Latest news with #RichardWhiffin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Whiffin names 'balanced' Wales U20 squad for World Champs
Richard Whiffin took over the role of Wales Under-20s head coach from Mark Jones in December 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Wales head coach Richard Whiffin says his squad head to the World Rugby U20 Championship believing they can "compete with so-called top teams". Whiffin has named a largely settled selection for the tournament starting later this month in Italy, with Neath scrum-half Ellis Lewis the only uncapped player in a squad of 30. Advertisement Dragons scrum-half Logan Franklin was unavailable after injuring his arm in Friday's 47-19 final warm-up win against Italy in Cardiff. Wales begin their campaign in Pool B against Argentina on 29 June in Verona. Whiffin's side then face France on 4 July in Rovigo and complete the pool stage against Spain on 9 July back in Verona. "I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations," said Whiffin. Wales placed eighth at last year's Championship. They finished third in this year's Six Nations with three wins, including victory against England. Advertisement Whiffin used more than 40 players in two preparation games - they were also beaten 47-14 by world champions England in Pontypool - before finalising his squad which will be captained by Dragons flanker Harry Beddall. "The England game was always going to be tough on the back of what was a really tough training week, and then to challenge ourselves against the world champs was brilliant," said Whiffin. "I thought it cemented a few thoughts in our heads - 14-14 at 60 minutes I thought we had competed well and then we had a very polished performance against Italy. "We're excited about the Championship but we still have a week's training ahead of us before we get on the plane for Italy, but we've done the hard work in terms of whittling down what was a really strong training squad to the 30 selected." Advertisement Having denied England a first Grand Slam in four years with a 23-13 victory at Cardiff Arm's Park in this year's Six Nations finale, Whiffin also believes his squad head to Italy with no fear. "I think the pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so-called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid," he said. "We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen." 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 Minto. Advertisement Backs: 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 June Argentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST) Friday, 4 July France U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST) Wednesday, 9 July Wales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST)
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Whiffin names 'balanced' Wales U20 squad for World Champs
Wales head coach Richard Whiffin says his squad head to the World Rugby U20 Championship believing they can "compete with so-called top teams".Whiffin has named a largely settled selection for the tournament starting later this month in Italy, with Neath scrum-half Ellis Lewis the only uncapped player in a squad of scrum-half Logan Franklin was unavailable after injuring his arm in Friday's 47-19 final warm-up win against Italy in begin their campaign in Pool B against Argentina on 29 June in side then face France on 4 July in Rovigo and complete the pool stage against Spain on 9 July back in Verona."I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations," said placed eighth at last year's Championship. They finished third in this year's Six Nations with three wins, including victory against England. Whiffin used more than 40 players in two preparation games - they were also beaten 47-14 by world champions England in Pontypool - before finalising his squad which will be captained by Dragons flanker Harry Beddall."The England game was always going to be tough on the back of what was a really tough training week, and then to challenge ourselves against the world champs was brilliant," said Whiffin."I thought it cemented a few thoughts in our heads - 14-14 at 60 minutes I thought we had competed well and then we had a very polished performance against Italy."We're excited about the Championship but we still have a week's training ahead of us before we get on the plane for Italy, but we've done the hard work in terms of whittling down what was a really strong training squad to the 30 selected."Having denied England a first Grand Slam in four years with a 23-13 victory at Cardiff Arm's Park in this year's Six Nations finale, Whiffin also believes his squad head to Italy with no fear."I think the pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so-called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid," he said."We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen." 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 June Argentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST)Friday, 4 July France U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST)Wednesday, 9 JulyWales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST)
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales announce strongest squad in years as young talent returns for huge summer
Wales announce strongest squad in years as young talent returns for huge summer Wales U20s head out to Italy this summer for the World Championships Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin (left) with outside-half Harri Wilde (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) Richard Whiffin has named the strongest Wales U20s squad for years to compete in this summer's World Rugby U20s Championship. Wales have been drawn in a tough pool alongside Argentina U20s, France U20s and Spain U20s but there is every reason to believe they can be very competitive in Italy this summer. Whiffin's side impressed during the U20s Six Nations with victories over Italy, Ireland and world champions England. Outstanding openside flanker Harry Beddall retains the captaincy, while they have also been boosted by the return of powerful Dragons second-row Nick Thomas who missed most of the Six Nations through injury. There are 10 players based outside of Wales in the squad, including Exeter Chiefs lock Luke Evans who recently changed his allegiance from England to the men in red. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The likes of Cardiff wing Tom Bowen, Bristol Bears speedster Aidan Boshoff, centre Steffan Emanuel, props Ioan Emanuel and Sam Scott, along with Scarlets hooker Harry Thomas, are just a few players to watch out for. Wales warmed up for the tournament with a defeat to England at Pontypool Park and a comfortable victory over Italy at the Arms Park. Article continues below 'I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations,' said Whiffin. 'We've got a pack that we feel can really deliver at the World Cup and look to be dominant at both the scrum and line-out and as a team we fully understand how we want to play. "We've got some fantastic workrate in our outside backs that will not only get the ball back for us but be a real threat when we've got the ball. 'I think we've seen over the course of the Six Nations and these warm-up games we've got a set of backs that will put us in the right areas of the field and be smart with how we want to play.' Whiffin used more than 40 players in the two warm-up games against world champions England and Italy before finalising his squad for the global tournament where his side start their Pool B fixtures against Argentina before facing France and Spain. 'Those games allowed us to challenge ourselves in different areas,' explained Whiffin. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "The England game at Pontypool was always going to be tough on the back of what was a really tough training week and then to challenge ourselves against the world champs was brilliant. 'I thought it cemented a few thoughts in our heads - 14-14 at 60 minutes I thought we had competed well and then we had a very polished performance against Italy - the fact we managed to get 40-plus players game-time over those two games gave the coaches and myself the ammunition we needed to pick the squad. 'We're excited about the championship but we still have a week's training ahead of us before we get on the plane for Italy but we've done the hard work in terms of whittling down what was a really strong training squad to the 30 selected." But Wales have been dealt a blow with talented scrum-half Logan Franklin and wing Harry Rees-Weldon ruled out of the tournament through injury. Neath scrum-half Ellis Lewis is the only uncapped player in the squad. 'I think the pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid," said Whiffin. "We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. 'It means we'll need to play well and back those performances up but the boys are confident and we were close last year but didn't get over the line – I think we've proved in the Six nations we can knock over some of those tighter games so hopefully we can see that in the World Cup." Article continues below Wales U20s squad: Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Evan Wood (Pontypool), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Owain James (Dragons), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons - Captain), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons), Sion Davies (Cardiff), Ellis Lewis (Neath), Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Harri Ford (Dragons), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Elis Price (Scarlets), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears), Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Jack Woods (Bath), Tom Bowen (Cardiff).
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales coach left with difficult decisions ahead of big announcement next week
Wales coach left with difficult decisions ahead of big announcement next week Wales now head to Italy for the World Championship with their head coach given lots of options to pick from The Wales team huddle at full time. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Wales U20s coach Richard Whiffin says he has some difficult decisions ahead when it comes to naming his squad for the World Championship in Italy, as he praised the improved strength in depth at age-grade level. His side ended their preparations for the upcoming tournament with a seven-try 47-19 victory over Italy at the Arms Park on Friday. Whiffin used a total of 29 players in all as his squad bounced back from defeat to England last week. Afterwards, the Wales coach admitted he was delighted at the performance ahead of naming his squad on Tuesday. 'It was a really disciplined performance,' he said. 'We stuck to the plan for the whole 80 as there was a chance for that to get a little bit loose. 'We were disciplined with our kicking and when the space was there, we went after it. I just said to the group there were 45 boys working hard and they've made my job pretty tough.' On whether he had some big decisions coming up as he names his squad for the tournament in Italy, he added: 'Massively. Article continues below 'We've got strength in depth across positions. It's going to create some headaches for us as coaches. 'The nature of the tournament is you pick up injuries as it goes on. The fact we've got 45 players game time over these two weeks will set anyone up well if they don't make the plane but come out later.' Wales Head Coach Richard Whiffin (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Wales start their campaign against Argentina before facing France and Spain. 'Certainly from last year, I think so,' said Whiffin when asked if there was more strength in depth available to him. 'The ability to rotate will be key in the heat out in Italy.' Ioan Emanuel, Ioan Duggan along and Aidan Boshoff (twice) all crossed for tries in the first half, while a penalty try and Harri Ford's three conversions gave Wales a 33-14 lead at the break. Article continues below Ioan Duggan of Wales runs in to score a try (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) A second for Duggan and a further score from Osian Darwin-Lewis secured a comfortable win. Wales begin their World Championship campaign on June 29.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales U20s see off Italy in final warm-up game
Friendly - Wales U20s v Italy U20sWales (33) 47Tries: Boshoff (2), Emmanuel, Penalty Try, Duggan (2), Darwin-Lewis Cons: Ford (3), Wilde (2)Italy (14) 19Tries: Redondi, Caiolo-Serra, Mistrelli Cons: Fasti (2) Wales Under-20s signed off ahead of the World Rugby Junior Championship with a resounding 47-19 win over Italy at Cardiff Arms from Ioan Emanuel, Ioan Duggan along with Aidan Boshoff's brace and a Penalty try and Harri Ford's three conversions gave the hosts a 33-14 lead at the from Osian Darwin-Lewis and Duggan's second of the game – both successfully converted by Harri Wilde – saw Wales run out convincing coach Richard Whiffin, who gave a run out to 29 players, names his squad on Tuesday for the was Wales' last game before the head to the 2025 World Rugby Junior Championship which kicks off in Italy at the end of World Championship kicks off against Argentina on 29 June with games against France and Spain to follow.
