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Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as rugby league star joins Wales coaching team and powerhouse tipped for breakthrough
Tonight's rugby news as rugby league star joins Wales coaching team and powerhouse tipped for breakthrough The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Ben Flower has joined the Wales Women's coaching team (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Monday, June 16. Rugby league star joins Wales coaching staff Former Welsh rugby league star Ben Flower has been appointed to the Wales Women's coaching team for their summer training camp. The 37-year-old - who was also part of the coaching staff for the last Women's Rugby Word Cup in New Zealand - joins Sean Lynn's team as collision coach and will play a key role as the squad prepare for a two-Test match tour to Australia and their 2025 World Cup campaign in England later this summer. Cardiff-born Flower represented the Welsh-based Crusaders as well as Super League sides Wigan Warriors and Leigh Centurions during a glittering career that saw him win the Challenge Cup, three Super League titles and the World Club challenge with Wigan. On the international stage, he won 17 caps for the Wales rugby league side. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Having moved into coaching, Flower has taken charge of the South Wales Jets rugby league side as well as working with Wales Women four years ago. Upon returning to the coaching staff for a busy summer of rugby, he 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. Article continues below '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.' Wales are looking to turn around a poor run of form that saw them lose every match at the recent Women's Six Nations, with head coach Lynn hoping that added focus on their collision work will make a big difference during their upcoming World Cup campaign. Welcoming Flower to his staff, Lynn said: "'Ben is someone who has worked with this squad of players before and 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.' Ospreys powerhouse tipped for Wales call-up Departing Ospreys star Adam Beard has tipped teammate James Fender to become a Wales international despite missing out on a place on the summer tour to Japan. The 23-year-old lock has been a consistent performer for the Ospreys, with his no-nonsense style, athleticism and huge physicality seeing him dominate stronger packs, all while getting through a massive amount of work in defence. He had been on Warren Gatland's radar last season, but injuries prevented him from being called into the Wales squad. With Beard and Will Rowlands also not selected for the Japan tour by interim coach Matt Sherratt, Fender could count himself as extremely unlucky not to be picked, with many onlookers viewing it as the perfect time for him to be blooded as an international. Fender has been tipped to win international honours But while he looks set to have to wait to win his first cap, Beard has no doubt that Fender has the ability to thrive as an international second row, with another teammate, Rhys Davies, also tipped to add to his three Wales caps if he can steer clear of further injuries. 'There are some good second rows in Wales,' Beard told RugbyPass. 'I know from playing at the Ospreys that they have boys pushing through. "James Ratti is in the squad but they also have Rhys Davies and James Fender. Rhys has had some bad luck with injuries. If he has a run of games, it won't be long before he's wearing the Welsh jersey again. 'James is only 23, but he has all the attributes to be an international second row," he added. "He's had good exposure over the past couple of years, has taken charge of the set-piece and is learning with every game.' Borthwick names England squad By PA Sport Staff England head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-man training squad for next weekend's match against a France XV. The squad includes nine Bath and Leicester players – Charlie Ewels, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Will Muir, Max Ojomoh, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet – that featured in Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final, plus Bath's Sam Underhill, who missed the game due to suspension. However, there is no place for 21-year-old Saracens scrum-half Charlie Bracken, the son of former England international Kyran, one of 16 uncapped players named in the original training group when it was confirmed by England Rugby on Monday. Sale flanker Ben Curry is included among a list of players in rehabilitation along with Northampton duo Fraser Dingwall and George Furbank and Bristol's Harry Randall. Players who have been called up to Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions party for their tour to Australia were not considered for selection, and neither were Joe Batley, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Lozowski, George Martin or Ollie Sleightholme. An England XV will face a France XV at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday ahead of Test matches against the United States and Argentina. Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Manny Iyogun (Northampton), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Curtis Langdon (Northampton), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Guy Pepper (Bath), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Sam Underhill (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens). Article continues below Backs: Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester), Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Joe Carpenter (Sale), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), George Ford (Sale), Will Muir (Bath), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Raffi Quirke (Sale), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Spencer (Bath), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen ‘join race for prolific youth striker who had interest from Celtic during 51-goal season'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN have reportedly expressed interest in signing a prolific young striker who was on trial at Celtic this year. The Irish teenage sensation has several clubs on his trail - including Celtic and Aberdeen - after scoring 51 goals in all competitions last season. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 1 He had more than one trial at Lennoxtown Credit: The Sun Shay Reid, 16, topped the Northern Ireland U20 Premiership Development League goal-scoring charts, scoring 23 goals in 32 appearances. The Cliftonville prospect enjoyed an even more impressive campaign down an age group with the U18s too as he found the net 21 times in 25 outings. His sensational form has unsurprisingly put him on the map, with several clubs from across the UK keeping tabs on his development. Reid had two trial periods at Lennoxtown at the beginning of the year but Celtic didn't make a decision on the 16-year-old. He has plenty of options elsewhere though, should Celtic decline to make a swoop, as Premiership rivals Aberdeen are believed to be interested along with a host of other clubs. The Belfast News Letter states he has also caught the attention of EFL Championship sides Preston North End and Wrexham, the newly-promoted Welsh-based club owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Meanwhile, Aberdeen are also planning a swoop for another striker to add extra firepower to the first team for next season. Jimmy Thelin is set to lose Kevin Nisbet after his loan stint from Millwall ended, while Oday Dabbagh's future at his parent club Charleroi is currently unclear. Reports state, however, that Thelin has his eyes on another target to fill the void in attack. The Dons are reportedly interested in signing Ronan Hale from Ross County following their relegation to the Championship. He scored 18 goals for the Staggies last season but failed to prevent them from the drop. The 26-year-old still has two years left on his deal at Dingwall after only joining the club last summer but he is expected to move on in the coming weeks. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham eye triple Premier League transfer including ex-England duo
Wrexham have set about their ambitious transfer activity with several Premier League stars, including Danny Ings, on their radar ahead of their Championship return Wrexham have set their sights on a number of Premier League veterans ahead of their return to the Championship with former England duo Danny Ings and Aaron Cresswell both on their radar. The pair have just left West Ham and are on the lookout for new clubs. Cresswell and Ings are both into their 30s, but will have plenty to offer if they dropped down to the second tier with the Welsh side. Wrexham, backed by their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have continued to show their financial muscle when it comes to their recruitment and are looking to add several players with top flight experience. Ings moved to West Ham from Aston Villa for £12million in January 2023, but is already no longer part of the club's plans. Cresswell, meanwhile, who has won three caps with the Three Lions, has been performing for the Hammers in the Premier League for a decade and is another player who would add valuable experience and quality. Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward is another man who is on the market, reports The Sun. He is free to leave Leicester after a difficult spell and could and has landed 44 caps for his country. He was a schoolkid at Wrexham before joining Liverpool in 2012 and could relish the chance to return to the Racecourse Ground. The Welsh-based outfit have also put former Wolves centre-back Craig Dawson on their shortlist of targets, but may face competition from Derby. The 35-year-old wants to remain playing but the Rams want to bring him to Pride Park. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has also admitted that the club will look to exercise the loan market, knowing that players will be willing to drop down one league. "The loan market is something we are looking at," he told The Athletic. "It's all about touching base with the Premier League loans managers, making sure we have an understanding of who could become available. "We can probably attract a better calibre of player than we'd have been able to do in the past. Premier League teams are reluctant to loan out their elite players into League One. It has to be a player you believe can make an instant impact and is going to make a significant contribution as the season goes on." Wrexham have become the first team to reach the second via three promotions in a row. They've shot up from the National League and secured their spot in the Championship after finishing second in League One. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Business News Wales
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Tech Company Backs £1bn Regeneration Programme
Elaine and TJ Amas, of Swansea-based DocFlite. Pic: DocFlite A Swansea-based tech company has backed the city's ongoing £1 billion regeneration programme. TJ Amas, co-founder of DocFlite, says schemes like 71/72 Kingsway and the Princess Quarter development are positives for Swansea's business community. Set up in 2019 and based in the Uplands part of the city, DocFlite helps streamline the process of document management. The company's goal is to make it easy for businesses to create, edit and share documents online – from internal staff documentation and contracts to quotes and tenders for work. The company now has close to 90 clients throughout the UK – many of which are businesses in the cleaning sector. They include several Swansea and Welsh-based businesses like Mrs Buckét, The Ready Maids and FSG. TJ, who runs DocFlite with his wife, Elaine, said: 'Swansea is a great city to be in the tech sector. Matt Warren at Veeqo has shown what's possible here by growing from a small team to a major business. 'Swansea is also a small city where everything is in close proximity. This means businesses – including those in the tech sector – can benefit from the closeness of the universities, which is ideal if you need support, expertise or collaboration. 'The ongoing regeneration of the city is another big positive, with Swansea Council, other organisations and the private sector investing so much. 'The 71/72 Kingsway development looks like a state-of-the-art facility, along with the Innovation Matrix in SA1. These facilities have the potential to be fantastic opportunities for businesses and real catalysts for growth, along with schemes like the Princess Quarter development which is bringing a touch of London to Swansea. 'Start-up businesses like these environments and it's also fantastic that Tramshed Tech have opened in the Palace Theatre building.' Father-of-two TJ, who's originally from Nigeria, first arrived in Swansea over 20 years ago to study A Levels at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School. He says businesses are still attracted to co-working spaces and office environments, despite the impact of the pandemic. TJ said: 'If you're in a co-working space and there's another start-up or business next to you, it helps drive competition and growth. You only get that when you see what others are doing on a day-to-day basis.' Both the 71/72 Kingsway development and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David's Innovation Matrix scheme are part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal. The Princess Quarter offices scheme in Swansea city centre is led by Kartay Investments.
South Wales Argus
17-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Welsh TV sector boosted by hit BBC show filmed in Cardiff
Season four of Industry, which airs on the BBC in the UK, is again being produced by Welsh-based production company Bad Wolf, this time with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales as part of a four-year deal between the two parties. As part of the deal, Bad Wolf, via Screen Alliance Wales, provides on-set training and work shadowing experiences for people entering the industry, as well as up-skilling opportunities for people looking to progress their careers. The show follows the high-pressured lives of a group of young bankers in London. Skills and Culture Minister Jack Sargeant visited the set this week and met cast, crew, and four trainees working on the show. He said: "It's been a pleasure to hear what valuable training opportunities Charlie, Jacob, Rosie, and Robyn have experienced working on Industry 4. "We are immensely proud of our Welsh film and TV sector and opportunities like these further develop our homegrown talent and cements Wales' reputation as a first-class filming location with skilled crew able to service high-end productions."
