Nicky Grist Stages 2025 revives iconic Route 60 after challenges
'At the beginning of the year there were some doubts as to whether we would be able to run the 2025 Nicky Grist Stages, thanks to the damage caused in the Welsh forests by Storm Darragh and military training operations combining to seriously curtail the stage mileage available to us on both NRW and MOD land,' admits Neil Cross, Nicky Grist Stages clerk of the course.
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Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh star 'killing it' for club side backed for Wales recall as fans stunned he's been forgotten
Welsh star 'killing it' for club side backed for Wales recall as fans stunned he's been forgotten The PRO D2 is home to a handful of Welsh players Sam Davies (R) of Grenoble (Image: Getty Images ) England great Joe Worsley has tipped Sam Davies for a Wales recall after another sensational season in French rugby's PRO D2. Davies has been a revelation for Grenoble this season and will be a key figure in the PRO D2 grand final against Montauban at the Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse on Saturday. The former Ospreys and Dragons playmaker has racked up 237 points for Grenoble this season and has spearheaded the French club to within touching distance of the Top 14. Davies won the last of his eight caps for Wales in 2017 and is not even sure if he is captured by the controversial 25-cap law owing to the fact he did not receive an offer from a Welsh club before signing a new contract with Grenoble. But Worsley, who is defence coach at PRO D2 outfit Brive, has kept a close eye on Davies for the past couple of seasons and believes the next Wales coach should seriously consider selecting the 31-year-old outside-half. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "Sam Davies has been killing it for a couple of years now," the former England flanker told WalesOnline. "People in France don't understand why he's not involved with Wales. Article continues below "From what I've seen he's definitely good enough to play international rugby but you'll have to gear up a team in the style that suits him. "If you want a team that plays quickly without too much structure he'll be fantastic but if you want a team which plays structured then you want Dan Biggar mark two. "The Grenoble team really suits how he plays. He is an all-court 10 who is a very good kicker and also attacks the line while defending isn't an issue for him. "When Sam is playing Grenoble are a far more dangerous side. Sam last year was the 10 that was picked in the team of the season and he'll be picked there again this year. His kicking has been phenomenal. "Grenoble are a team who like to keep the ball in play and attack the line. He's been making the right calls, making the right passes and running the right lines. "When he doesn't play they are not nearly as dangerous and I think they'll be playing in the Top 14 next year which in large parts is down to Sam." Professional rugby is struggling everywhere apart from France which has three professional leagues, a bumper TV deal which blows everything else out of the water and packed stadiums every week. While the Top 14 is the premier competition in French rugby, the second division PRO D2 is equally as compelling and is the home for a plethora of Welsh players. Alongside Davies there is Welsh legend George North at Provence and experienced tighthead Tomas Francis, while former Dragons centre Tyler Morgan plies his trade at Biarritz and Owen Lane is at Valence Romans. "Sam Davies from all the Welsh players has had the biggest impact rugby wise," Worsley tells WalesOnline. "Ross Moriarty has had a few injuries this year but last year he was in the team of the season in PRO D2. "George North did his Achilles and had a couple of little injuries after he came back. He's only played about 10 games for Provence but the head coach there is saying he's the best player he's ever coached. "He drags up the whole team even when he was injured and he learnt French in four months. He's been helping out with the youngsters and he's just got fully stuck in, so his character is shining through." While Premier Sports have the rights to the Top 14 up until a few weeks ago the PRO D2 was not shown in the UK. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free But that has all changed after an ambitious broadcaster and podcaster named Tim Cocker set up a YouTube channel called FR-UK Rugby and bought the rights to show the PRO D2 in the UK and Ireland. The deal has allowed him to acquire the PRO D2 play-offs this season along with 35 matches next term. Worsley works alongside Cocker and is working hard to make the PRO D2 popular in the UK and Ireland. "I realised nobody was watching it and I found out the price of the rights was relatively doable," said Worsley. "I met three other guys - one is called Tim Crocker who is a presenter who does the EggChasers podcast. "I met him through a friend Dougie Andrews, who is a producer. With those two we initially got going and started making some content. "James Lewis joined us shortly after who is an industry figure who ran Sky Sports rugby. We realised it had to be free and he also believes TV is going to change because there are so many subscription models going on. "If you want to watch rugby in the UK you've got to have three different subscriptions to different channels to watch all the various rugby competitions. "We will have a number of short-form and long-form interviews throughout the week as well as showing live games. "For 18 months we negotiated with Canal+ and LNR because it's a new concept and they were really nervous about it. "Eventually we ended up with PRO D2 rights and if we prove the concept works we will be able to bid for more. "Our ambition is to have games Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday because in France the second division plays on Thursday and Friday and Top 14 plays Saturday and Sunday. "The PRO D2 is different to every other rugby competition in the world. The crowds watching those games are more than the English Premiership. "TV deals are also going up and it is well funded. The top budget in the league is 22m euros. "It's very hard to compare to what happens in Wales and England because of taxes and how it works but put it this way the playing budgets are more like the lower half of the Premiership in England. "One of the reasons the TOP 14 is successful is because there is jeopardy and loads of play-offs. "You create these incredible moments where everything is on the line whereas in England and Wales there's so many dead rubbers where nobody gives a damn." The PRO D2 is already the home of many Welsh players and given the lowly state of the professional game in Wales, more are likely to venture across the channel over the coming seasons. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "There are big cultural differences so when you first come over it shocks you. "The season is really long. It's 11 months and because of that sometimes people switch off and they get encouraged to do so whereas in the UK we are always on it. "It fluctuates the level of commitment and engagement in terms of training, doing weights and eating correctly. "That's one of the aspects that is different. "If you've got a young family it's an amazing place to bring them up especially George in Provence because Aix-en-Provence is one of the best cities in the world to live in. "In France there's a lot of flair and for some foreign players that takes getting used to because it can be very abstract learning about it. "Some players struggle with what they perceive to be a vague game plan. "It would probably strike more of a cord with Welsh fans because historically you did have a team which could play instinctively. "You then went to Warren who had a very structured team but you've also had teams who play instinctively. Article continues below "Where Welsh rugby goes now I'd imagine they are going to have to introduce that side of the game to be able to have success. "I can definitely see more Welsh players coming to play in France over the next couple of seasons." The PRO D2 final between Grenoble and Montauban is live on FR-UK Rugby's YouTube channel at 4.30pm on Saturday.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tottenham star Ben Davies quizzed on future amid Wrexham links
Tottenham star Ben Davies quizzed on future amid Wrexham links The Tottenham centre-back has a contract ending this summer, with Ange Postecoglou's side having the option to extend for another year if they choose Ben Davies of Wales (Image: Getty Images ) Wales captain Ben Davies has his full focus on the international camp, with his future in London still not resolved. The Tottenham centre-back has a contract ending this summer, with Ange Postecoglou's side having the option to extend for another year if they choose. Recently-promoted Championship side Wrexham have been linked with an ambitious move for the decorated Wales star in recent weeks. However, speaking about his future, the Welshman said: 'I don't think there is anything to update to be honest, I don't think I am going to be the person who is making any of those decisions, so as far as I'm concerned, it's full focus here this week." Davies complimented his fellow countryman and Spurs team-mate Brennan Johnson after his club season ended with the winning goal in the Europa League final in Bilbao. He said: 'Brennan has shown this year that he is a top player and has proven a lot of people wrong. 'We've got full confidence in this Wales squad that he can replicate his form from the club here, he works hard, trains hard, we love having him around the place and I feel we have the best Brennan we can at the moment.' Article continues below The 32-year-old commented on how hard it is for footballers to move on to the next challenge, after such a special night in Spain for Spurs. '[It's] Not difficult at all. I love being here. It's a great team with great staff; we have a great time every time we come here and can't wait to play tomorrow night," he said. Wales face Lichtenstein tomorrow with an 8pm kick off at the Cardiff City Stadium. Davies also revealed the mindset of the Welsh camp is all on tomorrow's game, with the clash against Belgium on Monday being kept for later. 'We have to go into every game trying to pick up maximum points. Our focus is fully on the Lichtenstein game, we haven't even discussed that we have a second game coming up. 'We know we are at home, and we are probably going to have a lot of possession but sometimes these games sometimes don't go as straight forward as you want them to, so we have got to make sure we are focused, at our best and but a good performance in.' Article continues below Craig Bellamy's side face Belgium on Monday in Brussels as the second game of the June set of World Cup qualifier fixtures.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as WRU told they have 'right man' for top job and new Wales call-up stirs excitement
Tonight's rugby news as WRU told they have 'right man' for top job and new Wales call-up stirs excitement The latest headlines from Wales and around the world WRU chief executive Abi Tierney with director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, June 5. WRU told they have 'right man' in Reddin England great Joe Worsley is confident Dave Reddin is the right man to drag Welsh rugby out of the doldrums. The Welsh Rugby Union appointed Reddin as their new director of rugby and elite performance in April, and he is tasked with putting a plan in place to turn around the fortunes of a rugby nation which has lost a record 17 Test matches on the bounce at senior men's level and whose professional game is on its backside. Worsley worked with Reddin while playing for England and revealed his role as head of S&C played a pivotal part in Sir Clive Woodward's side winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I think performance-wise he's the right man for Wales," Worsley told WalesOnline. "I worked with him for a lot of my career. "I got involved with England when I was 21 and he was already established. He was with me at U20s level and then he got brought quickly into the senior England squad. "He took us away in 1999 to this island near Brisbane where we stayed for a month. We trained professionally for the first time and the changes in peoples' body and athletic ability was staggering. Article continues below "I remember him shouting at me when I was 19 because I wasn't training hard enough. Even now I can see his face. That's when we came back and people realised in English clubs the difference it could make. It kick-started and revolutionised this S&C performance side of things which in 2003 was probably what won us the World Cup. "I remember some Welsh fans being impressed with what we achieved and the Wales team went down that road especially when Warren (Gatland) came in. There was a real emphasis on S&C, performance and physicality backed up by good fitness and strength. Dave was the guy who revolutionised that." Worsley is confident Reddin will drive the standards up in Welsh rugby and insists he is not a man who will shy away from making the big decisions. "What he will do is listen to the right people and take the right advice," said Worsley. "Dave is very headstrong. "He's worked in athletics, he's worked in football and he's worked in so many environments I'm sure he'll be able to replicate in Wales an environment where you are driving people forward. "He'll push people hard and while that may require some harsh words and tough decisions, if anyone is going to do it it's him." Hook 'excited' for Page's impact Former Wales fly-half James Hook says he is excited to see what youngster Macs Page can bring to the international stage after an impressive campaign for the Scarlets. The 20-year-old back, who has long been regarded as one of the next big things in Welsh rugby, featured 20 times for Dwayne Peel's side over the course of the season as they reached the URC play-offs. Now, Page's international aspirations have been realised with interim Wales head coach Matt Sherratt naming him in his squad for this summer's tour of Japan, as one of six uncapped players to make the cut. Reviewing the 2024/25 campaign on the Scrum V podcast, Hook hailed the impact of Page's team-mate Blair Murray, but also sang the youngster's praises as he looked ahead to the Japan tour. "No one [has been] quite as good as Blair Murray," said Hook. "The impact he has had for the Scarlets and internationally, he's been excellent hasn't he. "But I think probably close to him - and he probably hasn't played as much and obviously hasn't played internationally yet, but hopefully will in the summer in Japan - is Macs Page. "Some of his movements, he's one of those guys that you're almost thinking 'get this guy the ball, because he's going to create something', and more often than not he does," he added. "You look at some of his tries this season, that's a highlight reel for some players for their whole careers. So I'm really excited about what he can bring." Region star in line for Springboks debut Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe is in line to win his first cap for South Africa this summer after being included in Rassie Erasmus' 54-strong squad for their upcoming international matches. The 28-year-old was included in a Springboks alignment camp last month after a hugely impressive first season in West Wales saw him included in the URC's team of the year, having helped Peel's side to the play-offs. Erasmus also brought 54 players into that alignment camp and has kept the same numbers in the squad ahead of a busy few months on the international stage, with van der Merwe one of nine uncapped players involved. The Springboks will face the Barbarians later this month, before their summer Tests against Italy and Georgia, the Rugby Championship and the autumn internationals. 'We were very pleased with the two Springbok alignment camps we hosted, and we are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,' said Erasmus as the squad was confirmed. 'Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions. 'We take pride in offering talented young players a chance to work first-hand with the coaches and to expose them to standards at international level, and we are excited to see them showcase their skills at the camp.' The hooker's call up comes just weeks after he admitted that winning an international cap was his goal, as he said: 'I think as a child, any South African watching the game, with the Springboks doing well, everyone wants to play for that team, just like people in Wales who grew up watching their team. 'So everyone wants to play for their nation. It's definitely a thing I am going for, but I focus on the next thing which is helping the Scarlets where I can. Then, through that, I hope the Springbok coaches can see what I bring and see that I have the talent to be there. 'My goal is to get into international rugby. Everyone hopes for that. I just go out and play the best I can every single day. Hopefully that's enough.' Wales 'at the start of the journey' Wales Women coach Sean Lynn says his side are "at the start of their journey" as they prepare for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England later this year. Earlier this week, the Swansea-born coach won the Director of Rugby Award at the Premiership Women's Rugby Awards, having led Gloucester-Hartpury to three successive league titles before starting the Wales job days before their Six Nations campaign. However, it was a brutal start to Lynn's new role as Wales finished with the wooden spoon for the second year in a row having not won a single game at the tournament. Even with the World Cup on the horizon, however, Lynn is not panicked by the immediate future and says that there is enough talent in the system to "build a team that everyone can be proud of". After accepting his PWR award, he said: "To get nominated, let alone win, an award like this is obviously a proud moment for myself and my family, but this is always about the players, coaches and staff. 'Without them sharing the same vision buying into the culture, coming together and putting the hard work in, none of what we achieved happens. I know that 'we' all came together to win three league titles. 'It took time, and it wasn't easy but the process and building something was a challenge but that is probably what all of us – players, coaches and staff – are must proud of. 'Being Wales head coach of the women's team is a role I always wanted to do and in so many ways it reminds me of how things started at Gloucester/Hartpury," Lynn added. "It was about building a team culture, creating that togetherness but challenging each other to represent each other and the people who support us. 'Wales is at the start of that journey, we know we have the talent in the pathway, Wales U18s, Wales U20s and in the Celtic Challenge and it's about building a team that everyone can be proud of.' WRU's head of women's rugby, Belinda Moore, said: 'Having known Sean from our respective time at PWR, it is no surprise he has won this award. His 'three-peat' of league titles is a huge achievement in rugby. 'Working alongside Sean is a pleasure and we have already seen his influence with Wales bringing some up and coming talent into the 'family'. The next few years promise to be an exciting time in Welsh women's rugby.' Meanwhile, WRU CEO Abi Tierney added: 'A huge congratulations to Sean and all he achieved across the bridge with Gloucester/Hartpury in building a team that has dominated English rugby but also the culture he built at the club. Article continues below 'This award underlines why we appointed Sean as Wales Women's head coach, and we look forward to providing him with the time and support to build the same culture and environment in Welsh rugby.'
