Danny Wilson PROFILE

Danny Wilson has claimed the chance to return to international rugby was impossible to resist after agreeing to leave Harlequins and become Steve Tandy’s first appointment as Wales head coach.

Leigh Halfpenny has always gone about his business quietly and with minimum fanfare, so it was entirely in keeping that his decision to join Harlequins was low key. No big unveiling, no leaked stories in the previous 48 hours to build the suspense.

Leigh Halfpenny will bring 17 years of wisdom and leadership to Harlequins next season, according to their coach, Danny Wilson. The former Wales and Lions full-back – now 35 – has joined the London club ahead of the new season, along with former Wales prop Wyn Jones.

Former Cardiff coach Danny Wilson was polite and complimentary about his old club but stressed his current Harlequins team can “strangle” any game after Wales’ only representatives in Europe’s top tournament were throttled on their own patch. The Investec Champions Cup tie at the Arms Park could be significant for more than just the 54-15 scoreline and the eight tries scored by Quins. It could well mark the last match in the tournament played in Wales for some time.

England prop Joe Marler has been ruled out of Harlequins’ Investec Champions Cup clash against Cardiff as his arm injury continues to be assessed. It comes amid front-row concerns for England head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of the Guinness Six Nations.

Nick Williams’ globetrotting career might have come to an end, but the former Junior All Black is concerned with the direction his former club Cardiff are heading in. Prior to his retirement in 2020 the gigantic No 8 experienced professional rugby in New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, and Wales, respectively. In total Williams represented the Auckland Blues, Munster, Aironi, Ulster, and Cardiff but it is the Welsh capital he now calls home. Williams left an indelible impact at the Arms Park, and it is no coincidence Cardiff emerged victorious in 59 percent of the games he started, and only had a 14 percent win ratio when the New Zealander was absent.

By David Williams Wales’ four rugby regions have been left counting the cost after new restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 saw professional sport effectively forced behind closed doors. A strict limit of 50 spectators was placed on sport at all levels in the country […]

Scotland have recruited a valuable spy to their camp ahead of this week’s Six Nations clash – according to Wales prop Rob Evans. The Scarlets loose-head believes Dannny Wilson – who left the Cardiff Blues at the end of last season to become Scotland’s forwards coach – has a wealth of information on Warren Gatland’s squad. The Scots have had a disappointing tournament so far, with a victory over Italy followed by back-to-back defeats to Ireland and France.

Over 50 athletes at the Commonwealth Games, a record-breaking Winter Olympian, a constant flow of former students representing Wales in rugby and football – and England in cricket and basketball  – and two teams on the verge of Europe…Is Cardiff Met University the most important sports organisation in Wales? 

The celebrations from Cardiff Blues epic Challenge Cup comeback win over Gloucester in Bilbao may finally be subsiding. Now, as Geraint Powell argues in his latest column for Dai Sport, the issue is getting things right off the pitch to ensure future success. Few would begrudge the Cardiff Blues region their 31-30 win over Gloucester in the final of the second tier European Challenge Cup final in Bilbao last Friday.

Josh Navidi looks set to miss Wales’ summer tour after picking up a suspected dislocated shoulder in Cardiff Blues’ European Challenge Cup triumph in Bilbao. Navidi came off after only seven minutes in the 31-30 victory over Gloucester as he landed on the point of his right shoulder in a typically strong carry. Olly Robinson came on to replace him and picked up the Heineken Man of the Match award.

Gareth Anscombe revealed patience, perseverance and pinpoint accuracy enabled him to win the European Challenge Cup for Cardiff Blues. The Wales star – who was denied a match-winning role with a disputed try attempt against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations – showed nerves of steel to land a penalty kick that snatched a thrilling 31-30 victory over Gloucester in Bilbao. It meant the perfect send-off for departing head coach Danny Wilson, who is joining Wasps as forwards coach this summer.