Welsh coach Leigh Jones is heading back to the UK to take up a newly-created role of general manager of rugby at Leicester Tigers. The former Ebbw Vale, Dragons and Wales forwards coach, who is currently general manager of rugby performance with the Hong Kong Rugby Union, will take-up his new post at the English Premiership club on May 1. He led the Wales A programme under Graham Henry and went on to become a senior member of the Japanese support team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup alongside the now England head coach Eddie Jones and Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick.

Wales Wheelchair Rugby League head coach Stephen Jones has announced a 17 player train-on squad, which includes six potential debutants, for camps in both March and April to prepare for the upcoming Celtic Cup. Jones will later narrow the squad down to a maximum of 13 for the Celtic Cup, which is being held at The University of Edinburgh’s Sport & Exercise Pleasance facility on Saturday 12th June, the tournament having been postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Mike Phillips has heaped praise on Wayne Pivac and told England they need to wise up with referees. The former Wakes scrum-half has pointed to Pivac’s selection policy in the autumn as sewing the seeds for the Triple Crown success, with the willingness of the Wales coach to give youngsters game time to earn valuable experience. But Phillips also believes Wales are way ahead of England – who were beaten 40-24 in Cardiff last weekend – in their recognition of how to communicate with officials, without getting on the wrong side of them.

Cardiff Blues will be confined to the history books next season when the Welsh region rebrands itself as Cardiff Rugby. After 18 years as the Blues, the professional rugby team in the Welsh capital will change its name and image in a bid to get closer to its famous past and heritage created by Cardiff RFC. It means the Arms Park will now host two teams with almost identical names – Cardiff Rugby, who will play in the Guinness Pro14, and Cardiff Rugby Football Club, who play in the Welsh Premiership.

Callum Sheedy says Wales knew England’s discipline would crack “if we could choke them enough” after he put the boot into Eddie Jones’ team. England conceded a damaging 14 penalties in their 40-24 Six Nations defeat at the Principality Stadium. They imploded during the final quarter when substitute Sheedy kicked three penalties in nine minutes during a 16-point unanswered burst by Wales that meant Triple Crown glory and left them two wins away from a second Grand Slam in three seasons.

Wales have something England don’t possess, according to injured playmaker Rhys Patchell – it’s the Alun Wyn Jones stare. It has been highlighted by former England World Cup winner, now pundit, Matt Dawson in his BBC online column in which he compared the leadership the Wales captain provides to that which England have under their skipper Owen Farrell. Dawson said: “Because there are no fans, you can hear everything now. I hear the England players and it is all cajoling and tapping people on the bum telling them it is OK when they have just given away their 13th penalty.

Wayne Pivac has admitted French referee Pascal Gauzere got it badly wrong at the Principality Stadium – he should definitely have yellow carded Maro Itoje. Whilst all the focus may have been on Gauzere’s controversial decisions to allow tries for Josh Adams and Liam Williams to stand in Wales’ 40-24 Triple Crown-clinching victory, the Wales coach pointed to another decision by the official. Itoje conceded five penalties on his own as England’s discipline fell apart in the later stages of the match and Pivac admitted he expected the England second row to be sent to the sin bin.

The joy of George North’s 100th cap landmark for Wales will be lined with sadness at his boyhood club. The Wales centre will lead his team out against England today, hoping his celebrations for a century of appearances can inspire the delivery of a Six Nations Triple Crown. But his record-breaking milestone has been put into perspective by the death of a member of his first rugby club.

The first crowd-less Wales v England Six Nations match will take place this afternoon – an eerie prospect, even a year on from the disappearance of fans from most of our sporting fixtures. No roars, no shouts and certainly no singing. Rhodri Jeremiah details the power of song at matches between the old rivals. Let’s be honest here,  we all love a sing song. Whether it’s in the shower, the pub or even at a rugby international.

Wayne Pivac has praised George North’s attitude and appetite as he prepares to win his 100th Wales cap and become a rugby union record-breaker. North will reach a century in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against England at the Principality Stadium. And at 28 years and 320 days, he will eclipse Australia captain Michael Hooper by four weeks as the youngest player to clock up 100 appearances for their country.

Eddie Jones has told England to pick up their own arousal levels when they face Wales this weekend. But it’s not a case of thinking Welsh fires can melt the mighty iceberg, says Harri Morgan. It’s more about Wales being coldly, clinical themselves. Expect Eddie’s England to arrive in Cardiff brimming with whoop and holler. Each milestone in the game will be celebrated to the hilt. Every high pitched rejoice or northern grunt, designed to nudge up the level on their “arousal-ometer”.

By Paul Jones Shane Williams has backed George North to chase down his international try-scoring record after rediscovering his love of rugby and earning his 100th Wales cap. North, 28, will bring up his century of appearances when Wales face England in Cardiff on Saturday, having missed the win over Scotland last time out due […]

Welsh coal mining once used to produce prop forwards for Wales, but these days few jobs sit beside being a professional rugby player. Except, it seems, if you’re a farmer from west Wales as Wyn Jones is proving is this Six Nations and as he tells Graham Thomas. Wyn Jones has revealed a return to shearing sheep during lockdown got him in the mood to strong-arm opponents in this season’s Six Nations. The Wales prop has been one of the big success stories of the tournament so far – collecting the man-of-the-match award in taking the clippers to Ireland and then giving the Scots a haircut with another forceful display in the win at Murrayfield.

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric insists his Triple Crown chasers are level-headed ahead of their showdown against England on Saturday. “We know we haven’t been playing at the top of our game and we know we have got a lot to improve on.” says the Ospreys captain. “We are not a perfect team, but we are still winning games which shows we’re doing something right.

Siwan Lillicrap has been confirmed as captain for Wales Women’s rescheduled Six Nations campaign in April by head coach Warren Abrahams. The forward took over the armband in November 2019 from hooker Carys Phillips.

Wayne Pivac has been given a New Zealand seal of approval from fellow Kiwi John Mitchell just days before the pair clash in the Six Nations. England defence coach Mitchell has backed the direction in which Pivac is taking his Wales team, who are just one win away from an unexpected Triple Crown. The two countrymen will meet at the Principality Stadium on Saturday with Pivac having received an unsolicited pat on the back from the former All Blacks and USA head coach.

Jonathan Humphreys has reminded Wales that a “world class” England team will be coming to Cardiff on Saturday – despite their recent problems. The Wales forwards coach is aware of the quality that will be in the opposition ranks and has stressed his own team will need to be at their very best if they are to claim an unexpected Triple Crown. England are one from two so far in the Six Nations after a shock home defeat to Scotland in the opening round and a comfortable but still scratchy win over winless Italy the following week. 

Wales have the ability to make life tough for England on Saturday, according to former red rose prop Phil Vickery, who says if he bet then his money would be on Wales. The former World Cup winner fears more setbacks for his old side in this weekend’s Six Nations clash in Cardiff unless they can make better use of their “embarrassing” array of talent. Wales, argues Vickery, have finally got past the “hangover” from the Warren Gatland era and are making progress under Wayne Pivac.

It may be Wales-England week, but West Walian Steven Shingler wants to take Ealing Trailfinders to the Gallagher Premiership – and prepare for his next life as a professional coach. The man from Hendy has previously plied his trade at London Irish, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and Stade Montois but believes Ealing have the potential to be as big as any of them. Ealing are a hugely ambitious club owned by multi-millionaire Mike Gooley and have their sights set on the big time.

Ken Owens has warned England to expect no less intensity at an empty Principality Stadium than if there were 70,000 Welsh fans screaming at them. The Wales hooker intends to add to the problems of Eddie Jones, who says his side are suffering from the drop in aggression that is evident across rugby and football due to the coronavirus-enforced absence of spectators at grounds. England suffered their first Twickenham defeat to Scotland since 1983 before beating Italy 41-18 in another underwhelming home display.