Category: Wales Rugby

• Tandy names winger in squad after 21-month absence

• Rhys Carré also included after he requalifies for selection

Louis Rees-Zammit is in line for an international rugby comeback for Wales next month 21 months after abandoning the sport to try his luck in American football. Rees-Zammit, now 24, is among 39 players named in the first squad to be picked by the new national head coach, Steve Tandy.

The British and Irish Lions winger, who won the most recent of his 32 caps at the 2023 World Cup, made the switch to American football in January 2024 but ended up not featuring in a competitive NFL game. He returned to union in August when he joined the English Prem side Bristol.

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The former Wales and Pontypool scrum-half has written an autobiography on a life blighted by violence and reflects on the punch that ended his international career

Imagine, for a moment, the following scenario. Having broken his neck in a freak rugby accident and avoided paralysis by a millimetre, the player concerned is back for a meeting with his spinal consultant. The specialist advice is crystal clear. Make the most of your second chance and, if you fancy staying alive, never do either of the following again: dive off a high board or resume playing rugby.

And now just imagine being the kind of guy who leaves the room and immediately nips home to pick up his swimming trunks before heading to the nearest swimming pool. Who puts on the swimmers, climbs up to the highest platform and dives straight off. Not once but twice. The rationale being that, if he survives, there will be no reason not to give rugby another go.

This is an extract taken from our weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To sign up, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

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• Welsh union’s plan could see two teams cease to exist

• Abi Tierney: ‘Change is hard and this is hard for fans’

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has recognised the “hurt and anger” caused by its proposal to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo would be a mistake.

Welsh rugby’s governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the game at club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and its chief executive, Abi Tierney, has urged people to “improve on the proposals” and provide “something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby”.

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• Scotland coach tasked with reviving Welsh fortunes

• ‘Becoming head coach of my country is a massive honour’

Wales have appointed Steve Tandy as their new head coach. The 45-year-old Welshman will become the permanent successor to Warren Gatland on 1 September following almost six years as Scotland’s defence coach.

Tandy is tasked with reviving his country’s fortunes after their record 18-match losing run finally ended on 12 July with a 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe. His first match in charge will be on Sunday 9 November against Argentina in Cardiff, which will be followed by meetings with Japan, New Zealand and the world champions, South Africa, on the following three weekends.

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Hannah Jones has a simple message for her Wales team ahead of Round 2 of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations against England at Principality Stadium – “we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s go for it.” The Red Roses will make their debut at the home of Welsh rugby seeking to build on their 38-5 […]

The post Jones wants Wales to “go for it” against England appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

With less than six months to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, all four Home Unions – RFU, WRU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU – are continuing to work together to grow the women and girls’ game, thanks to the Impact ’25 programme and UK Sport. Backed by UK Sport funding, this international collaboration between the […]

The post Unions unite to strengthen women’s game appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Pontypool boosted their hopes of a top four finish in Super Rugby Cymru with a comprehensive 42-17 victory over Carmarthen Quins. Holding a narrow 18-17 lead at half time, having been outscored three tries to two in the first half, Pooler then ran in four tries, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second to down […]

The post Pontypool boost top four chances with big win over Quins in SRC appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Pontypool boosted their hopes of a top four finish in Super Rugby Cymru with a comprehensive 42-17 victory over Carmarthen Quins. Holding a narrow 18-17 lead at half time, having been outscored three tries to two in the first half, Pooler then ran in four tries, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second to down […]

The post Pontypool boost top four chances with bit win over Quins in SRC appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Two years ago, Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs were lining up for Wales U18 against their Scottish counterparts in the Six Nations U18 Festival. Today the talented teenagers will make their first starts for the senior Wales Women’s team in the Guinness Six Nations. Their dramatic rise through the ranks is testimony to their form […]

The post Amazing Maisie ready for next step up Welsh pathway ladder appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

The Welsh Rugby Union is excited to announce Dan Murphy, the Gloucester/Hartpury coach, has been drafted in as defence coach for the Wales Women’s Six Nations campaign. Murphy is part of new Wales head coach Sean Lynn’s title-winning coaching team at Gloucester/Hartpury in the PWR. He is the Gloucester/Hartpury scrum coach but his remit with […]

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Ebbw Vale’s long Wait for a cup final success continues after they were blown apart by Llandovery at Church Bank as the Drovers won the inaugural Super Rygbi Cymru Cup 39-7. Euro Evans’s side ran in fvie tries as they turned the screw in the second half to turn their slender 13-7 interval lead into […]

The post Drovers do it again to add SRC Cup to trophy cabinet appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Both the Wales U18 Women’s and Men’s teams came up with victories at the weekend as they warmed-up for the upcoming Six Nations Festivals. Siwan Lillicrap’s women’s side beat Italy 17-10 in Treviso while Richie Pugh’s men’s side were convincing 33-17 victors’ against Scotland in Newcastle. “We played three ‘halves’ of 25 minutes in what […]

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I write this open letter to all supporters of Welsh rugby, to express the shared disappointment we have all felt here at the Welsh Rugby Union. A result like the recent senior men’s against England in Cardiff affects the whole nation – because rugby matters more in Wales. On one level this is a huge […]

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