Latest news with #WalesRugby
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Lock Thomas back for Wales U20s against Argentina
Wales head coach Richard Whiffin has recalled fit-again lock Nick Thomas to start in their World Rugby Under-20 Championship opener against Argentina in Verona on Sunday (19:30 BST).Dragons lock Thomas missed most of the U20 Six Nations in which Wales beat England in Cardiff to deny them a Grand Tom Bowen started that game, but is on the bench at Payanini Center, where Jack Woods will be wing Harry Rees-Weldon was ruled out by injury so Elijah Evans switches to wing, while Harri Ford starts at fly-half with Harri Wilde on the bench. "It was tough job getting the squad down to 30 and even tougher to get it down to 23 for the match against Argentina," said Whiffin."We spoke to the boys and told them everyone is going to play in the first three games, and everyone has got to be ready."The seven boys who have missed out still have a crucial role to play – their job is to help prepare the team and be good team men."Whiffin expects Argentina to pose their traditional physical threat with the added threat of full-back Pascal Senillosa, who starred in the U20 Rugby Championship this year."Their 10 and 15 control the game very well so they will be a couple of guys we need to make sure we apply pressure to, and we have to be smart how we manage our energy levels in what will be a daunting proposition in the heat of Italy," added Whiffin. Wales: Jack Woods; Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Steffan Emanuel, Aidan Boshoff; Harri Ford, Sion Davies; Ioan Emanuel, Harry Thomas, Sam Scott, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Evan Saul Hurley, Louie Trevett, Owain James, Dan Gemine, Caio James, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Tom Bowen.
Yahoo
a day 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
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
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.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales take belief into U20 World Champs
Wales captain Harry Beddall says his side will take a lot of belief going into the Under-20 World Championship off the back of their best Six Nations finish in eight beat Italy and Ireland before denying England a Grand Slam in a thrilling finale to finish third in the Whiffin's side now head out to Italy where they will kick-off their World Championship campaign against Argentina on 29 will then face France on 4 July before completing the Pool B stage against Spain on 9 July."Belief is something we drive in the camp, if we don't believe in ourselves we're not going to get the job done," said Beddall. "We take a lot of confidence from that Six Nations, we showed what we are capable of, but there was also some blips which we've still got to work on."We've taken a load of learnings from that first game against France, and the Six Nations in general, and we're looking to take them forward into the championship."Wales produced a heroic defensive shift to beat England 23-13 at Cardiff Arms Park in March, putting in 184 tackles and Beddall hopes they can show more of Wales' attack in this next campaign. "We want to be on the ball more, that's how you win games by scoring tries," said Beddall."The [Italian] heat is going to take a lot out of us, especially if we're defending for large periods of the game." Wales squad Forwards: Ioan Emanuel, Louie Trevett, Harry Thomas, Saul Hurley, Evan Wood, Sam Scott, Owain James, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemine, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Caio James, Evan Sion Davies, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford, Steffan Emanuel, Elis Price, Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Aidan Boshoff, Lewis Edwards, Jack Woods, Tom Bowen. Wales' Pool B fixtures Sunday, 29 JuneArgentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST)Friday, 4 JulyFrance U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST)Wednesday, 9 JulyWales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST).
