Conor Murray has admitted the loss of Alun Wyn Jones will be huge for the Lions after the Ireland scrum-half replaced the Wales skipper as tour captain. Murray was the surprise choice to replace Jones as British and Irish Lions captain for the trip to South Africa. The Lions suffered a devastating blow as Jones was ruled out of the tour after dislocating his shoulder in the 28-10 victory over Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday.

By Tom Prosser “The boys are all extremely disappointed as we are like one big family but we know we have to bounce back-that is what great teams do.” Those are the motivational words of Wales U20s skipper Alex Mann who is eager for his side to write the wrongs of their 40 points to 12 defeat to a strong Ireland team. “It’s international rugby at the of the day, we knew it was going to be tough,” says Mann.

Wales were unable to make it back-to-back wins in the U20 Six Nations as Ireland ran in five tries in a dominant 40-12 victory at Cardiff Arms Park. After starting with a victory over Italy, skipper Alex Mann’s side found the tournament favourites a much tougher assignment, although they did manage two tries themselves. Wales knew they were going to be given a sterner test by last season’s Triple Crown winners and the Grand Slam champions from 2019.

Scotland U20 head coach, Sean Lineen was disappointed with his team’s performance in their 31-12 loss to England in the second round of the Six Nations at Cardiff Arms Park. Despite some spirited defence and impressive individual performances, they were outclassed by an organised and efficient performance from the Red Rose. England ran in five tries including one from the outstanding, Sam Riley who was awarded man of the match for his efforts. The others came from captain Jack Van Poortvliet, Fin Smith, Deago Bailey and Arthur Relton.

Sam Costelow will be expected to roll out the big gun when Wales face Ireland on Friday in their second match of the U20 Six Nations championship. The young Scarlets fly-half is going to be told to get his long range kicking boots on as Wales plan to meet fire with fire against an Irish team who kicked a great deal in their opening win over Scotland. It was Costelow’s assured place-kicking that proved critical for Wales in their 25-8 victory over Italy last Saturday at a rain-lashed Cardiff Arms Park.

The Six Nations U20 tournament continues on Friday with Wales taking on Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park. Before that, though, there will be an English player facing Scotland who hopes a big Welsh influence tips the balance in his favour. Orlando Bailey is the apprentice learning his trade at Bath from master craftsman Rhys Priestland, as he tells Tom Prosser. England U20 star Orlando Bailey has revealed how Rhys Priestland is his guiding light who he bombards with “10 questions every day.” The highly-rated England U20 full-back is at Bath, where he admits to picking the brains of the 50-cap Welsh international fly-half whenever he has the opportunity.

By Rob Cole Manon Johnes should have been getting ready to go to the Women’s World Cup later this year, but she is just as happy to be preparing to make her debut in another major sporting occasion, the Women’s Varsity Match at Welford Road. With a season of Premier XVs rugby behind her with Bristol Bears, as well as another Six Nations campaign with Wales, the 20-year-old Oxford fresher should have nothing to fear about facing Cambridge in Leicester on 4 July. First capped by Wales as a 17-year against South Africa in 2018, the back row forward with 13 Welsh caps to her name, has grown in stature on the international stage throughout her teenage years and was looking forward to locking horns with New Zealand and Australia at the World Cup. That is until it was postponed until next year.

Ioan Cunningham insists there as fare more to come from his Wales team after they won their opening match of the U20 Six Nations tournament against Italy. Wales eased to a comfortable 25-8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park, but the coach believes they have only shown a glimpse of their capabilities. Despite having not played a competitive game since March 2020, Wales dispatched the Azzurri with a penalty try and 18 points from the boot of Sam Costelow.

By Hannah Blackwell Wales’ Jasmine Joyce has been selected to go to her second Olympic Games, taking part in the rugby sevens.  She is one of only three players who have retained their places in the squad from Team GB’s fourth place finish at the Rio games in 2016.  For Jasmine, from St David’s in Pembrokeshire, it’s the culmination of five years of hard work.

The U20 Six Nations starts this weekend, when Wales take on Italy at Cardiff Arms Park. On the same day, at the same venue, England face France, while Scotland kick things off against Ireland. Some well known fathers will be keeping close attention on the progress of their sons, as Wales’ Dan John tells Graham […]

Our reporter Tom Prosser spoke to Wales U20s coach Ioan Cunningham at today’s press conference. Wales kick off their Six Nations Campaign against Italy on Saturday.

PRO 14 chief Martin Anayi has claimed the newly titled United Rugby Championship will operate at international rugby standards. That will raise an eyebrow among regular watchers of the Guinness Pro14 in Wales who have got used to many matches where the standards and intensity have been way beneath Test level. But Anayi insists the introduction of four new South African teams to compete in a new 16-team tournament will raise the league to new heights.

The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour could be the toughest test of Warren Gatland’s coaching career according to three-time Lions tourist Dai Young. It’s not that Gatland won’t have the talent to face down the world champion Springboks, but Young believes his biggest challenge will be in keeping his players mentally fresh off the field when they are confined to their strict COVID bubble. “There is nobody more experienced than Warren Gatland and he knows how to get the best out of teams. But this is a different kettle of fish for any coach,” said Young.

Wales U20 head coach Ioan Cunningham has told his players to win, but with style, when they launch their Six Nations campaign next week. The former Scarlets forwards coach – who was recently confirmed in his new role – has named a squad of 32 for the delayed tournament which kicks off next Saturday at Cardiff Arms Park against Italy. “Overall, it is a fairly young squad, there are only six players carrying over from last year’s group so it’s an induction of fresh new talent to the group which is exciting,” said Cunningham, who has taken over from Gareth Williams.

Wales maintained their hold on the wheelchair Celtic Cup, raising the trophy for the fifth consecutive time since the competition’s inception in 2016. They impressively accounted for Ireland and Scotland at the Oriam Performance Sport Centre at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, racking up 198 points and conceding only 34.

Euros Evans may not have had much competitive rugby to enjoy over the past year, but he has still been able to enjoy the fruits of his labour as director of rugby at Coleg Sir Gar. As the figurehead at one of Wales and the UK’s leading rugby colleges, not to mention head coach at Welsh Premiership club Llandovery, Evans knows what it takes to develop players and push them up through the system. That’s why he was delighted to see two Sir Gar old boys, Javan Sebastian and Harri Doel, finally make their mark.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac believes young Dragons lock Ben Carter has the raw potential to step into the shoes of the great Alun Wyn Jones after he was handed his first senior international call. Carter, 20, has captained Wales at Under-18 and Under-19 level and has also played for the Under-20 side but only made a full Dragons debut against Munster in November last year. This has been his first full season of professional rugby, but the young tyro has impressed sufficiently to become one of five uncapped players in Wales’ 34-man summer Test squad.

Cardiff Blues ended their era as regional originals with Dai Young admitting to the same feeling their fans have often suffered in the past 18 years – frustration. Their last match of the season was also their final one under the identifiable banner as the Blues, a name they have worn with varying degrees of comfort since 2013. From next season, the Blues will be no more and the team in the capital will be rebranded as Cardiff Rugby – name that is as much a wistful look back to the past as it is a bold stride into the future.

Former Wales Under 20s Grand Slam winner Joe Thomas is hoping his American adventure can earn him a second crack of the whip in Welsh rugby. The 25-year-old has become the first Welshman to play in the MLR where he plies his trade for Houston SaberCats in Texas. And the Morriston RFC product has found a new lease of life in the States, where he believes rugby will develop into a major sport.

Cardiff Blues head coach Dai Young has named a strong team for their final match of the season against Zebre on Saturday – with a hint at the wealth of options he has at his disposal for the future. The Blues’ final match in the Rainbow Cup sees Tomos Williams on the bench after the Wales scrum-half put pen to paper on a new contract, but fellow current internationals Willis Halaholo, Jarrod Evans Cory Hill and James Botham are all set to start. Young is still without many of their star performers – most notably, seasoned internationals, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins and Hallam Amos.