Latest news with #WRU
BBC News
2 days ago
- 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.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as future of Welsh game to be decided and Farrell to make big announcement
Today's rugby news as future of Welsh game to be decided and Farrell to make big announcement The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond The WRU and the country's four professional teams are set to meet to discuss the future of Welsh rugby (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Wednesday, June 18. Future of Welsh game set to be decided The future direction of the professional game in Wales could be decided today in a meeting between the Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Welsh rugby powerbrokers are seriously considering cutting the number of professional clubs in Wales to three if not two, while a tiered funding model is another option. All four clubs were on the verge of signing a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) but the WRU's takeover of Cardiff after the club entered administration changed everything. Both the Ospreys and Scarlets were concerned the WRU could turn Cardiff into a "super region" which would disadvantage the west Wales clubs. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In the end both Cardiff and the Dragons signed the new PRA which includes increased and fixed funding along with significant debt relief. Article continues below But the west Wales duo opted against it prompting the WRU to activate the two-year notice clause on the old PRA. That left the professional game in Wales on a precipice with the WRU announcing it would no longer fund four clubs equally. But the direction of travel is pointing towards a reduction of professional teams. The WRU are expecting to reveal their plan in a Professional Rugby Board meeting later today. Farrell to name team to face Argentina British & Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell is set to name his squad for the upcoming warm-up clash with Argentina today. The Lions taken on the Pumas in Dublin on Friday night, with captain Maro Itoje expected to earn his 100th Test cap in international rugby. Blair Kinghorn is still unavailable due to Toulouse reaching the Top 14 semi-finals, while Will Stuart has been tipped to feature in some form, with Farrell seemingly short on tighthead prop options. Zander Ferguson has been ruled out for the start of the tour and has been replaced in the squad by Finlay Bealham, who seems likely to start. Tadhg Furlong, meanwhile, remains a fitness concern. Jack van Poortvielt is unlikely to feature as he was drafted in purely for training purposes. Instead, Tomos Williams and Alex Mitchell are expected to battle it out for the starting scrum-half role. Farrell is set to name his squad at 4pm BST. Farrell Jnr not thinking about Lions call Meanwhile, Owen Farrell says he's not thinking about the possibility of a late call from his dad to join up with the Lions squad, having secured a return to Saracens. The 33-year-old has cut short his stay in France with Racing 92, having previously announced he was stepping away from Test rugby with England after the 2023 World Cup. However, he insists he hasn't retired from international rugby. The fly-half wasn't included in the 38-man squad picked by his dad last month, but he has nevertheless left the door open for a potential late call. 'There's nothing for me to do other than concentrate on getting myself back (at Saracens) and getting myself in the best place I possibly can do. Everything else is hypothetical," he said. Asked if the prospect of being drafted in by Farrell senior was a reasonable one, he added: 'I'm not thinking like that. I think if you do start thinking like that you can tie yourself in knots. All that I can do is focus on what I've got going on and get myself in the best place I can be.' Ford hungry for more PA staff George Ford remains 'hungry' for more challenges ahead as he closes in on a century of England Test appearances. The Sale fly-half is in line to become only the seventh man to reach the century milestone when England tour Argentina and the United States next month. With players who have been called up to the British and Irish Lions for their tour to Australia not considered for selection, both Fin Smith and Marcus Smith will not be involved for the two Tests against the Pumas or the match with the USA at Audi Field in Washington on July 19. Ford – part of Steve Borthwick's 36-man training squad for next weekend's match against a France XV – played in the 2019 World Cup final and has won three Six Nations titles as well as the Premiership twice with Leicester. The 32-year-old, though, remains determined to deliver more at the highest level. 'It (100 caps) is a milestone and one I would be very proud to achieve. To get anywhere near 100 caps for your country shows the level of consistency you need to do that,' Ford told reporters at England's training base in Bagshot. 'Having said that, I am not looking to get to 100 and stop. It is not the end goal, 100 and I will walk away into the distance. 'I still believe that I can perform and play at this very top level and I am excited and hungry to do so. 'When or if it happens, you make your family proud – that is the biggest thing for me. 'The commitment and choices and sacrifice they have made to allow me to have the career I have had; milestones are nice for people like my family.' Ford feels being deployed in a 'game manager's position' at the heart of the side can help eke a few more years out of a playing career. 'I think fly-half, scrum-half, it is one of the few positions where you probably see people like Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar, going into their late 30s,' Ford said. 'You are in a game manager's position and you are in the middle of the field. A lot of it is mental and experience, managing games and making decisions, influencing the team. 'As opposed to a winger, where physically you probably have to be at the top of your game. 'I think it's got the potential to do that. I feel good physically, I am hungry, that is the important thing. Article continues below 'I am still driven to play at this top level and perform at the top level. I am probably as motivated as I have ever been.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- 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
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
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 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 with a two-Test tour of Australia and the Rugby World Cup in England fast approaching, Lynn is intent on pushing players to their 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."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."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 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."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."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 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 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 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 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 BSTCanada v Wales: 30 August, Salford Community Stadium, Saturday, 12:00 BSTWales v Fiji: Saturday, 6 September, Sandy Park, 14:45 BST
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future
The people in the room who are now deciding Welsh rugby's future There are a number of key stakeholders A significant Welsh rugby meeting will be held on Wednesday (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Behind closed doors, the future structure of the professional game in Wales is being decided and all the signs are that big change is coming. The Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - are currently locked in discussions as to what the best way forward for Welsh rugby is. Just a few short months ago Welsh rugby was set to continue with four clubs but as it stands there is the very likely possibility of reducing to three or two professional sides, while a tiered funding model is also under consideration. A crucial Professional Rugby Board (PRB) meeting is set for Wednesday this week where the direction of travel is expected to become clearer. But who are the key players involved in shaping the direction of professional rugby in Wales? Here are the people in the room and influencing talks in the corridors of power. WRU and Cardiff Of course, WRU CEO Abi Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood are key players here. As CEO the onus is on Tierney to reach a solution with the professional clubs to take to the WRU board for approval. Tierney had settled on a new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) which would have resulted in both fixed and an increased level of funding but crucially the debt acquired during Covid would also get refinanced. Article continues below All four sides were about to sign but the WRU's takeover of Cardiff after the club fell into administration changed everything. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In the end the Dragons signed PRA 25 but both the Ospreys and Scarlets had serious doubts over the fairness of the union owning Cardiff, fearing they may turn the capital city club into a "super region" at the expense of the other three. They refused to sign, which prompted the WRU to activate the two-year notice clause on the previous PRA and set in motion big change. As a result, PRA 25 is off the table for the west Wales clubs and there is no going back, meaning a new structure for the professional game is in the offing. Tierney is tasked with coming up with the optimum structure for the professional game. The consistently poor performances of the men's national team who have lost a record 17 Test matches on the bounce will have financial ramifications for the rest of the game. As far as the WRU are concerned they have to find a way to get the national team winning consistently again because this pays for the rest of the game in Wales. With this in mind chief financial officer Leighton Davies, who is also the chief commercial officer, has a big part to play. The WRU needs to find the best model where it cannot just fund professional teams to survive but also give them the platform to thrive. It is accepted for the men's national team to get back to pre-2019 levels it needs professional teams competing for European silverware every season, which means the playing budgets need to be in the region of £9m, with significantly higher investment into the academies. Can they do this with four professional clubs? PRB chair Malcolm Wall - who is also on the WRU board - will also have a big role to play, while the likes of independent non-executive directors like Andrew Williams and Jamie Roberts will inevitably have a say. It would also be very strange if the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin was not also consulted. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Reddin does not start in a permanent capacity until September but he is heavily involved in the search for a head coach and must surely have an opinion on what the optimum structure for Welsh rugby looks like. Dragons RFC The Dragons have signed PRA 25 which means they will have fixed and increased funding for the next three years. Historically they have been the weakest Welsh club but have the best balance sheet and own their own stadium. There are four key figures here in the ownership group which includes the chair David Wright along with David Buttress and Hoyoung Huh. Highly-rated CEO Rhys Blumberg also represents the Dragons on the PRA, so he is also a key figure here. Ospreys As the CEO, Lance Bradley has been the voice of the Ospreys for the past 18 months and has regularly fronted up to both supporters on social media and the press. Despite a period of huge uncertainty Bradley has moved to assure Ospreys supporters the redevelopment of St Helens will be going ahead. The Ospreys submitted a planning application a couple of weeks ago and intend to move into their new home by the end of the year. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free But given the WRU have called in the two-year notice on PRA 23, the future of both the Ospreys and Scarlets cannot be guaranteed. But when it comes to decision making at the Ospreys surrounding the new structure of Welsh rugby, majority shareholders Y11 Sport & Media, along with former chairman and significant funding director Rob Davies are the key players. Along with Davies, Y11 CEO James Davies-Yandle and its chief operating officer Nick Angio are thought to be important figures. Article continues below Scarlets Executive chairman James Davies-Yandle represents the Scarlets on the PRB and is a key figure in the current talks. The Scarlets board includes a number of key funding directors such as former chairmen Nigel Short, Ron Jones and Huw Evans along with Philip Davies. Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels is also an important figure given his extensive knowledge and experience of Welsh rugby's development pathways.
