Latest news with #JapanTour
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales head to Japan seeking an end to painful run
Wales set off for Japan on Wednesday hoping the Two-test trip will see them end their painful run of international who are under the guidance of caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, will face Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu on Saturday, July 5, with the second Test in Kobe a week suffered a 17th straight Test defeat - a record for a tier one nation - when they were hammered 68-14 at home by England in miserable stretch has seen Wales sink to an all-time lowest position of 12th in the world rankings, with Japan one position below them. Wales will arrive in Japan on Thursday for nine days of preparation as they seek a first international win since October 2023, with Sherratt's side aiming to give the chaotic Welsh rugby scene a much-needed boost. Lake leads squad featuring six uncapped players There are six uncapped players in the travelling party, while hooker Dewi Lake has been given the leads the 33-man squad in the absence of flanker Jac Morgan, who is with the British and Irish Lions in Australia along with Gloucester scrum-half Tomos captain Liam Belcher, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Ospreys trio Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams and Scarlets back Macs Page are the fresh faces in second row Ben Carter, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow and Bath tight-head prop Archie Griffin return for Wales having missed the Six Nations due to injury, while Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett have been handed number eight and Wales centurion Taulupe Faletau will provide experience alongside the likes of Josh Adams, Nicky Smith, Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee, who are the four survivors from the squad which went to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Some notable absentees are Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas, Ellis Mee, Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Nick Tompkins, James Botham, Evan Lloyd and Morgan Morse, who are missing due to a combination of injuries, being rested and Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Elliot Dee, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Josh Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhodri Williams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Macs Page, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Keelan Giles, Cameron Winnett. Who are the coaches? Wales are still searching for a permanent successor to Warren Gatland, who left his role as head coach in February after a Six Nations defeat to coach Sherratt was asked to take charge for the final three games of that tournament and was then given the caretaker role for backroom staff will feature his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum) and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas (assistant forwards coach).Wilson and Jenkins are new additions just for this trip before they return to their clubs, while former full-back Leigh Halfpenny has taken what the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) describe as a skills coach will include responsibility for kicking with the senior squad, a role occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 coaches who were part of Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will - like Jenkins - not be involved in Japan. What about the opposition? Wales have won 13 of their 14 matches against Japan since they first met in solitary victory came in 2013, with a 23-8 win in Tokyo masterminded by Australian Jones, who is now back in charge of the Cherry return to Japan came in the wake of the 2023 World Cup, where he was in charge of an Australia side who were dumped out in the group disappointing display in that tournament included a 40-6 hammering by Gatland's Wales in have won four games and lost seven since Jones' re-appointment, and were beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England last have not played a game since November 2024 but face a Maori All Blacks side from New Zealand on Saturday, 28 June in named a 37-strong training squad that included university student Jingo Takenoshita as one of 16 uncapped players. There was just one player with more than 50 caps in the training camp, with 87-cap back-row Michael Leitch - a veteran of four World Cups with the Brave Blossoms – likely to be a familiar face to Welsh hopes the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe could give Japan an advantage over Wales, who have been preparing for the brutal conditions with intense fitness sessions in a heat chamber at their training base in the Vale and Glamorgan hotel. Wales v Japan head-to-head Non-capped TestsWales 62-14 Japan, Cardiff, 6 October 1973Japan 12-56 Wales, Osaka, 21 September 1975Japan 6-82 Wales, Tokyo, 24 September 1975Wales 29-24 Japan, Cardiff, 22 October TestsWales 55-5 Japan, Cardiff, 16 October 1993Wales 57-10 Japan, Bloemfontein, 27 May 1995 Wales 64-15 Japan, Cardiff, 9 October1999Japan 10-64 Wales, Osaka, 10 June 2001Japan 30-53 Wales, Tokyo, 17 June 2001Wales 98-0 Japan, Cardiff, 26 November 2004Wales 72-18 Japan, Cardiff, 20 September 2007Japan 18-22 Wales, Osaka, 8 June 2013Japan 23-8 Wales, Tokyo, 15 June 2013Wales 33-30 Japan, Cardiff, 19 November 2016.
France 24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Japan's Iwai wins Mexico crown for first LPGA title
The 22-year-old from Saitama fired a final-round six-under par 66 to finish 72 holes on 12-under 276 at Mayakoba resort. She matched the biggest LPGA victory margin this year in defeating runner-up Jenny Bae by six strokes with South Korea's Kang Hae-ji third on 283. "I'm so happy," Iwai said. "My mentality was so calm every time. It was just calm, good play." Iwai became the third LPGA winner of the season from Japan, after Rio Takeda won the Blue Bell in China in March and Mao Saigo took the Chevron Championship last month, and the 20th Japanese player overall to win an LPGA crown. Iwai, who won her eighth Japan Tour event in March, earned her LPGA Tour spot with a runner-up showing in last December's qualifying tournament and won as a rookie just five months later. Dominant early in the final round, Iwai opened with a birdie and reeled off four more in a row starting at the third hole. "Nervous in the morning, but I played the first hole and I was calmed down," Iwai said. She added birdies at the par-three 10th and par-five 13th to reach 13-under and stretch her lead to eight strokes. Bae, a 23-year-old American rookie who began the day with a one-stroke lead over Iwai, opened with back-to-back bogeys, went bogey-birdie at the par-five fifth and par-four sixth and closed the front nine with another bogey to tumble out of contention. Iwai made her first bogey of the weekend at the 14th hole and Bae made birdies at 13 and the par-three 15th but added a bogey at 17 as Iwai's lead only slid to seven strokes before Bae closed with a birdie. "I'm pretty happy with this week," Bae said. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too. "I definitely realized that I've gotten more patience. I think that's a really key thing out here, just being able to focus within all the stress and pressure. I think that was really good.
Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Wales pick experience for Japan tour in bid to end 17-game losing run
With Wales desperate for a win, any sort of win, after 17 consecutive defeats, the interim head coach Matt Sherratt has spurned any hint of development and selected what he considers his strongest possible squad for the two-Test tour to Japan in July. Yes, there are two players — only two — in Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams away with the British & Irish Lions and a number of others are either injured or unavailable. Dafydd Jenkins is having surgery, while Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Evans, Mason Grady and Max Llewellyn were not considered for various reasons, but Sherratt has gone for experience in his 33-man squad, with the likes of Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright, Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wales still without head coach as search for Warren Gatland successor rumbles on
Wales will tour Japan without a full-time head coach as Matt Sherratt reprises his interim role and bids to break a run of 17 consecutive Test losses. Sherratt has previously stressed that it would take 'something significant' for him to leave his post as head coach of Cardiff, but with Abi Tierney, the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, searching for a permanent replacement for Warren Gatland, he was asked to return. '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,' said Tierney. '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 will be assisted by the presence of Danny Wilson and Adam Jones, who have been seconded from Harlequins to complete a makeshift backroom team. 'We're proud to see Danny and Adam gain recognition at the international level, and the opportunity to develop within a national coaching team this summer,' said Laurie Dalrymple, the Harlequins chief executive. 'It's a reflection of the respect they both have as coaches within the game, and the dedication to their craft as they undertake the roles in what will be their off-season. While they are short-term secondments, it's a fantastic chance for them to grow professionally and bring back new experiences that will ultimately benefit our club. 'Danny and his coaching team have already carefully crafted our pre-season programme, and we're fully aligned with the Welsh Rugby Union on the path ahead. We look forward to welcoming them back at the start of pre-season, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running as we prepare for the new campaign.' Six uncapped players feature in Wales' 33-man squad, which will be without a pair of British and Irish Lions in Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams. Liam Belcher of Cardiff, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Macs Page of Scarlets and the Ospreys trio of Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams comprise the contingent of new faces. Besides the two Lions, other notable absentees include Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Henry Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Gareth Anscombe, Nick Tompkins, James Botham and Evan Lloyd. Beard and Rowlands are rested, with Jenkins and Thomas addressing injuries. The others have been overlooked. Elsewhere, there are recalls for Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett. 'I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,' said Sherratt, who will take on Eddie Jones' team in Kitakyushu on July 5 and in Kobe a week later. 'There's a good blend of experience and young talent selected and this group has a lot of potential. Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches. 'Over the next few weeks in camp, it's about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group.' While they have won 13 of their past 14 meetings with Japan, Wales signed off the Six Nations with a 68-14 loss to England at the Principality Stadium and are languishing in 12th on the World Rugby rankings ladder; just one place above their hosts for this summer and one place below Georgia. Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Elliot Dee, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Josh Macleod.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Matt Sherratt returns as interim coach as Wales confirm squad for Japan tour
Matt Sherratt will resume interim head coach duty for Wales ' two-Test Japan tour in July, with six uncapped players included in his squad. 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. Sherratt, though, will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Japan in Kitakyushu on 5 July 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. 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." Hooker Dewi Lake has been appointed captain of the touring party after missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions squad. Fly half Sam Costelow, lock Ben Carter and prop Archie Griffin return after missing the Six Nations from injury, while young Scarlets back Macs Page is an eye-catching inclusion after an exciting United Rugby Championship season. Hooker Liam Belcher, tighthead Chris Coleman, wing Keelan Giles, scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams and loosehead Garyn Phillips will also hope to earn their first caps. Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery while Henry Thomas also misses out as he seeks a specialist opinion on a long-term condition. Second rows Adam Beard and Will Rowlands have been given the summer off. "I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,' Sherratt added. 'I think there's a good blend of experience and young talent selected and that this group has a lot of potential. "Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches. "Over the next few weeks in camp, it's about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group." WALES SQUAD FOR JAPAN TEST SERIES Forwards (19) Keiron Assiratti Liam Belcher Ben Carter Chris Coleman Elliot Dee Taulupe Faletau Archie Griffin Dewi Lake (capt.) Josh Macleod Alex Mann Garyn Phillips Taine Plumtree James Ratti Tommy Reffell Nicky Smith Gareth Thomas Freddie Thomas Aaron Wainwright Teddy Williams Backs (14) 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 PA
