Latest news with #Under20s
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales U20s end Summer Series with Italy loss
Wales Under-20s rounded off their Six Nations Summer Series with a narrow 24-28 defeat by Italy Under-20s in Ystrad Errichiello touched down midway through the opening half, with Lavinia Pratichetti converting as Italy led 7-0 at the Centre for Sporting Wales hit back with their first try through Molly Wakely on 25 minutes, with Savannah Picton-Powell's score and Hanna Marshall's conversion five minutes before the break putting the hosts 12-7 ahead at Italians restored their lead with a try from Chiara Cheli and a second conversion from Pratichetti shortly after the lead changed hands a further three times in quick succession as Cheli scored her second try of the contest in between tries from Seren Singleton and Chiara Pearce - Ffion Williams adding the extras for the Cheli completed her hat-trick in the 74th minute - with Pratichetti maintaining her 100% record of converting - as the Italians snatched a late ensured Liza Burgess' side ended their campaign with just one win from their trio of fixtures having lost 27-10 to Ireland in their opener before beating Scotland 52-20 in their second in the day, Ireland secured an emphatic 62-7 victory against Scotland, with England rounding off their campaign against France at 18:00 BST.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ospreys sign Cardiff hooker Daniel
Cardiff hooker Efan Daniel has joined Ospreys ahead of the 2025-26 made 24 appearances during his time with Cardiff and has played for Wales at Under-20 22-year-old was called up to Wales' senior squad that toured Australia last summer and featured as a replacement against Queensland Reds."The boys and coaches have been great since I got here and have all made me feel welcome, it's like I've been here for a few years instead of a couple weeks," Daniel said."The Ospreys were the team I watched the most growing up, so I'm looking forward to putting on the black jersey and making an impact wherever I can."Ospreys head coach Mark Jones said Daniel was a player he had long admired and said: "It's exciting to have him as part of our setup."We've got a good blend of youth and experience at hooker which is highly important with it being such a specialised position."We feel we're in a really strong position in our front row now and set up well for the season ahead."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ireland's uncapped 13 - Tommy O'Brien
With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time. Back Tommy O'Brien made his debut for Leinster in 2019 but injury setbacks have prevented him furthering his career and international prospects at a faster 27-year-old seasoned provincial player has put in impressive displays in the latter end of the 2024-25 campaign, his rich vein of form including a player-of-the match performance against Irish interprovincial rivals Ulster in scored a spectacular try in that game, also crossing while shining against Glasgow and Northampton in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup to make it try-scoring performances in three successive games.O'Brien can play on the wing or at centre and represented Ireland Under-20s between 2017 and 2018, captaining the side in also played for Ireland A in their game against their English counterparts in Bristol in February.O'Brien has yet to be capped at senior level despite previous experience training with the panel.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wales U20s play for World places in England warm-up
Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin says places in his World Championship squad will be up for grabs when they take on England in a warm-up game on Friday, 6 Minto captains the side which features a number of changes from the team which beat England in the final game of the Under-20 Six Nations. Number eight Minto forms a new-look back row which includes Dragons team-mate Ryan Jones and Gloucester flanker Caio James. Former skipper Harry Beddall is among the replacements. Friday's game at Pontypool Park is the first of two warm-ups with the other a week later at Cardiff Arms Park against World Championships take place in Italy, with Wales drawn against Argentina in the opening match on 29 June. "We've had guys in camp for three weeks working super hard and they deserve an opportunity," said Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin."We said to the group at the start of the campaign we were going to use it as a selection game in terms of whittling the squad down from 45 down to 30 so there will be guys playing on Friday night putting their hands up for the plane ticket to Italy."So pressure goes onto those guys but ultimately if they can perform on Friday in a big game against England then it sets them up well for the World Cup."Speaking of handing Minto the captaincy, Whiffin added: "He is a local Pontypool guy plus we wanted to see a slightly different back row. "From the performances he put in during the Six Nations, he has certainly put his hand up for the captaincy role."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Exeter sign Gloucester-Hartpury forward Whitley
Exeter have signed former England Under-20 forward Lola Whitley from 21-year-old, who can play at lock or back-row, made her debut for the Cherry and Whites in October 2022. "I feel I need a change and a challenge as a player, and I am looking forward to getting stuck in next season," Whitley told Exeter's head coach Steve Salvin added: "Lola is an England-qualified player who has already come through the Under-20s pathway and was highly recommended by the Under-20s coaches. "She has all the attributes to play Premiership rugby but just wants the opportunity to play consistently."
