Steff Evans set for return in SRC after lengthy Achilles injury

Scarlets and Wales wing Steff Evans is set to take his first steps back into rugby after a lengthy Achilles heel injury when he turns out for Llandovery in their Super Rygbi Cymru clash with Pontypool at Church Bank. The former Wales wing suffered his injury against Benetton Treviso last March and has been forced […]

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Whiffin wants more of the same from his Wales U20 side

Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin is expecting an even tougher test for his team against the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank than they received at the Arms Park last week. For the second Friday night in a row the U20 team will face a heaver, older and more powerful side than themselves […]

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Judgement Day returns to Principality Stadium for 10th anniversary

This April, Welsh rugby fans will come together at Principality Stadium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Judgement Day – JDX 2025. The iconic double-header event, the longest running professional club event in Wales which showcases the best of Welsh professional club rugby returns to Principality Stadium as the Ospreys face Cardiff and the Dragons […]

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Thunder seek improvement against table topping Wolfhounds

Brython Thunder have named their team for Round 5 of the Celtic Challenge when they travel to face Wolfhounds at the UCD, Dublin on Saturday, 18th January, (KO:1.30pm). The Welsh side travel to Ireland to face the reigning Celtic Challenge champions and the top of the table Wolfhounds, looking for a first win of this […]

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Thomas and Young set for big hooking duel at Church Bank

Harry Thomas and Isaac Young are teammates in the Scarlets Academy but they will be bitter rivals when Wales U20 takes on the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank on Friday 17 January (7.30pm kick-off). Thomas has been handed the honour of captaining the Wales U20 side after being drafted in for round two […]

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Crunch time for Wales sides in EPCR Challenge Cup

It’s crunch time for the four Welsh pro clubs in Europe as they seek to secure tickets into the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup. The Ospreys, quarter finalists last season, have already qualified for the knockout phase, but could certainly do with picking up a third win when they visit Pau this […]

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Whiffin rings the changes for final Wales U20 warm-up

Richard Whiffin has made 10 changes to his Wales U20 starting line-up for their second clash with the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground on Friday 17 January (kick-off 7.30pm). Bristol Bears wing Aidan Boshoff, Bath prop Ioan Emanuel, Bristol Bears lock Kenzie Jenkins, Bath back five man Arthur Moore (Bath) and Dragons […]

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Belinda Moore joins WRU as Head of Women’s Rugby

Belinda Moore has been appointed as the Welsh Rugby Union’s new Head of Women’s rugby. Moore, who was CEO at England’s flagship professional women’s competition, Premiership Women’s Rugby, until November last year is a highly experienced and senior figure in the game. A former senior BBC producer her skillset is also derived from further senior […]

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Player receives three-year ban for anti-doping rule violations

Rugby union player Rynard Landman has been banned from all sport for three years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a prohibited substance. On 8 August 2024, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected a urine Sample from Mr Landman, Out-of-Competition, at a Newport RFC training session. Analysis of Mr Landman’s urine Sample […]

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Gatland: ‘We need to show an improvement in performance’

Wales men’s head coach Warren Gatland is looking no further that the first two games of the Guinness Six Nations after naming his 34-player squad for the championship. France host Wales in the opening game of the 2025 championship at Stade de France on Friday 31st January before Wales head to Rome where they will […]

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Cardiff and Ospreys off to flying start in U18 Academies Championship

Wales U18 head coach Richie Pugh got a double dose of U18 Academies Championship rugby at the weekend as he took in both first round matches in Cardiff and Ystrad Mynach. The staggered kick-off times allowed Pugh to run his eye over four of the five teams in the tournament that builds on the WSC […]

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The Breakdown | Warren Gatland bids for one last miracle before 150th game with Wales

The coach whose enduring belief that the next match is always winnable is not ready to abandon all hope just yet

The lyrics of that old Kenny Rogers favourite The Gambler sprang to mind as Warren Gatland sat down in Wales’s team hotel this week to explain his desire to stay on as head coach. “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away …” Approaching his 18th Six Nations campaign – he has been involved in 13 previous ones with Wales and four with Ireland – Gatland is clearly not ready to abandon all hope just yet.

There is a fair amount of professional pride involved too. Plus the enduring stubbornness of a competitor who, unlike Tyson Fury, still feels he has some unfinished business. While Wales may have lost 12 consecutive games, the key to Gatland’s coaching longevity remains his enduring belief that the next game is always winnable. Even if it involves a pumped-up France in Paris on the opening night of the 2025 Six Nations. “If we can go out there, play well and get a little bit of luck …”

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Warren Gatland still up for Wales test as Mee and Edwards receive Six Nations call-ups

  • Anscombe and Dyer missing from 34-man squad
  • Gatland: ‘I’ve thrived when people have written us off’

Warren Gatland, the Six Nations’ longest-serving head coach, insists he is still up for the challenge of reviving Welsh rugby fortunes after naming two uncapped players, the Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and the Scarlets wing Ellis Mee, in a reshuffled 34‑man squad for the 2025 tournament which commences on 31 January.

Gatland has also dropped Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer, Cameron ­Winnett and Taine Plumtree, among others, in a bid to rediscover a winning blend after a grim 12 months during which Wales extended their losing run to 12 consecutive Tests and collected their first Six Nations wooden spoon for 21 years.

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