Joe Westwood is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Keith, by facing New Zealand when Wales U20 kick-off their World Rugby U20 Championships in South Africa against the Baby Blacks this weekend. Keith Westwood played for the Combined Abertillery & Ebbw Vale side that faced Wilson Whineray’s 1963 All Blacks at Abertillery Park in a game the tourists won 13-0. A fine player for Ebbw Vale and Newbridge, he went on to become a legendary coach at Newbridge. 

Wales U20s scrum-half Archie Hughes has signed a new contract with the Scarlets. Having started his rugby journey with Tenby RFC juniors, Hughes burst onto the senior stage with two tries on his debut in a pre-season game against Nottingham at Parc y Scarlets two years ago.

Byron Hayward has resigned as Wales U20 coach and been replaced on a temporary basis by former Wales wing Mark Jones. Hayward – who was in his second stint in the age group set-up – has stepped down as lead pathway coach after a difficult season in which his side finished bottom of the U20 Six Nations table after losing all five games.

It’s 68 years and counting since Wales last beat New Zealand. Mark Jones – who has recently returned from a spell living and working in Canterbury – says Wales are not merely up against 23 of the world’s best players on Saturday, but they are facing a sporting nation like no other, as he tells Graham Thomas. Former Crusaders coach Mark Jones has told Wales they must match the Sam Whitelock psyche if they are to have any hope of beating the All Blacks this weekend. Jones – who had a stint as defence coach with the Super Rugby champions – reckons All Blacks captain Whitelock typifies the attitude which keeps the Kiwis at the top of the global game.

Lucy and Graham sat down with former Wales and Scarlets wing, Mark Jones, to discuss the start of Wales’ autumn nation series. Discussing everything from the Welshman’s career to living in New Zealand and from facing the All Blacks to coaching the Crusaders, Canterbury and Worcester Warriors. Give it a listen on Spotify: On Amazon […]

Mark Jones has moved a lot closer to home and insists one day he wants to return to Welsh rugby. The new assistant coach at Worcester Warriors had been working in New Zealand with the all-conquering Crusaders, but even the best non-Test team in the world had to give way to coronavirus. Having made it back from Canterbury in December for a Christmas break, the pandemic and its effect on flights and transglobal workers meant the Jones family were unable to resume their new life in the southern hemisphere.

New Scarlets coach Glenn Delaney believes Mark Jones’ stint coaching in New Zealand with the Crusaders could be the making of him. Former Wales wing Jones moved to Christchurch in January to become defence coach with the all-conquering Super Rugby outfit. Crusaders are a set-up Delaney knows plenty about. The province of Canterbury is where he developed as a player before moving into a tracksuit role in England, then back in New Zealand, and then as successor to Brad Mooar this summer at Parc Y Scarlets.

It’s week three of Super Rugby this weekend and there’s plenty more Welsh interest in goings on in New Zealand. Warren Gatland’s Chiefs come up against the Crusaders, who now have former Wales wing Mark Jones in their coaching set-up. Speaking from Christchurch, Jones says his team are ready to extend Gatland’s frustrations as he told Graham Thomas. Mark Jones intends to buy Warren Gatland a beer this weekend – to think him for his guidance and commiserate on a third successive defeat. That’s the plan, at least, for the former Wales wing, who is now defence coach with the all-conquering Crusaders side in New Zealand.

Wales ‘C’ team assistant manager Owain Tudur Jones believes this evening’s international match against England C is a chance to thrive in the shop window. The former Wales and Swansea City midfielder will be in the dugout at Salford City FC’s Peninsula Stadium as the best Welsh players from the JD Welsh Premier League take on their English non-league counterparts from the Vanarama National League and below. The game will be shown live on the Sgorio Facebook page at 7.45pm on Tuesday March 19.

SERBIA 22 WALES DRAGONHEARTS 20 Stadion FK Heroj, Belgrade Wales Dragonhearts were beaten by Serbia in a hard-fought game in Belgrade in the first of a two test series.

RHONDDA OUTLAWS 50 CARDIFF BLUE DRAGONS 16 Rhondda Outlaws gained their first win of the season at Sardis Road with a fantastic second half performance against Cardiff Blue Dragons. It was a close first 40 minutes that saw the home side go in 18-12 up, but after the break the Outlaws, who shrugged off their opening day loss to Valley Cougars, let rip.

Mark Jones has named his 18-man squad for the Wales C International  to face England C in a friendly match at Jenner Park in Barry on Tuesday March 20. The squad has been selected from the JD Welsh Premier League, plus two players that will train with the squad in the camp before the game.