Latest news with #GethinJenkins
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Thomas aims to learn from Wales prop legends
Prop Gareth Thomas says he is benefitting from working with front-row greats Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins before Wales' upcoming Test series in flew to Japan on Wednesday as they aim to register their first victory since the 2023 World Cup and end a run of 17 successive Test boss Matt Sherratt has brought Jenkins on board as defence coach, with the 129-times capped loose-head recognised as one of Wales' greatest return means being reunited with his old Wales and British and Irish Lions sparring partner, as former tight-head prop Adam Jones is in charge of the scrum. "We had 'Bomb' [Jones] in the Six Nations and he's been class for us," said Thomas."He's awesome for the front rowers, he's bringing scrum time and is just a great bloke to have around as well."Gethin is one of the best loose-heads who's played for Wales, so it's great for the boys to work with him and use his mindset stuff."We're looking forward to getting some good defensive stuff going in Japan and the opportunity to try and turn the corner." 'Desperate to win' Wales meet Eddie Jones' Japan in a two-match series, with the first Test in Kitakyushu on 5 July and the second in Kobe on 12 is one of the most experienced players in the squad and sees similarities with the 2022 tour of South Africa as Wales bid to end their awful run of lost that series 2-1 against the world champions, but won the second Test – their first ever victory on South African soil – having been beaten narrowly by three points in the opening match."The last summer tour we had with this kind of block was South Africa, four or five weeks together before we went," said Thomas."We don't have that opportunity in the autumn and Six Nations to have this time together. So this time has been really good for us."Ospreys prop Thomas hopes Wales will gain their first international victory since October 2023."We're all desperate to get that win now and turn the corner," said Thomas."I think there is a talented group here and boys who have been in it for a while and on this losing streak, it does get to you. "We need it, we are desperate for it. "The work we've put in the last five weeks, there's a lot of effort gone into it, and hopefully it shows in Japan that we can turn the corner." Dealing with heat and humility Much has been made of the conditions awaiting Wales, with extreme heat and humidity expected for two mid-afternoon preparation has included gruelling heat chamber sessions at their training base in the Vale of Glamorgan."You go to the well, but I love it – the whole squad in there," said Thomas."The most I have lost is three kilos of fluid and we have to make sure we replace that, because otherwise we would be dehydrated and struggling."It's good to see how hard the boys are working because it's going to be tough out there."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Jenkins 'had to think about' Wales coaching return
Gethin Jenkins says he took time to think before agreeing to take on the Wales defence coach role for a second had a full-time position in Wayne Pivac's coaching team between 2020 and he returns to the Test stage in a temporary capacity as part of the backroom staff of his Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt that travel to face Japan in a two-Test series in and Jenkins will adopt caretaker roles before returning to Cardiff as the search for the new permanent head coach continues."It was something I had to think about," said Jenkins."Matt asked me in Cardiff when we were walking for a coffee between sessions. "The people that were doing it was probably the main attraction, with him leading it." Pivac was replaced by Warren Gatland in December 2022, with Jenkins and attack coach Stephen Jones also departing and Mike Forshaw and Alex King coming and Jones were told of the decision a few days after Christmas by then Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Steve Phillips and performance director Nigel left his role in February 2025 while Phillips and Walker no longer work for Welsh rugby's governing body. Jenkins says he is looking forward to his short-term return."It's hard to turn down that opportunity," said Jenkins."It is five or six weeks where you put everything into it that you can, then go back to Cardiff and then it's business as usual."The only thing I'm giving up is my time off in the summer, but you're always thinking rugby anyway and I'm looking forward to it." Learning lessons Jenkins was appointed Cardiff defence coach in August 2023, marking his return to the club where he played for 13 former Wales prop says he has learned a lot in the time between his two international coaching spells as a result of working at Cardiff "under Matt and other coaches there"."Working week-in, week-out at club or region gives you more of a grounding," Jenkins said."Going straight into it at national level is tough. It was enjoyable because of the buzz of coaching your country, the pressure of international games - there is no bigger feeling. "I'm taking things on board all the time in how I progress myself as a coach. I'm seven years into my coaching career, which is still not a lot, so like to think I'm learning all the time."Wales are on a record 17-match international losing streak which has seen them slip to 12th in the world rankings, just one place above Japan."The message from the players is how much they want to win," said Jenkins."You can't hide from the stats but they want to put an end to that. "We're focusing on can we get them better and turn that into a performance that gives us a chance of winning the game?" Friends reunited Jenkins will link up with some familiar faces in the Wales coaching team having been a team-mate of Rhys Thomas, Leigh Halfpenny and Adam Jones. "I coached with Rhys Thomas for a while at Cardiff and know him well and I played with Adam and Leigh also," said Jenkins."I haven't coached with them but there's a few familiar faces in the coaching group. "I've worked with Danny [Wilson] as a player, but not as a coach, so it's good to know how he works on the other side of things."Jenkins has taken on the role Forshaw has adopted in the past two-and-a-half years. "I'm not starting from scratch, it's just about what tweaks I can make with the players," said Jenkins."The other thing is when they come back into Wales camp, they have been at four or five different clubs. Sometimes it is a reset anyway. "It's about getting them comfortable with the way I want them to defend. It's not easy for some of them because they might be used to defending in a different way. "When I worked it out, there were only six players I hadn't worked with before. Most of them know me, how I coach and what I want from them." Respect for Japan Japan coach Eddie Jones has warned Wales his side will aim to run the tourists off their feet in what will be stifling conditions."Watching Japan, that's the way they have played for a long time," said Jenkins. "They try to get quick ball and as fast rucks as possible. Their stats in that area are high, so we are aware of what's coming."It's my job to put things in place so we can slow up their ball and impose our defence."Jenkins was part of a Wales side who beat Japan 98-0 in 2004 - but says times have changed."Back then we would always play against Japan or Romania in the autumn and, no offence, you knew we'd score a lot of points," said Jenkins."Those days are long gone. Japan have shown in the last 10, 15 years they can compete with any team on their day. "We are well aware of that and at home how much pride they will have in trying to beat us."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wales to add Halfpenny to coaching staff for Japan series
Wales will confirm former full-back Leigh Halfpenny will be added to the coaching team for next month's trip to will work under interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the two Test tour as kicking coach, a role that has been occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 will also be joined in his backroom staff by his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum), and Gloucester's Rhys coaches who were part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will not be involved in would be involved for the first time as the kicking coach and is expected to be involved full time from next 36-year-old former British and Irish Lion has left Harlequins and is expected to continue playing by joining French second division side Beziers next who has been an important mentor for Halfpenny during his career with the pair remaining close, is currently helping Wales Under-20s before the Junior World Championship starts later this month. Sherratt will again act in the caretaker role he adopted during the Six Nations after Gatland resigned in Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) performance director Dave Reddin is leading the hunt for Gatland's permanent Japan, Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses, having not won an international since October 2023 in a run that includes two successive Six Nations Wooden will play the Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to slip from their lowest ever position of 12th in the world first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July in the city where Wales held their Rugby World Cup training camp in second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days later.
North Wales Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Matt Sherratt to resume Wales interim head coach role for Japan tour in July
Cardiff boss Sherratt took charge for Wales' final three Six Nations games this season after Warren Gatland left following defeat against Italy in Rome. Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 home loss to England and have suffered 17-successive Test defeats that started with a 2023 World Cup quarter-final reversal against Argentina. 🚨 🏴 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 🇯🇵 Matt Sherratt will resume the head coach role on an interim basis. Joining Sherratt in the coaching team this summer are Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, T. Rhys Thomas & Danny Wilson 🤝 ➡️ — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 20, 2025 Sherratt, though, will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, who were part of Gatland's coaching staff throughout his second spell in charge, will not be involved this summer. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson and the Premiership club's scrum specialist Adam Jones will join Sherratt on the tour, in addition to Gloucester's TR Thomas and former Wales prop Gethin Jenkins. Jones and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations and – together with interim forwards coach Wilson – are on secondment from their Premiership clubs. Defence coach Jenkins, meanwhile, is on secondment from Cardiff. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men's side on an interim basis for the Japan tour. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. 'It was a tough campaign, but we know we are in safe hands while we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Sherratt added: 'I am delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer. It is an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July. 'We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign.' Sherratt has named a 33-strong squad for the Japan tour, with Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake chosen as captain. There are six uncapped players in Keelan Giles, Macs Page, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman and Garyn Phillips. Fly-half Sam Costelow, prop Archie Griffin and lock Bem Carter all return after missing the Six Nations through injury. But Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery and misses out, along with Scarlets prop Henry Thomas, who the WRU say will seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are rested. Notable absentees from the squad includes Gloucester backs Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff flanker James Botham. Squad: Backs – J Adams (Cardiff), S Costelow (Scarlets), D Edwards (Ospreys), K Giles (Ospreys), K Hardy (Ospreys), R Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), B Murray (Scarlets), M Page (Scarlets), J Roberts (Scarlets), T Rogers (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), J Williams (Scarlets), R Williams (Dragons), C Winnett (Cardiff). Forwards – K Assiratti (Cardiff), L Belcher (Cardiff), B Carter (Dragons), C Coleman (Dragons), E Dee (Dragons), T Faletau (Cardiff), A Griffin (Bath), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), J MacLeod (Scarlets), A Mann (Cardiff), G Phillips (Ospreys), T Plumtree (Scarlets), J Ratti (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), N Smith (Leicester), G Thomas (Ospreys), F Thomas (Gloucester), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Williams (Cardiff).
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Acting Wales rugby coach Matt Sherratt stays on for Japan tour
Matt Sherratt Photo: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency Coach Matt Sherratt will continue in charge of Wales and take them on tour to Japan in July as he named a squad with 16 changes from their disastrous 2025 Six Nations campaign that extended the team's losing streak to a record 17 matches. Sherratt was acting coach for the last three games of this year's Six Nations as Wales sought a replacement for Warren Gatland, who departed in February amid a record-breaking run of losses. Sherratt will have as his assistants for the Japan trip his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, the Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum), and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas. Former Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny will be involved for the first time as the kicking coach. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer," said Sherratt in a statement on Tuesday. "It's an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July. We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign." WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said they were grateful to Sherratt for staying on. He had previously said he did not want the job on a full-time basis. "The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed," said Tierney. Despite having only flanker Jac Morgan and scrumhalf Tomos Williams absent as they tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions, Sherratt has made wholesale changes, and included six uncapped players in the squad for the games against Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman, Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Macs Page will all hope to earn a first cap, with Dewi Lake to captain the side. Fit-again flyhalf Sam Costelow and fullback Cameron Winnett are back in the mix, but James Botham, Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Mee, Nick Tompkins and Max Llewellyn all miss out. Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Liam Belcher, Ben Carter, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Josh Macleod, Alex Mann, Garyn Phillips, Taine Plumtree, James Ratti, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams. Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Rhodri Williams, Cameron Winnett. - Reuters
