Tonight's rugby news as Welsh international's career ends abruptly and forgotten Wales star finds spark
Tonight's rugby news as Welsh international's career ends abruptly and forgotten Wales star finds spark
The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Callum Sheedy of Cardiff
(Image: Getty Images )
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Wednesday, May 14.
Lydiate's rugby career officially over
Dan Lydiate has officially played his final game of professional rugby after the veteran flanker was ruled out of the Dragon's final URC match against the Vodacom Bulls due to concussion.
The Dragons will travel from Cape Town to Pretoria without Lydiate, Jared Rosser (pec), and Rhodri Jones (calf), who have all returned home injured.
Lydiate, a bona fide Wales icon and former British & Irish Lions star, announced his retirement in April and was forced off early in last weekend's loss to the Stormers. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
'It's sad Dan couldn't get one final run-out,' said head coach Filo Tiatia. 'He's been an outstanding player and a real leader for us."
He added: 'He has been awesome for us. He is a player coach and we have looked to get that balance this season. But in the first block we picked up a few injuries and the plan changed.
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'He played in that first game (with Ospreys) and he was instrumental. Dan has been great to work with. He is working hard with his coaching, and he will move into the programme next season.
'He has been so impactful. When he broke his neck as a young man he came back, he was a persistent young person back then and he still has those same traits.'
With several seniors sidelined, the Dragons have brought in younger players like academy forward Owen Conquer.
Looking ahead to Saturday's game, Tiatia called for 'one final push' against a formidable Bulls side, currently second in the URC. 'It's a tough place to play, but a great opportunity for our young players to step up,' he added.
Sheedy: I've got my love for rugby back
Cardiff fly-half Callum Sheedy says he has rediscovered his love for rugby after enjoying a solid first season at the Arms Park.
The Wales playmaker, who has won 16 caps for his country, joined his hometown club from Bristol last summer.
Sheedy will readily admit that not all parts of his game have been firing on all cylinders, but - as Cardiff bid to make the URC play-offs for the first time - it's clear that he's enjoying himself in the Welsh capital.
'I have loved it," said Sheedy. "It's been a rollercoaster. Plenty of ups some downs. Very passionate crowds so something I have really enjoyed.
"It's been everything times 100 what I expected and wanted. I have found my love for rugby back.
"The coaches here are amazing and let you go out on the pitch and enjoy yourself and let your make decisions for yourself. I have thoroughly enjoyed it from a personal point of view.
'I feel as if I have hopefully added some value. There are parts of my game which I have been disappointed with.
"I am sure there is no secret that my goalkicking has not been great. I get told that quite a lot when I am walking the streets of Cardiff, which is lovely!
"That part of my game I have been disappointed with but everything else hopefully I have added a bit of control to games when we have got over the lien a couple of times.
"Hopefully I have led the week well and helped some of the young lads. So hopefully I have added a bit.'
Boss 'frustrated' over Wales star's absence
Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington has voiced his frustration over Wales international Max Llewellyn's continued absence ahead of their Gallagher Premiership fixture against Newcastle Falcons this weekend.
Llewellyn, who joined Gloucester from Cardiff last summer, has been sidelined with a groin injury and will miss yet another crucial match in what has been a tough season for the Cherry and Whites. Skivington admitted the club had hoped for a quicker return for the 25-year-old centre.
'It's a bit of a frustration for us, but he won't be available this week either,' said Skivington. 'That's a bit slower than we'd hoped.'
The absence of Llewellyn is a blow to Gloucester as they aim to finish the campaign on a high after an inconsistent league season.
Whether the Welshman can return for the season finale against Northampton at the end of the month remains to be seen. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
New Women's World Cup trophy unveiled
By Ed Elliot, PA
A new Women's Rugby World Cup trophy has been unveiled in a "symbolic moment" which marks 100 days until the start of this year's tournament in England.
The silverware, which is 38cm tall and weighs 4.5kg, was designed following consultation with former world champions, including ex-England players Katy Daley-Mclean, Sarah Hunter, Rachael Burford and Gill Burns.
John Mitchell's Red Roses face the United States in the World Cup opener on August 22 in Sunderland, with Allianz Stadium Twickenham due to host the final on September 27.
A record 300,000 tickets had been sold for the tournament before a further wave was released on Wednesday morning.
Sally Horrox, World Rugby's chief of women's rugby, said creating a new trophy was initially discussed following the last World Cup, which was hosted and won by six-time champions New Zealand.
"This is the biggest global celebration of women's rugby ever so we were looking at different ways to mark that moment," she said at the trophy's unveiling outside Battersea Power Station in London.
"One is bringing the final to the Allianz Stadium, another is the record-breaking ticket sales and this (the trophy) is part of that.
"This is a symbolic moment that reflects that power, that growth and that momentum (of women's rugby). It's going to be phenomenal."
The new Women's Rugby World Cup Trophy on display at Tower Bridge
(Image: Getty Images )
The new trophy is set to go on a tour of the eight host cities and towns: Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland and York.
Crafted from sterling silver and plated with 24-carat gold, it is the third Women's Rugby World Cup trophy.
The initial trophy was won by the USA in 1991 and England in 1994 before being found in an attic after going missing for 15 years.
Its replacement, which was introduced for the 1998 tournament and was claimed by England in 2014, had been criticised for being small.
"That wasn't the driving force behind the change because if you spoke to the players that lifted that trophy - and we did consult them - it had a hugely special place in their hearts," said Horrox.
"It really meant a great deal to them but what they also recognised was that this moment now, in 2025, is really a pivot point. A point at which we really start to look forward, to where the game will go, can go, should go."
Following their Pool A curtain-raiser against the USA at the Stadium of Light, two-time world champions England, who are six-time runners-up, face Samoa in Northampton on August 30 and Australia in Brighton on September 6.
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Sarah Massey, managing director of Rugby World Cup 2025, said: "We know it's going to be the biggest and best Women's Rugby World Cup that we've ever seen and we now have a prestigious trophy to match it.
"Ticket sales have been amazing. We're seeing great ticket sales across the board, in every single venue."
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