
Continue reading...Wales U20s name side to face France U20
Head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his Wales U20 Men’s matchday squad to face France in their opening fixture of the 2025 U20 Six Nations. Wales head to northwest France to tackle the home side on Saturday at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes in the opening round of the championship. (KO 8.10pm, S4C) […]
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Scarlets U18s cruise to victory against Dragons
The Scarlets ran in another eight tries to add to their seven in the opening game against Cardiff Rugby as they swamped the Dragons at Ystrad Mynach to make it two from two in the defence of their Regional Academies U18 crown. Llandovery College centre Gryff Watkins took his tournament tally to four as he […]
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Dupont’s return heralds fizzing new era for what could be a spectacular Six Nations | Robert Kitson
The tournament looks ferociously competitive and, with attacking verve back in fashion, it promises to be a vintage year
Every now and again it is useful to be reminded of rugby union’s place in the grand scheme of things. “So, what’s next for you?” a non‑sporty friend asked the other day. He must have spotted my raised eyebrow. “Oh, yes, um, it’s the Six Nations, isn’t it?” Even on Planet Zog, inhabited by people who think a cauliflower ear is a tasty veggie option, they have heard of the annual rugby equivalent of Glastonbury.
And, traditionally, that has been the sport’s saving grace. Millions with limited interest in club rugby gather to cheer on the lands of their fathers, grandmothers and wolfhounds. The technical intricacies matter less than pouring a Guinness 0.0 – seemingly the pint du jour – and announcing to no one in particular that England are coming in nicely under the radar.
Continue reading...BBC’s ‘Repair Shop’ rescues iconic Welsh rugby shirt
Before the likes of David Watkins, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Jonathan Davies, Neil Jenkins, Stephen Jones and Dan Biggar made the No 10 jersey so iconic with their world class performances, Welsh outside halves used to wear No 6. And the last man to wear the No 6 on his back was Bryan Richards in […]
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Sydney the big winner as 2027 Rugby World Cup host cities, fixtures revealed
Sydney’s Accor Stadium has been confirmed as venue for the 2027 Rugby World Cup final.
Sydney to host 2027 Rugby World Cup final as Melbourne settles for last-16 games
- Semi-finals and third-place playoff also to be played in Sydney
- Melbourne to host nine matches in total; opener to be played in Perth
The eyes of the rugby world will again fall on Sydney after it was chosen to host the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup final, 24 years after the Wallabies’ heartbreaking defeat to England at the city’s Olympic Stadium.
Accor Stadium at Homebush, with a capacity of 82,000, will again host the decider as well as the semi-finals, the third-place playoff and two quarter-finals at the 11th edition of the global showpiece, which will take place in Australia for the first time since 2003.
Continue reading...Williams targets milestone for Wales
Liam Williams has got a firm message for all the youngsters queuing up to take his place – ‘I’m not ready to give up my shirt’. The 34-year-old Saracens star is on a mission to reach 100 caps for this country and to carry on being Warren Gatland’s No 1 bomb diffuser at the back. […]
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Wales excited for French challenge
Warren Gatland believes all the expectation will be on the French side when Wales open their Guinness Six Nations campaign in Paris on Friday night. After some strong performances by French teams in the Investec Champions Cup this season, and with Antoine Dupont back to skipper the side having missed the 2024 championship, the home […]
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Beddall’s boys ready to make more history in French test
When Harry Beddall leads Wales U20 onto the pitch in Vannes in Saturday night’s opening game in the U20 Six Nations he will be hoping for a big change in Welsh fortunes. Only once in the U20 Six Nations has a Welsh team won on French soil, a 27-13 triumph in Clermont Auvergne, and they […]
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Henry Slade confident England have fixed defence after sloppy autumn
- Centre says there will be less emphasis on blitz
- ‘We know what we’re doing. That’s a step forward’
Henry Slade believes England have taken significant strides to fix their defensive frailties on the basis that “we know what we’re doing”, with the players adopting a more hands-on approach following a disappointing autumn.
Slade is the first senior player to admit England had difficulties getting up to speed during a “rushed” transition to the defensive system employed by Joe El-Abd, who was parachuted into the setup for the November international series after the shock resignation of Felix Jones.
Continue reading...Six Nations team news: Penaud blow for France as Ntamack and Dupont return
- Bordeaux wing to miss Friday’s opener against Wales
- Former England prop Henry Thomas makes first start
France’s Romain Ntamack is set to line up at fly-half for the first time in almost 18 months but the Six Nations favourites will be without the wing Damian Penaud for Friday night’s opener against Wales, adding to a list of key players unavailable for the curtain-raiser at the Stade de France.
Ntamack missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury and his planned comeback last November was curtailed by a calf injury, but he will reprise his highly regarded combination with the returning captain, Antoine Dupont. Penaud had been expected to return to the team but suffered a toe injury in training and Théo Attissogbé will line up on the wing instead.
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