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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales international blasts Louis Rees-Zammit treatment and poses telling question
Wales international blasts Louis Rees-Zammit treatment and poses telling question Louis Rees-Zammit is forging a path in the NFL now Louis Rees-Zammit appeared on the Stock to Rugby podcast (Image: Stick to Rugby/YouTube ) Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin has criticised the treatment of Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit during the early days of his career. Former Wales wing Rees-Zammit was told he would never play for Wales by former Cardiff defence coach Richard Hodges when he was in the club's academy. The rest is history, with Rees-Zammit moving to England where he took the Gallagher Premiership by storm with Gloucester before winning 32 caps for Wales and touring South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in 2021. Rees-Zammit sensationally quit rugby union for a shot at the NFL early last year but things could have been very different for the 24-year-old. Baldwin, who is now head coach of Super Rygbi Cymru club Bridgend, took to Instagram to criticise Cardiff's approach to Rees-Zammit in those formative years. "Happens too much, another example is Leigh Halfpenny," said Baldwin. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "No coach at any age has the right to try and kill someone's dream! Article continues below "Imagine Louis Rees-Zammit and Pence (Halfpenny) had listened to those coaches! "I also got told by a coach while at Ospreys a similar thing, luckily he left before he could get rid of me." Rees-Zammit reposted Baldwin's post on his own Instagram reel. Former Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Halfpenny was not offered a contract by the Ospreys at a young age but luckily got picked up by Cardiff. If Rees-Zammit had listened to Hodges' opinion a successful career would have been flushed down the toilet before it had even began. The Jacksonville Jaguars star appeared as a guest of the latest episode of The Overlap's Stick To Rugby podcast, where he spoke about the period prior to him receiving his first international cap. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Rees-Zammit was asked about how he signed for Gloucester's academy from Cardiff Blues (as they were known at the time, now Cardiff Rugby). The winger explained that having gone through the system at Cardiff Schools and Cardiff Blues under-16s, he came to the realisation he wanted to attend Hartpury College in Gloucester. However, the former Wales star claimed that Cardiff Blues gave him a stark ultimatum: "If you go across the bridge, you're not allowed to play for Cardiff." "I ended up just making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues," explained Rees-Zammit. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I went over to Hartpury College, and then within two weeks I had a trial at Gloucester, their academy. "Before that, when they ended up making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues and go to Hartpury, it was a tough decision, because there is one person that told me that I would never play for Wales." "That one person who told you that you would never play for Wales, have you seen them recently? Do you want to name and shame him now or not?" asked England legend Lawrence Dallaglio. Article continues below "It's Richard Hodges," answered Rees-Zammit. "He was obviously the Cardiff Blues head of academy at the time." "100% they were trying to scare me," he added. "They said it to me and my dad. I went to watch a Cardiff Blues game as a fan and he said that to me and my dad after. It kind of actually just put me off it, (I thought) I'm definitely going over there now now."
Wales Online
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Louis Rees-Zammit reveals shock England rugby approach after getting Wales ultimatum
Louis Rees-Zammit reveals shock England rugby approach after getting Wales ultimatum Former Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit has looked back at the formative years of his rugby career The former Wales rugby winger was approached by England before Wales. (Image: Stick To Rugby - YouTube ) Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed he was told he would never play for Wales and was approached by Eddie Jones to play for England. The Jacksonville Jaguars star appeared as a guest of the latest episode of The Overlap's Stick To Rugby podcast, where he spoke about the period prior to him receiving his first international cap. Rees-Zammit is going into his second season of American football, and has been in the UK doing work for Jaguars in London ahead of their return there next season. He also took the opportunity to chat with Tom Shanklin, Katy Daly-McLean and Lawrence Dallaglio about his journey so far. Rees-Zammit was asked about how he signed for Gloucester's academy from Cardiff Blues (as they were known at the time, now Cardiff Rugby). The winger explained that having gone through the system at Cardiff Schools and Cardiff Blues under-16s, he came to the realisation he wanted to attend Hartpury College in Gloucester. However, the former Wales star claimed that Cardiff Blues gave him a stark ultimatum: "If you go across the bridge, you're not allowed to play for Cardiff." "I ended up just making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues," explained Rees-Zammit on Stick to Rugby. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I went over to Hartpury College, and then within two weeks I had a trial at Gloucester, their academy. Article continues below "Before that, when they ended up making the decision to leave Cardiff Blues and go to Hartpury, it was a tough decision, because there is one person that told me that I would never play for Wales. "But I sat down with my family and told them I want to go to Hartpury because of how well known it is for producing great players and a good education as well. "I went to do A-levels there, and after a day I knew all the rugby players had done a BTEC, so instantly I switched to do a BTEC, which is quite funny, because all of my classes were with all the rugby boys, so you can imagine what the rooms were like. The studying in the library was not really there, we were just fully focused on our rugby at that point. Two weeks in, I joined Gloucester, did the academy." "That one person who told you that you would never play for Wales, have you seen them recently? Do you want to name and shame him now or not?" joked Dallaglio. "It's Richard Hodges," answered Rees-Zammit. "He was obviously the Cardiff Blues head of academy at the time." "You could do the Pretty Woman: *huge mistake*!" joked Dallaglio. "I suppose the theory behind it is that they really wanted you to stay and they were probably trying to scare you a little bit," clarified Shanklin. "100% they were trying to scare me," answered Rees-Zammit. "They said it to me and my dad. I went to watch a Cardiff Blues game as a fan and he said that to me and my dad after. It kind of actually just put me off it, (I thought) I'm definitely going over there now now." "Everyone wants you to be a rugby player but they shouldn't take away your education at the same time," explained Dallaglio. "Especially in rugby clubs, and they're no different in England as well, by the way. They want you to spend more time around the first team if you're talented, like you are, and you're young. So they say: 'Don't worry, we'll support your education', but they're not really thinking like that to be honest with you. What they should say is: 'Carry on getting your degree, finish it, and when you're ready, we'll have you'." Also on the show, Rees-Zammit revealed that it was actually former England boss Eddie Jones who first enquired about his international eligibility, following a string of impressive performances for Gloucester in the English Premiership. "Actually, Eddie Jones rang me first to play for England," revealed Rees-Zammit. "I think Wales found out about that and within a day I had (Wayne) Pivac call me." "Was this in the Six Nations?" asked Shanklin. "Yes," confirmed Rees-Zammit. "It was more that I wasn't actually English-qualified, but Eddie Jones was asking if I was and if I wanted to be involved, because I actually did an England camp when I was younger." "How long have you been at Gloucester at that point?" asked Dallaglio. "Two years," answered Rees-Zammit. "So it was only one more year and you would have been English-qualified?" asked Dallaglio. "Yes, it was," responded the Welshman. Rees-Zammit also went on to explain that he did a full Wales campaign without playing a single minute. During the 2020 Six Nations, which the pandemic impacted, he was with the squad for the entirety of the tournament, but was not selected by Pivac. "I never got picked, I never got capped," he added. "I would have still been 18 so I would've been one of the youngest players and it didn't turn out to happen. But then in the autumn internationals, played France away and that was my debut for Wales." Article continues below If you would like to watch the full episode of Stick To Rugby, click here.
South Wales Argus
17-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Danny Wilson relishing chance to help Wales end losing run
Wilson has joined the Wales coaching staff for the upcoming two-Test tour of Japan, with Cardiff boss Sherratt resuming interim head coach duty. Sherratt, who filled in for the final three Six Nations games after Warren Gatland left in February, worked as Wilson's assistant at the Cardiff Blues in 2016-17 but those roles have now been reversed. 'I left Wales and my role at Cardiff in 2018 and I have some really happy memories,' said Wilson, who was Dragons forwards coach between 2010 and 2012 and also had a spell in charge of the national Under-20s side. 'I first worked with Matt at Bristol and then having seen how good he was, I was desperate to bring him to Cardiff. 'We had a pretty good time together and then went our separate ways into different projects after a pleasing end by winning a bit of silverware with Cardiff (2018 European Challenge Cup). 'We work well together and dovetail a fair amount, but we are responsible for different areas. 'I'm very respectful of who is in the head coaching role. He was very supportive of me in our period together at Cardiff, and likewise me now.' Wilson left Wales to forge his career in Scotland, working as forwards coach for the national team between 2018 and 2020. He then spent two years at Glasgow Warriors before moving on to Harlequins in 2023, a role he will resume 'when I get off a flight from Japan'. Wilson knows plenty about the challenges facing Wales in Japan after being part of the Scotland set-up at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Scotland were eliminated at the group stage after suffering a shock 28-21 defeat to Japan in Yokohama. 'There are big challenges around the humidity and cultural differences,' said Wilson. 'We did a huge amount of work on the humidity side of things and that is already being done. 'Greasy balls is an obvious challenge. I remember going out there and in the first few training sessions there were a lot of balls on the floor. 'There is a very passionate and hungry group of players here. In the short time I've got to know them I've found them to be a very responsive group to coaching.' Wales suffered a 17th straight Test defeat – a record for a Tier One nation – when hammered 68-14 at home by England in March. They play Eddie Jones' Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5, with the second Test in Kobe a week later.
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Munster will need some magic to stave off the Blues on Cardiff night of reckoning
Despite several notable injury absentees, Reds can rise to occasion against in-form rivals Spare a thought for Adam Reeves. The Welsh magician was this week unveiled as one of more than 100 creditors owed money by Cardiff Blues who were plunged into administration.
BBC News
01-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leinster beat Cardiff to continue winning sequence
United Rugby ChampionshipLeinster (14) 42Tries: McKee, Boyle, Deegan, McGrath, Tector, Russell Cons: Byrne 6 Cardiff Blues (12) 24Tries: Millard 2, Young, Bevan Cons: Sheedy, de Beer Leinster continued their record of winning all of their matches so far this season by scoring six tries in a bonus-point 42-24 victory over Cardiff in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at the Aviva Irish province have won all 12 of their URC games to top the table, having also come out on top in the four Investec Champions Cup fixtures they have from John McKee and Jack Boyle helped Leinster to a 14-12 lead at the break, Henry Millard and Thomas Young crossing for Cardiff in the first Deegan, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector and Rob Russell touched down for the home side after the interval while Millard's second try and a score from Ellis Bevan ensured that the Welsh side left Dublin with a consolation point for scoring four lost to Connacht in their previous outing, Cardiff remain in mid-table as they remain in contention for the top eight spot which would secure a place in the end-of-season play-offs. Try-fest in Dublin It was 15 minutes in when hooker McKee got the scoreboard rolling by barging over from a driving maul but Cardiff responded within two minutes with their opening ball went through the hands quickly as they launched an attack, culminating in wing Mallard racing down the line and going over in the of their Ireland internationals, the hosts uncharacteristically made a number of errors while an efficient Cardiff display in the first 40 was rewarded with their second score, flanker Young driving his way over after his side went through the phases and executed a number of effective 'pick and go' Sheedy's conversion gave the Welsh side a five-point advantage but Leinster were to have the final say in the first half when loose-head prop Boyle went over in the corner after some enterprising build-up additional two points from the tee made it 14-12 at the interval and the fly-half would go on to convert each of his side's Alex Mann was sent to the sin bin for infringing within a couple of minutes of the restart and Leo Cullen's side took advantage of their superior numbers as Deegan crashed over.A maul from a line-out set up the home side's fourth try, skipper McGrath breaching Cardiff's defences and darting over from close minutes later Tector carved his way through the visiting rearguard to dot down try number five for Leinster as his side assumed fought back however with Millard collecting the ball and crossing for his second touchdown of the game and Bevan showed searing pace for his try to further reduce the Russell dived over the line in the corner in the closing stages to complete a convincing success. Line-ups Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny, Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Max Stephen Smyth, Ivan Soroka, Rory McGuire, RG Snyman, Scott Penny, Oliver Coffey, Liam Turner, Rob Cameron Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Harri Millard; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Dany Southworth, Liam Belcher, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, Ben Donnell, Thomas Young, Alun Efan Daniel, Rhys Barratt, Will Davies-King, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Regan Andrea Piardi (FIR)
