Latest news with #JoshAdams
Wales Online
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
New Wales training is even more brutal than Gatland's infamous bootcamps
New Wales training is even more brutal than Gatland's infamous bootcamps Josh Adams and his team-mates have been pushed to their limits ahead of the trip to Japan The Welsh Rugby team during extreme heat training, where the air temperature was 38.8 degrees celsius and 85.7 humidity - Josh Adams during training (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Josh Adams says the gruelling preparations ahead of the upcoming tour of Japan outrank anything he and his Wales team-mates have experienced before. Temperatures in Japan are expected to soar close to 40°C when Wales head out there next month for the opening match of their two-Test tour, with the opening match pencilled in for July 5 at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu. In a bid to cope with the expected heat, Wales have gone through a series of stomach-turning training sessions at their Vale Resort base. The squad has been doing gym work in a special chamber recently, where the heating has been turned up to over 38°C, leaving players exhausted and drenched in their own sweat. Adams says many of the players have already been left close to breaking point, and says it's even tougher than the two-week training camp under Warren Gatland in Fiesch, which aimed to get the players up to speed with the increase in altitude ahead of the 2023 World Cup. "I came out of the chamber on Friday and some boys were like, that's the hardest thing I've ever done and then I was like, it's got to be in the top three worst I've felt after a session," Adams said. "It was really bad, genuine, because it's really stuffy as you go. So you're on a bike, salt bike, rower, SkiErg, and there's certain times and calories you've got to do. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent "But you're all crammed in there so it's really uncomfortable like when you're knackered and you want a bit of space just to breathe, you can't because it's so hot and stuffy and everyone's rubbing against each other. "You're trying to not agitate each other because it's so cramped. But the boys have managed pretty well, no one's tapped out yet so we're doing alright. "That chamber is good because we have used it for altitude in the past and now we've got the heat and humidity up. "I don't how much it cost, must be a few quid but it's unbelievable sort of facility to use. "I think it was 35/36 degrees and then like 87% humidity. It's brutal, horrible," To make matters even more gruelling, the amount of water made available to players is limited for the session. "We're weighing in before and after," he added. "We take one bottle of water, you ration it for the whole session. "Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose. "Some boys are losing between probably three and five kilos, the bigger boys. The most I was down was three kilos. so it's a considerable amount of weight. "There's a lot of fluid then you've got to re-drink to get your body back to some sort of base level. The worst part is cooling down. You let your body regulate the cold temperature, that's the worst part. "They don't want us hopping in ice baths and everything. You can't in the game well, maybe you could half-time, but boys wouldn't. "So it's trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature, cold temperature, back to normal." Footage posted on social media showed some of the Wales players relaxing in a hot-tub in another attempt to acclimatise, while the predicted sweaty conditions are also being recreated in some of the ball work on the training ground. To try and replicate what the players might face on the pitch in Japan, they've been using rugby balls dipped in soapy water in a bid to get to grips with the handling challenges that may arise. "Yeah we have [been doing that]," Adams confirmed. "Not for your proper big rugby session but when we're doing small bits of skills, we've had a ball in a bit of water. "Also we've been doing skills straight out of the heat chamber, so the heat's wrapped right up in there. "I think it was 37 degrees and 88% humidity the other day when we did a sort of off-field conditioning session and then came straight down and got into some skills. Article continues below "So trying to copy what the climate would be like out there as best we can and try and make it as comfortable as it can for us, so we're in a good space to cope with anything."
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Boys saying they've never won for Wales hurts'
Wing Josh Adams says it hurts that some of his Wales team-mates having not experienced an international national men's side are on a record 17-match Test losing sequence as they prepare for a two match tour of Japan in July. Wales have slipped to a new low of 12th place in the world rankings with the previous international win against Georgia in October contrast, Adams was part of a Wales side that won a record 14 games and reached number one in the world in August 2019."It hurts me when some boys say they've never won for Wales," said Adams."It's horrible when they say things like that because of the things I've experienced. "I didn't know how to lose at one stage for Wales. Even when we weren't playing well we managed to win." 'There will be a tipping point' Adams, 30, is confident Wales can halt the losing streak. "We probably have just got a little bit lost and are trying to find our way back now," said Adams."That'll come because the talent is there. I know I see it every day, these boys are as good as what we've had and are good enough to produce and win."It's just confidence is a huge thing."The British and Irish Lions wing says the desire and commitment is there to change Wales' fortunes."It is horrible to question that, although I know it can be questioned when you are looking in because of the results and magnitude of some of them," said Adams. "That hurts the playing group. They have lost and lost badly on occasions, but it doesn't affect the amount of effort that goes in. That can never be questioned. "There will be a tipping point. We all believe that and hope it will be this summer. "Adams says the squad have spoken about the situation they are in."It's something we have addressed because there is no point in not talking about things," said Adams."The more open and vulnerable we can make each other as players in speaking about different aspects of the game and life, the easier it becomes to talk about difficult things." Changes to Wales working week Former head coach Warren Gatland left in February during the Six Nations with his permanent successor yet to be is hoping Wales will benefit in Japan from the new-look coaching team that is led again by caretaker boss Matt Sherratt and includes backroom staff Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny. "It has been brilliant and exactly what the squad needed with a new way of looking at the schedule," said Adams."Meeting times have changed, how we do weights and at what time. Everything feels new, which is a good thing because it has freshened things up."The addition of Danny and Gethin for the summer is brilliant." Return to Japan Adams has fond memories of Japan having been the World Cup's top try-scorer with seven when Wales reached the semi-finals in years on, he is only one of four survivors from that squad alongside Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Aaron an inexperienced squad heading to Japan, Adams is the most capped back with 61 Wales internationals, with only Test centurion Taulupe Faletau boasting more wing Adams is back fit after missing the final three Six Nations defeats because of a hamstring injury."I got back for the last six games of the season," said Adams. "That meant I had probably the longest consecutive run of matches I've had in at least a season and a half and I'm feeling good at the minute." Being pushed to the limit The new-look squad have spent the past few weeks attempting to acclimatise to the searing heat and humidity expected in Kitakyushu and coach Eddie Jones has stated he wants to run Wales around in matches that will be played in the have replicated the tactics sides adopted in the 2019 World Cup by training with wet balls to become used to the greasy conditions. They have also had intense gym sessions in a heat chamber at Wales' training base where temperatures are ramped up to 36 degrees and 87% has experienced previous brutal fitness sessions with Wales in Switzerland and Turkey and rates the latest conditions as some of the toughest he has experienced."Some boys were saying 'that's the hardest thing I've ever done' and it's got to be in the top three worst I've felt after a session," said Adams."It was really bad, genuine, because it's so stuffy."There's certain times and calories you've got to do, but you're all crammed in there, so it's uncomfortable when you're knackered."You want a bit of space just to breathe, but you can't because it's so hot and stuffy and everyone's rubbing against each other. You're trying to not agitate each other because it's so cramped."But the boys have managed pretty well, no one's tapped out yet, so we're doing alright." Replenishing fluids The gruelling conditions led to some players losing up to 5kg in one session. "We're weighing in before and after, we take one bottle of water which is rationed for the whole session," said Adams."Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose and it's a considerable amount of weight. "There's a lot of fluid then you've got to drink to get your body back to some sort of base level."Adams says one of the worst parts is "cooling down as you let your body regulate the temperature"."They don't want us hopping in ice baths because you can't do that in the game," said Adams."It's trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature and back to normal."We have done these off-field conditioning sessions and then come straight down and got into some skills."It's trying to copy what the climate would be like out there as best we can and make it as comfortable as it can, so we're in a good space to cope with anything."
NZ Herald
16-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Gisborne United back on track, but Thistle lose again in Eastern Premiership football
Gisborne United player-coach Josh Adams, pictured playing against Napier Marist, found the back of the net twice in his side's 3-0 defeat of Napier City Rovers Reserves in an Eastern Premiership game in Gisborne on Saturday. Photo / Paul Rickard Gisborne United returned to winning ways but Gisborne Thistle's losing rut continued in Eastern Premiership football games in the city on Saturday. HSOB-Gisborne Boys' High Prems' search for their first point continues, although they fought hard in a 4-1 loss to Napier Marist in Napier. In a weekend of top-of-the-table
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
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Gisborne Thistle ace striker Somerton makes it 20 goals in six games
It bodes well for the Boys' High tilt at qualification for the premier national secondary schools tournament. Thistle head the Eastern Premiership table on goal difference from Napier City Rovers Reserves, Havelock North Wanderers and Gisborne United. All four sides won on Saturday. The Boys' High-United game was played at a rollicking pace on a school pitch that had a bit of 'give' in it. United went 1-0 up in the 15th minute, when Josh Adams crossed from the left for brother Corey to latch on to the parried ball to finish from close range. HSOB Boys' High, already several short of their first-choice squad, lost two starters to injury in the first half. Right back Anton Larkins was replaced by Mako Fukushima-Hall in the 24th minute, and left midfielder Xavier Priestley-Mennie came off for LeRoy Hill in the 30th. Josh Adams scored United's second goal in the 33rd minute. He let fly from 30 metres with a shot that gave goalkeeper Aiden Armstrong no chance. Adams scored again in the 42nd, arriving at the far post to force in left midfielder Malcolm Marfell's cross. United looked set for a runaway win. So it was pleasing to see the students score through Jacob Adams in the 54th minute and withstand considerable United second-half pressure while mounting some dangerous raids themselves. They owed much to their player of the match, keeper Armstrong. He made several crucial one-on-one stops and foiled Corey Adams with a double save that goalkeeping coach Mitchell Stewart-Hill would have been proud to make. Fullbacks Gavin Derr on the left and Fukushima-Hall on the right coped well with dangerous United flank players Campbell Hall and Marfell. Centre backs Shai Avni and Kauri Holmes did well to hold Josh and Corey Adams scoreless in the second half. Jacob Adams, named captain for the day to mark the game against his brothers, was in central midfield alongside Rylan Crosby-Wright, Hill, Euan Cramer and Korbin Wigglesworth. Alex Langford came on for Crosby-Wright with about half an hour to go. They were up against a full-strength United midfield – Dane Thompson, Dan Torrie and holding midfielder Aaron Graham, supported out wide by Hall and Marfell, with occasional help from either Adams brother darting back to seek the ball. Boys' High striker Connor Evison and his second-half replacement, Oliver McManaway, were outnumbered by well-performed United defenders Kieran Higham, Ryan Anderson and Kieran Venema but kept them on their toes. Andy McIntosh's influence in goal is another factor in United's good start to the season. He has the happy knack of getting some part of his body in the way of goal-bound shots. The return of centre back Jonathan Purcell, who came on for Anderson late in the game, gives the defence strength in depth. Hawke's Bay referee Marty Roil kept the game flowing smoothly. United coach Josh Adams said his side had taken the second half too easily, and Boys' High stepped up their effort and showed they deserved to be in this competition. Boys' High coach for this game, Sebastian Itman, said four key players had been unavailable for the game. Those who played showed great courage in rising to the challenge. In the later game, Thistle went close in the 36th minute, when Somerton stretched to reach a long ball from left back Oliver Aldridge but volleyed over the bar. A minute later, though, he made no mistake, and it was 1-0 at halftime. Port Hill came close to equalising in the 57th minute when a defender slipped and keeper Mark Baple was called on to make a fingertip save. In the 60th, Thistle centre back Junior Jimmy broke out of defence and fed Somerton, who made ground and hit a hard shot that Port Hill keeper Michael Mason could only parry as far as on-rushing right midfielder Te Kani Wirepa-Hei. He scored from five metres to make it 2-0. Three minutes later, Jimmy was tackled on the edge of the Jags' penalty area and the ball was passed into the goalmouth, where Port Hill skipper Matt Betesta fired the ball home from five metres. Thistle regained their two-goal cushion in the 65th minute. Somerton aggressively chased down a long ball ahead of pacy centre back Sam Skilton, beat the keeper to it and scored. Three minutes on, Jags centre back Martin Kees was penalised for a foul on Betesta, and defender James Mason scored from the penalty spot. Somerton scored the last in a flurry of goals, turning on the bouncing ball after a left-wing corner by Travis White and blasting it from close range. Thistle had more chances to score but Michael Mason blocked shots by Somerton and then Samson Hotas, who had come on for Alex Shanks in the 67th minute. Two minutes from the end, Wirepa-Hei capped a fine game with a goal-line block. Thistle keeper Baple had a strong game, and fullbacks Kuba Jerabek and Aldridge kept a lid on the danger from the flanks. Centre backs Jimmy and Kees broke up numerous attacks but frayed supporters' nerves when they lost the ball in or around the penalty area. Port Hill strikers Luke Posthumus and Betesta harried the Gisborne defence at every opportunity and kept their side in with a shout. Thistle's Nick Land, Cory Thomson and White had a battle on their hands with Jamie Provines, Kaleb McKenzie and Ollie Berry in the Port Hill engine room, while Jags left midfielder Alex Shanks was up against a rugged opponent in right back Nick Yorke. Referee Chris Niven kept the lid on a competitive game Thistle coach Tam Cramer said the game should have been put to bed much earlier but his team's finishing was 'not great', and they had done 'stupid things' that let Port Hill back into it. 'It was good to have Junior Jimmy and Samson Hotas back. Te Kani Wirepa-Hei played well, Jimmy Somerton led the line well and Nick Land is resisting taking a break. Cory Thomson was unlucky not to get a couple of goals.' Port Hill coach Dan Johansen said it was encouraging his side had pushed Thistle right to the end after a three-hour road trip. 'I'm proud of the guys for putting in a shift.'
