Latest news with #SeanLynn
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales scrum-half Lewis to become Lion in USA
Ffion Lewis made her Wales debut as a replacement in a 19-5 win against South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park in 2018 [Getty Images] Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis has signed for the Chicago Lions women's sevens team. The former Bristol Bear left Wales' professional programme after being told her contract was not going to be renewed this summer. Advertisement She was allowed to leave in the middle of the 2025 Women's Six Nations to protect her mental health and to pursue other opportunities in the United States. The 29-year-old hinted she was "closing the chapter" on her international career but that she was "nowhere near done with the game". Lewis won 33 caps after making her debut in 2018, but in more recent years her career was blighted by a serious knee injury and severe symptoms of endometriosis. She was one of a number of senior players that Wales' new head coach Sean Lynn decided not to keep on, with fly-half Niamh Terry, centre Meg Webb and wing Carys Williams-Morris also becoming free agents in June. Chicago Lions have enjoyed success at Midwest and national level in the United States.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales scrum-half Lewis to become Lion in USA
Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis has signed for Chicago Lions women's sevens former Bristol Bear left Wales' professional programme after being told her contract was not going to be renewed this was allowed to leave in the middle of the 2025 Women's Six Nations to protect her mental health and to pursue other opportunities in the 29-year-old hinted she was "closing the chapter" on her international career, but that she was "nowhere near done with the game".Lewis won 33 caps after making her debut in 2018, but in more recent years her career was blighted by a serious knee injury and severe symptoms of was one of a number of senior players Wales' new head coach Sean Lynn decided not to keep on, with fly-half Niamh Terry, centre Meg Webb and wing Carys Williams-Morris also becoming free agents in Lions have enjoyed success at Midwest and national in the United States.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jones to be replaced as Wales captain
Wales women's head coach Sean Lynn will replace Hannah Jones as captain before the 2025 World 28, has been relieved of the role before the global tournament and the two-match World Cup warm-up tour to face Australia in July and centre, who has won 65 caps, became captain before the 2023 Six Nations when Wales finished fished bottom in the next two tournaments, while Jones also had to deal with a contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2024."This is a new chapter for the team, and I am determined to drive the change we need with the squad, coaches and staff so that we build real success on solid foundations," said Lynn."A new Wales captain is part of this process, and we have some candidates, but they need to prove they have the qualities to lead the national side." In March, Jones said she considered her international future after last year's contract Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) admitted serious failings during a dragged-out negotiation process, during which players dealt with ultimatums and threats of withdrawal from major tournaments if they failed to WRU apologised and conducted an independent review, while head coach Ioan Cunningham left by mutual was appointed as Wales head coach and took over the role a week before the 2025 Six Nations after winning three successive league titles with Gloucester-Hartpury, a team which included took charge of his country a week before the recent Six Nations campaign and deciding to keep Jones as his skipper, with scrum-half Keira Bevan and flanker Alex Callender named as vice-captains."Hannah has done a professional job in challenging circumstances that have been well documented, but we will call for a fresh voice in a deliberate move to grow the leadership within the squad," said Lynn."Hannah remains a valued and senior member of the squad. We have enjoyed great success together at club level and I want us to do the same at international level." 'Creating a new culture' Wales finished bottom after losing all five games, including a record defeat against Italy in the final game."I made it clear when I was appointed by the WRU this was the job I always wanted and I needed the mandate to create a new team culture, to drive standards and challenge coaches, players and staff to build a team to make the nation proud," said Lynn."That is something we will all do together, and developing more leaders is one of many steps on that journey."Lynn has named a 45-player summer training squad with a host of new faces from to underline his commitment to change in the senior national coach wants to whittle his squad down to 30 players before heading to take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on 26 July and then in Sydney on 1 beat Australia for the first time in their history at Rodney Parade in a warm-up last September before succumbing to a heavy defeat at WXV2 a week their return to the UK, Wales will have three weeks to shake off the jet lag and get ready for what promises to be the biggest ever Women's Rugby World Cup, with the 10th edition being held across eight different venues in opening game is against Six Nations rivals Scotland on Saturday, 23 August in Salford before further group games against Canada and Fiji.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sand dunes and sumo - Wales' brutal pre-season
From sand dunes to shark bait sumo, Wales head coach Sean Lynn is delivering on his promise of a brutal pre-season. After a disappointing first campaign in the 2025 Women's Six Nations the former Gloucester-Hartpury boss made no secret of the fact he thought Wales lacked the fitness to play the brand of rugby that won him three successive league titles. Advertisement And with a two-Test tour of Australia and the Rugby World Cup in England fast approaching, Lynn is intent on pushing players to their limits. His extended training squad reported for testing at the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) National Centre of Excellence at the start of June, the first task being the dreaded bronco runs. True grit For those fortunate enough never to have partaken, it is a fitness test that involves timed shuttle runs over increasing distances. "We came in on day one looking at the bronco testing, it's what our lead S&C [strength and conditioning coach] wanted to measure us on," said Lynn. Advertisement "It's really exciting because one of our young pathway players absolutely smashed it, and came top of the forwards league table which is really pleasing to see." Testing has not just been confined to sweltering indoor training barns - the squad headed to Merthyr Mawr on Friday where they endured the energy-zapping 'big dipper' - the largest sand dune in Wales. "When you're in these tough situations, it's about making sure that we're all in it together," said Lynn. "It's a combination of making sure that we are digging in deep and working hard for each other. Advertisement "We want to be a hard team to beat." As well as welcoming back prop powerhouse Sisilia Tuipulotu, Lynn has stayed true to his word by including a handful of pathway players in his 45-player squad. And they are not just there to make up the numbers with Lynn saying they are "very much in the mix" for selection this summer. "It's lovely to see the PDCs [player development centres] at the moment and you can see their fruition. "We're seeing a real big emphasis on these girls. They are not drowning, they are swimming very nicely in these waters." Back-row Chiara Pearce and scrum-half Seren Lockwood have both come from Wales Under-18s. Advertisement "It's been challenging physically and mentally, but it's a great feeling training with all the big guns, because you see them on telly," Pearce said. "I feel confident in everything I'm doing, just because he [Lynn] is on my back saying 'you can do it, just believe in yourself, we're all here together and we're all helping you'." Lockwood added: "We are here for a reason, so it's up to us to prove ourselves now. "It's crazy to think about it, I'm 18 years-old, it [selection] would be a dream, but it is in reach, I've just got to fight for it now and see what happens." Advertisement It is also a first camp for loose-head prop Katherine Baverstock who said it is certainly a "step-up" from under-20s, but they "want to train well and put our names out there". Baby sharks While impressing the coaches, Pearce, Lockwood and Baverstock admit to being daunted by some of the senior players, especially when they do the 'shark bait' contact drill. "Basically we fight each other, it's like sumo wrestling and you've got to get each other out of the circle. It gets pretty intense," explained Baverstock. "I had Abbie Fleming, I got in the ring and I was shaking, I was like 'oh no'," said Pearce. Advertisement But at the same time the young trio are more than ready to fight for shirts. "I'll have no problem putting myself in the mix and fighting for that position because I know how bad I want it," said Pearce. "They've already represented and I haven't yet." That is just the sort of healthy competition Lynn wants before he whittles the squad down to 30 players before heading down under to take on the Wallaroos in Brisbane on 26 July and then in Sydney on 1 August. Wales beat Australia for the first time in their history at Rodney Parade in a warm-up last September before succumbing to a heavy defeat at WXV2 a week later. Advertisement On their return to the UK, Wales will have just over three weeks to shake-off the jet lag and get ready for what promises to be the biggest ever Women's Rugby World Cup, with the 10th edition being held across eight different venues in England. Wales' opening game is against Six Nations rivals Scotland on Saturday, 23 August. Wales' World Cup Pool B fixtures Scotland v Wales: Saturday, 23 August, Salford Community Stadium,14:45 BST Canada v Wales: 30 August, Salford Community Stadium, Saturday, 12:00 BST Wales v Fiji: Saturday, 6 September, Sandy Park, 14:45 BST
South Wales Argus
16-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Wales bring in Ben Flower to help add steel for World Cup
The 37-year-old from Abertridwr will be part of Sean Lynn's set-up for the summer training campa ahead of a two-Test tour to Australia and then the World Cup. Flower has been appointed as collision coach and has an impressive CV in that department. He played for the Dragons academy and represented Wales at under-20, 18 and 16 level alongside the likes of Dan Lydiate, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies but then changed code after an attempt to covert him from back row forward to hooker. Flower played for the Celtic Crusaders and then the prop became a key figure for Wigan when winning three Super League titles, the World Club Challenge and the Challenge Cup, while he also won 17 caps. After hanging up his boots, he coached the South Wales Jets rugby league side and was part of the Wales Women's coaching team at the last World Cup in New Zealand. Flower said: 'Being involved with Wales is always a privilege and being asked and to have the chance of being involved with my country is an honour you don't turn down. 'Having played at a World Cup as a player and to have this chance to play a role as Wales prepare for a World Cup is an opportunity I am looking forward to.' Lynn, who is yet to enjoy a victory as national boss, believes Flower will add steel to a side whose fitness he questioned during a miserable Six Nations. He said: 'The W6N review highlighted the need to improve our collision work and dominance, both sides of the ball, as a real area we can improve on.'
