Welsh Rugby

Cardiff Met Face Exeter Test. . . As They Bid To Make Their First BUCS Super Rugby Final Since 2018

By Rob Carbon Cardiff Met head to Topsham, in Devon, to face Exeter University in the semi-finals of the BUCS Super Rugby play-offs today hoping to stay on course for their first final since 2018. Danny Milton’s men pipped local rivals Cardiff University 34-33 in another thriller to reach the last four a week ago and will head to the south west knowing that the last time the two sides clashed they came out on top 36-14 at Cyncoed.

Editor | Mar 30, 2022
Llandovery College

Newport To Face The Wizards In End Of Season Cup Showdown

By Gareth James Newport will now have their eyes firmly fixed on a possible league and cup double after finally achieving their quest for four wins in the same season over arch-rivals Cardiff after beating them 34-28 in the WRU Premier Cup semi-final at Sardis Road. Unbeaten at the top of the Indigo Group Premiership, […]

Gareth James | Mar 29, 2022
Six Nations promo

Alisha Butchers Says Wales Have Responded To Carrying Pressure . . . And There Is More To Come In TikTok Women’s Six Nations

Alisha Butchers insists there is a lot more to come from Wales after their stunning opening victory in the first round of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations. Butchers was named player of the match after his side’s dramatic 27-19 comeback victory over Ireland in Dublin, which has given Wales instant lift-off in the tournament. Next, Wales host Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday and Butchers reckons she and her teammates are in the mood to continue their rapid improvement from last season.

Gareth James | Mar 28, 2022
Super Rygbi Cymru

Alisha Butchers Is Happy To Take Small Pay Cut As She Is Living Her Dream

By Lucy Rees Alisha Butchers has just agreed to a pay cut – and she couldn’t be happier. The Wales rugby international will be heading into the forthcoming Women’s Six Nations tournament as one of the destined dozen, the 12 players who made history by becoming the country’s first group of female full-time professional players. […]

Lucy Rees | Mar 25, 2022
Six Nations promo

Welsh Rugby Union Rocked By Sexism Allegations

By Gareth James The Welsh Rugby Union has been accused of sexism and misogyny in a formal complaint by a senior employee, according to reports. The woman – who has since left the WRU – has claimed she was subjected to abusive comments and witnessed racist remarks being made. The claims – made in the […]

Gareth James | Mar 24, 2022
Six Nations promo

Elinor Snowsill Insists Wales Can Deal With Irish World Cup Backlash As TikTok Women’s Six Nations Looms

Wales Women outside-half Elinor Snowsill is expecting a backlash from Ireland in this Saturday’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener but is confident Wales are up to the task. Ioan Cunningham’s side travel to Dublin to face an Ireland side hurting at missing out on World Cup qualification. Snowsill expects a tough challenge but is excited on the eve oof the tournament, which is expected to generate more interest than any previously held.

Steffan Thomas | Mar 23, 2022
Six Nations promo

Nigel Owens Questions Wales’ Ability To Qualify For The Knockout Stages of The World Cup

Former international referee Nigel Owens reckons Wales are as low as they have been for a number of years following Saturday’s shock defeat to Italy, and based on current form, they will struggle to reach the knockout stages of next year’s World Cup. Wales ended up finishing fifth in this year’s Six Nations following their 22-21 loss to Italy in Cardiff, and Owens believes they have got a lot of work to do before the 2023 World Cup comes around. “This is as low as Wales have been for a number of years,” Owens told William Hill.

Gareth James | Mar 22, 2022

Wales Slump Down The World Rugby Rankings. . . Less Than Three Years Since They Topped The World

By Gareth James Wales have now dropped outside the top eight teams in the world following their dismal defeat to Italy on Saturday- they currently find themselves closer to Japan and Fiji, rather than the likes of France, Ireland and England. Wayne Pivac’s side have consequently fallen to ninth in the rankings, with Argentina now moving into the top eight.

Gareth James | Mar 22, 2022
Alun Wyn Jones is about to start his stint in France with Toulon. Pic: Toulon Rugby

Alun Wyn Jones Says It’s The End Of The Line For Some Welsh Players . . . But Has No Plans To Be One Of Them

Alun Wyn Jones reckons some Welsh players have been saddled for the final time and are about to be put out to grass – but the old warhorse doesn’t plan to be one of them. Jones may be the oldest player in the squad and injuries over the past two seasons have disrupted his career, but he appears determined to continue. The 36-year-old’s landmark 150th cap for his country turned into a nightmare on Saturday as Italy won in Cardiff for the first time to scratch a seven-year losing itch in the Six Nations.

David Williams | Mar 21, 2022
Wales coach Wayne Pivac applauds Pic: Simon King/Replay Images.

Wayne Pivac Insists He Is Still The Man To Take Wales To The World Cup . . . Despite Fifth Place Six Nations Finish

Wayne Pivac insists he will get it right again with Wales and is still the man to take them to next year’s World Cup. His defiance came after the head coach suffered his worst day in the job – a shock 22-21 defeat to Italy in Cardiff. It meant Wales finished fifth in the final Six Nations table a year after winning the title as Italy won for the first time in the tournament for seven years.

Gareth James | Mar 19, 2022
Six Nations promo

Italy Are Bad, But They Are Not Hopeless . . . And Celebration-Mode Wales Need To Get The Job Done Before The Drinks Arrive

Wales finish their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy, where a win for Wayne Pivac’s side could lead to a third-placed finish. The Italians have lost 36 consecutive matches in the tournament, but Tomas Marks says the Azzurri have reason to remain hopeful, despite the weight of statistics piling up against them. “Everyone tells them they’re bad and they believe it,” says from Conor O’Shea about Italian rugby. Over the last 36 matches in the Six Nations, Italy – who play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday in the final round of the Six Nations – have allowed too many episodes of self-doubt to affect their performances.

Graham Thomas | Mar 19, 2022
Alun Wyn Jones is about to start his stint in France with Toulon. Pic: Toulon Rugby

Alun Wyn Jones Will Be 150 Not Out . . . But Maybe He Should Have Stayed In The Pavilion

Alun Wyn Jones will win his 150th cap for Wales against Italy on Saturday – a landmark no other player, for any country, has ever reached before. But the selection was not without controversy since it is four months since cap No.149 and as Harri Morgan considers, others on his position were developing strongly. Belting out all of the ‘gwlads’ for a 150th time, surrounded by supporters in a packed Principality Stadium. Relieved that a week of awkward limelight deflection is behind him.

Graham Thomas | Mar 18, 2022
Dan Biggar. Pic: Simon King/Replay Images.

Dan Biggar Saluted By Fellow Centurion Stephen Jones As Wales No.10 Gets Set For Three Figures Landmark

Stephen Jones has hailed Dan Biggar’s “incredible achievement” as he prepares to welcome him into Wales’ 100-cap club. And former Wales fly-half Jones has also highlighted the “mental resilience” required for longevity in Welsh rugby’s highest-profile playing position. Wales assistant coach Jones reached three figures almost 11 years ago when he lined up against the Barbarians in Cardiff.

David Williams | Mar 18, 2022
Wales U20 and former Scarlets forwards coach Ioan Cunningham. Pic: WRU.

Ioan Cunningham Wants Three Wins From Wales As Expectations Rise Ahead Of Women’s Six Nations

Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has targeted three wins from their upcoming Six Nations campaign. Cunningham has named a 37-strong squad ahead of their championship opener in Ireland next weekend, a tournament in which interest and expectations will have been raised due to much needed modernising of the women’s game in Wales. Wales have been bolstered by having professional players in their ranks for the first time, following the Welsh Rugby Union’s historic decision to award 12 full-time contracts in January.

Steffan Thomas | Mar 17, 2022
Dan Biggar. Pic: Simon King/Replay Images.

Age Is Just A Number, Says Dan Biggar Who Will Become 100-Cap Winner At 32

Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale against Italy will be a very special occasion for Wales captain Dan Biggar. The Northampton Saints playmaker has been breaking records throughout the course of this championship having become the 140th player to lead Wales, while also winning his 100th test cap against Scotland. But at the Principality Stadium on Saturday the 32-year-old will win his 100th cap for Wales against the Azzurri.

David Williams | Mar 17, 2022
Wayne Pivac wants to bring more success to Wales. Pic: WRU.

Wayne Pivac Denies There Was Pressure From WRU Marketing Department To Rush Back Alun Wyn Jones

Wayne Pivac has denied suggestions Wales have brought back Alun Wyn Jones as a marketing ploy to sell tickets. The 36-year-old second row has regained fitness from a shoulder injury to come back straight into the side for their final match of the Six Nations at home to Italy on Saturday. It will be Jones’ 150th cap for Wales – a landmark achievement – while Dan Biggar, who retains the captaincy, will become the seventh Welsh player to reach 100 appearances for his country.

Paul Jones | Mar 15, 2022

Wales Lead The Six Nations . . . In Early Team Selections

The 2022 Guinness Six Nations reaches its climax this weekend with the final round of fixtures all on Saturday as France chase the Grand Slam. Much of the build-up in the week will focus on the team announcements ahead of the all-important final round. Round 4 saw France keep their Grand Slam hopes alive with […]

Graham Thomas | Mar 15, 2022

Wales Skipper Joe Hawkins Hopes His Men Will Finish With A Flourish

Wales U20 centre Joe Hawkins is confident his side can bounce back from defeat to France and finish the U20 Six Nations off in style with a victory against Italy at Parc Eirias on Sunday. The Ospreys midfielder, who took over the Welsh captaincy from the suspended Alex Mann, says his side have bounced back from adversity before and they deserve to finish off their campaign with a victory. “We have worked hard throughout this tournament; we’ve had to bounce back from adversity after the first game, so we have shown a lot of character already. I think we deserve another ‘W’ but that is on us to go out and put a performance in.

David Williams | Mar 14, 2022
Wales U20 and former Scarlets forwards coach Ioan Cunningham. Pic: WRU.

Ioan Cunningham Happy With Six Nations Countdown, Even Though Professional Era For Wales Women Starts With Defeat

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham believes his team are well placed to make an impact in the Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations despite defeat to the USA in their warm-up game. Cunningham’s side lost 31-23 to the Americans at Parc y Scarlets at the weekend, where the previously overlooked Sioned Harries made her first appearance in over two years. It was Wales’ first match since the Welsh Rugby Union introduced full-time professional contracts for 12 players and although it ended in defeat, Cunningham felt it was a useful marker against a team ranked sixth in the world.

Hannah Blackwell | Mar 14, 2022
Taulupe Faletau promo

We’re Better Than This . . . And Next Year Will Prove It, Insists Wales Star Taulupe Faletau

Taulupe Faletau insists Wales are better than their results would have us believe and reckons the proof will come next season. The Wales No.8 claims 2023 – which includes a World Cup as well as a Six Nations – will see Wales revert to being a team that wins close games rather than loses them. The Lions star produced a familiar world class display which almost proved enough to deny Grand Slam-seeking France in a raucous Cardiff on Friday night before Les Bleus edged home, 13-9.

Paul Jones | Mar 13, 2022