Wales beat Austria 2-1 to make European top flight
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Wales Women name team for World Cup opener and get huge boost
Wales Women name team for World Cup opener and get huge boost Wales Women begin their Rugby World Cup campaign against Scotland on Saturday Wales co-captain Alex Callender (left) with head coach Sean Lynn (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire.) Sean Lynn has named his Wales team for the first game of the Rugby World Cup this weekend and has been boosted by the fitness of co-captain Alex Callender. Wales begin their tournament in pool B against familiar foes Scotland on Saturday (2.45pm) at Salford Community Stadium in Manchester. Lisa Neumann will win her 50th cap for her country and she will form an exciting back three with Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and full-back Nel Metcalfe. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Hannah Dallavalle and Courtney Keight make up the midfield, while Lleucu George and scrum-half Keira Bevan team up at half-back. Backrowers Callender and Kate Williams will co-captain the team and will hope to get their campaign off to positive start. Callender had injured her ankle against Australia earlier this month but has proved her fitness to give Lynn and Co a huge shot in the arm. Article continues below Lynn said: 'We have selected the strongest squad available for what is a vital Test match for the squad, and we know all 23 players will play a part in delivering a performance against Scotland. 'Alex Callender has been declared fit and is raring to go and being able to select her is a huge boost for the squad. Having the combined captaincy of Al Cal and Kate Williams will be key for us against the Scots. 'We are under no illusions of the importance of the opening game of our pool at a World Cup and are determined to produce a performance worthy of the tournament and against a side who we enjoy a great rivalry with. 'All of the squad have trained well since we have been in Manchester, and we are looking sharp and focussed for what will be the biggest Women's Rugby World Cup. 'I have asked the players how they want Wales to be remembered at this tournament and what it means to them to be here? Players, coaches and staff know what a privilege it is to be here and to represent Wales at the Rugby World Cup.' Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr,Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon,Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher Article continues below Replacements: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock. Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt). Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Wrexham sent dressing room warning as Ryan Reynolds eyes double deal for Wales stars
Wrexham sent dressing room warning as Ryan Reynolds eyes double deal for Wales stars Wrexham have been busy in the transfer market this summer and manager Phil Parkinson is keen to add more new signings, but the club have been warned it could cause problems Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has been warned over his club's summer spending (Image: Adam Fradgley/West Brom/Getty) Wrexham have been cautioned that recruiting a large number of new players could prove problematic by creating conflict within the squad. The Red Dragons have secured nine new additions so far this summer following their promotion to the Championship in April. Manchester City defender Callum Doyle appears poised to become their tenth signing after a deal potentially worth £8million was struck for the promising youngster. Boss Phil Parkinson remains eager for additional reinforcements after a challenging introduction to the second tier and has substantial funds courtesy of club co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac. Wrexham suffered defeat in their opening match at Southampton, losing 2-1 after a late capitulation, and were also overcome 3-2 at home by West Brom last weekend. Parkinson expressed his appetite for further arrivals after the latest setback and is now reportedly targeting a double transfer move for two Wales internationals. Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas and Rennes midfielder Jordan James have both been touted for potential switches to Wrexham in recent days. However, the former Sunderland and Bolton manager has been advised that bringing in so many fresh faces offers no guarantee of success and could spark unrest amongst the team. The caution came from ex-Wales and Burnley frontman Sam Vokes. Speaking on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast, he said: "Does he want more players, or more headaches? I saw that comment and I don't know where he can fit them into the squad. Article continues below Liverpool and Wales forward Lewis Koumas (right) is one of Wrexham's latest targets (Image:) "They've lost the opening two and I understand there's a bit of frustration there, but there is a real fine balance of having too many and having an unhappy camp." It's been claimed that a substantial fee may be needed to land Koumas' signature. Liverpool are believed to regard him as more advanced in his progression than Bobby Clark, who departed for RB Salzburg in a £10m deal last summer. Meanwhile, L'Équipe reports that Wrexham have made enquiries regarding former Birmingham midfielder James, with a transfer valued at approximately £4.3m on the table. Wrexham's most expensive acquisition during the current transfer window is Ipswich forward Nathan Broadhead. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. The transfer is believed to be worth £7.5m initially, though it could climb to £10m with various clauses. When pressed about Broadhead's fee last week, Parkinson attempted to play down the sum, quipping that Wrexham would need to win both the Premier League and Champions League to reach the £10m figure. Article continues below However, Vokes considers it a hefty price for someone who had entered the final 12 months of his Portman Road contract. "I'm not surprised they've got that much money," he said. "You've only got to see the rise that they've been on. I'm surprised they're willing to spend it, but I hope he proves to be what we hope he is for Wrexham. There's a huge weight on his shoulders with that price tag, he's not had as much football in the last year or so." Iwan Roberts, another ex-Welsh striker, concurred with Vokes, adding: "I think they've paid over the odds for him at £10m. I'm not saying that [it's his fault] at all. Hopefully he can produce the goods and start getting the goals. But I think £10m is a great deal for Ipswich."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Cutting Welsh rugby teams to two a 'sad day', says fan
"If Scarlets went it would be a disaster for us as a community. It would be a huge loss, like losing your best friend."That is how lifelong rugby supporter Alan Evans, from Hendy, Carmarthenshire, reacted to Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) proposals to cut its professional men's teams from four to organisation's chief executive Abi Tierney said it had "to do something radically different" as the current rugby model was "no longer delivering what our game needs", when the proposals were unveiled on Wednesday. But some fans and critics said the move would "alienate a lot of supporters" and could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the game in Wales. The WRU insisted no decisions had yet been made, but revealed four potential options for the future of the sport. It said cutting the number of professional teams to two would be the best options, but also proposed keeping four regions with unequal levels of funding, or cutting to three professional teams, either with equal or unequal funding. The WRU also admitted cutting two regions could start a legal battle. A consultation will start on 1 September, with a final decision expected four regions are Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Mr Evans said rugby was part of Welsh "culture" and "tradition", calling the potential loss "like taking emotion out of marriage.""It is a sad day for rugby in Wales," he said he feared Scarlets could be one of the regions cut, which would be "a disaster" for Llanelli, where rugby has been played for 150 years."It would mean losing 5,000 regular supporters in south Wales," he Evans said he would not switch to supporting Ospreys in Swansea. "I think Llanelli will rebel," he said. "If Scarlets are to suffer, I hope we join an English league to keep our identity." Denise and Jaff, were on a day out in Newport when they found out about the proposals. Jaff, 66, said: "I'm an Ospreys fan. You cannot mix the Ospreys and the Scarlets."His 68-year-old wife and Dragons fan, Denise, also said she was unhappy with the proposed changes, adding that the current four-region setup was "really nice" as it added: "You'll get people saying 'I don't want any Dragons in my team'."I don't know how this mix will work." Chair of Cardiff Rugby supporters group CF10 Lynn Glaister, said her "first thoughts are with the staff and players" after recent financial challenges. The club was taken over by the WRU in explained how its fans are "very worried" about the club's future but would take part in the consultation. "We've got a fantastic history as a club, and we want a fantastic future," Ms Glaister said."We stand ready to make our case for Cardiff to survive."She added it would be a "travesty if the capital city of Wales didn't host a team with Cardiff in the name". Another fan who has voiced frustration at the proposed changes to Welsh rugby is Ryan Price, treasurer of the Dragons Official Supporters Club. He said the consultation was meant to be open, "but at the same time you have a statement from the chief executive saying it is very difficult to see a situation where Cardiff is not part of that solution". While he accepted "radical change" may be needed, he said he found it hard to envisage supporting entirely new teams and names. Mr Price added: "We are comparatively lucky, we are only 30 miles on the train from Gloucester."There are opportunities to support top level rugby that hasn't been pulled out from under your feet." Additional reporting by Iolo Cheung, Sara Dafydd , Jordan Davies and Tomos Morgan.
