Rugby Union News
Scarlets wing Tom Rogers and Cardiff Rugby wing Josh Adams have been released from the Wales senior men’s squad. Rogers sustained a fractured thumb against Scotland at the weekend that requires surgery, while Adams is released due to a hamstring injury in training that requires a period of rehabilitation that will be undertaken at his […]
The post Wales senior men’s squad update appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Listen to Fin Smith wax lyrical about the Wales head coach Matt Sherratt, the influence he had during their days together at Worcester and the debt of gratitude he feels is obvious. Accordingly, Smith sent Sherratt a message of congratulations when he was handed the Welsh reins on a temporary basis after Warren Gatland’s departure. “I texted him saying all the best,” said Smith, “and he said: ‘Eff off, I’ll see you in a few weeks.’”
Sherratt’s reply was entirely in jest – “it was nice to know he’s not changed since he got the big job” – and Smith is only too aware of the threat Wales pose to England’s outside chance of clinching the Six Nations title in Cardiff on Saturday. Defeat by Scotland was a 16th in a row but Sherratt has Wales playing a far more eye-catching brand of rugby. In what is due to be his final match in charge they would love nothing more than to end their miserable losing run against England.
Continue reading...
Dewi Lake wants Wales to give interim head coach Matt Sherratt the perfect send-off with a win over England at a passion-packed Principality Stadium on Saturday. “Matt has been excellent and it would be great to send him out on a high note for the work that he’s put in over the past four weeks, […]
The post Lake looking for perfect send-off appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Brython Thunder clinched an impressive third win of the campaign against Glasgow Warriors in Round 10 of the Celtic Challenge at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon. The young Welsh side crossed for six tries with wing Eleanor Hing, centre Hannah Bluck, Hannah Lane, who grabbed a brace of tries, centre Gabby Healan and lock […]
The post Brython Thunder finish with flourish appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
After three years of post-Covid meandering and New Zealand domination, Super Rugby has sprung back into life in 2025 with signs that the southern hemisphere provincial championship is once again a genuine competition.
After a torrent of tries and entertaining but close games over the first three rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, round four marked a real sea-change with three of the four New Zealand teams in action beaten.
Continue reading...Antoine Dupont, France’s talismanic captain and the player widely considered to be the best on the planet, has said that he ruptured cruciate ligaments in his right knee during his team’s win against Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday.
“The heart hurts even more than the knee when you have to leave your friends before the last step,” Dupont posted on Sunday on Instagram. “I am proud of what we accomplished yesterday and with all my strength with you, you will do it. Rupture of the cruciate ligaments. This is the beginning of a new challenge, I’ll see you in a few months on the field.”
Continue reading...Ollie Sleightholme scored twice as England got a bonus-point victory to boost their slim hopes of snatching the Six Nations title
They’ve gone 60 metres in a flash! After Varney was isolated and spilled in contact, England were up the field in no time. First Daly with a strong counter down the left. Then Freeman down the right wing after another break. Then it was about continuity and Willis steamed onto a short pass. He was short of the line but reached out a meaty arm to dot down. Smith with the extras and England are up and running.
2 min: England go short with the kick-off but Italy are wise to it. A bit of kick tennis ends with an English line-out back in their own half. A decent strike off the back of it makes yards with Lawrence busting over the gainline, but the Italians swarm and win a penalty on the ground. They’ll have the line-out in English territory.
Continue reading...
Matt Sherratt hailed Wales ‘brave effort’ in picking up two points from their 35-29 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield. His side were trailing by 27 points seven minutes into the second half having conceded five tries, but they hit back to outscore their hosts three tries to one in the final 40, notching a bonus-point […]
The post Sherrat hails Wales’ ‘brave effort’ appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
After unconvincing back-to back victories Steve Borthwick’s side need to find a cutting edge against Italy
The England squad went to cookery school during their training camp in York this week. They were given all the ingredients to make a steak dinner and let loose in the kitchen. Some followed the recipe to the letter, others made things up as they went along and it is not too much of a stretch to imagine Marcus Smith finding time to whip up a quick souffle in front of a disapproving Steve Borthwick.
As metaphors for England’s attack go you could do a lot worse. England have all the ingredients but are yet to produce a signature dish in this Six Nations. Borthwick repeats ad nauseam he wants his players to move the ball, to be brave with it, to showcase their attacking qualities but against Scotland they kicked away 69% of their possession. Against France they clung on by their fingernails. Performances have been at odds with their pre-match promises.
Continue reading...
Gwalia Lightning ended their campaign with a 33-55 defeat to Irish powerhouse, Clovers, in Round 10 of the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach this afternoon. The Lightning did cross for some impressive tries with Welsh Test stars Gwenna Hopkins, Caitlin Lewis, Kelsie Webster, lock Alaw Pyrs and impressive young centres Kelsie Webster and Freya Bell […]
The post Gwalia Lightning finish third in Celtic Challenge appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
A victory at Murrayfield still left questions about Scotland’s performance
8 mins. It’s the turn of Wales to have some phases, mostly around halfway with the ball finding its way through the hands of most of the team. It doesn’t make much ground and eventually Schoeman clamps on in the ruck to win a penalty.
Joe Roberts has replaced Tom Rogers who is injured early.
Continue reading...France turned on the power in the second half to score a dominant victory over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium
As much as we’d love to keep expanding The Clincher universe, the teams are about to head out.
Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray are first out of the tunnel to mark their final home appearances. As you can imagine, there’s a warm and rapturous applause.
Continue reading...
There will be a new team at the top of the Super Rygbi Cymru table later today after Llandovery and Cardiff clash at Church Bank. With current leaders Ebbw Vale not playing this weekend, it means the winners will take over at the top as the race for a top two finish, and a home […]
The post Llandovery and Cardiff battle for top spot in SRC appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales U20 captain Harry Beddall gave his team one message in the post-match huddle at the end of their disappointing 27-12 defeat to Scotland -“stay tight and let’s rip into England next week.” Two red cards in one game was an unenviable record for Beddall’s side to take away from Edinburgh as they failed to […]
The post Beddall laments lack of discipline appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Saturday’s showdown in Dublin promises a ‘go hard or go home’ treat that could even surpass 2023’s classic
Not every anticipated Six Nations classic lives up to its pre‑match billing. Look no further for a prime example than last year’s opening Six Nations night in Marseille, when France launched their campaign against Ireland with all the speed and dynamism of an elderly escargot. They were also reduced to 14 players after half an hour and the visitors strolled to a comfortable 38-17 win.
But this time? Politely decline all shopping trips, walk the poodle early and make sure there’s enough Guinness in the fridge. Because some games are unmissable and this is a defining contest for both teams. Can Ireland, with successive titles already in the backpack, stay on track for an unprecedented three-peat? Or is now the time for Fabien Galthié’s France to embrace their supposed destiny?
Continue reading...