Will Stuart: 20st with twinkle toes, but can prop get Lions nod?
The metamorphosis of Will Stuart continues to gather pace. This is the tight-head prop who, for much of his international career, had been the most unobtrusive of players. He was employed most frequently by England as the replacement tight-head, putting his head down and scrummaging hard in the No18 shirt, and beavering away diligently at the largely unseen aspects of the front-rowers' job. You don't sign up for life as a tight-head prop expecting giddy adulation and that seemed to suit Stuart just fine.
This season, from that vast 6ft 2in, 20st 8lb chrysalis, a more colourful side to his game has begun to emerge. One of the highlights of the Six Nations was the razor-sharp sidestep that Stuart unveiled to leave Giacomo Nicotera, the
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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
England beat Wales 47-14 in World Rugby U20 Championship warm-up
A sizeable crowd, both in the ground and watching on from the grass bank outside the fencing, was treated to an entertaining if loose encounter in Torfaen. Wales led 14-7 at the break thanks to tries in the first quarter through centre Elijah Evans – despite not grounding the ball – and flanker Caio James, with openside Reggie Hammick crossing for England. The world champions responded with a dominant second-half showing, scoring tries through blindside George Timmins, Hammick, wing Tyler Offiah, flanker Jonny Weimann and The game went from 14-14 to a hammering in the blink of the eye as English pace and power told in the final quarter. It was, of course, only a warm-up fixture with with no anthems, some lenient refereeing to try and let things flow, no penalties kicked at goal and plenty of subs. Both sides will have learnt plenty and will hope that the inevitable casualties soon get the all clear from the medics. Wales dashed English Grand Slam dreams at Cardiff Arms Park in March with a 23-13 victory earned by going toe-to-toe with the world champions and rattling them. That meant that this tune-up was sure to have its spicey moments, and that's exactly what both sets of coaches wanted in the build up to the tournament in Italy. The two teams were drastically different to that Six Nations encounter with five starters retained in the home XV and three in the English selection – opportunity knocked for spots in the final squad. Wales were captained by Dragons number eight Evan Minto in his hometown and he was one of five starters who played for Pontypool in Super Rygbi Cymru last season, with flanker Ryan Jones, tighthead Owain James, fly-half Harri Ford and wing Ioan Duggan the others. Pooler and Cardiff Met hooker Evan Wood was on the bench along with Dragons scrum-half Logan Franklin and influential openside Harry Beddall, who moves to Rodney Parade from Leicester this summer. FORTUNATE: Wales got the opener despite Elijah Evans knocking on (Image: Mark Lewis/Huw Evans Agency) There was, understandably, an element of scrappiness to the opening exchanges and that was how the opener was scored after eight minutes. Scrum-half Sion Davies hacked the ball on and Cardiff teammate Evans won the foot race, although he didn't ground the ball and was lucky that referee Ben Breakspear awarded him a try that Ford converted rather than a knock on. Wales were bossing matters with play almost exclusively in the English half, and it was 14-0 after 18 minutes with Gloucester flanker Caio James at the bottom of a driving lineout. The visitors, to the frustration of their coaching team, had barely fired a shot and were second best in all facets of the game but were on the scoreboard in the 25th minute. Fly-half Josh Bellamy followed a line break with a calm assist for openside Hammick to show a serious turn of speed to finish from 30 metres, with Bellamy adding the extras. Wales were causing problems with their variety of kicks and one dab through earned a chance from a five-metre scrum as half-time approached, only for England to get over the ball and win a penalty to release the pressure. A fair few players were blowing – what the fixture was designed for – and glad to hear the half-time whistle with the hosts 14-7 to the good as the coaches passed on some pearls of wisdom. There were some changes at the break and one of the new boys, Luke Evans, was swiftly shown yellow after some overexuberance. England were dominant against 14-man Wales but failed to take chances to level due to a lack of composure in the 22. However, the pressure eventually told right at the end of the sin-bin period with a close range try by blindside Timmins after a scrum against the head, Bellamy levelling the scores with a simple conversion. England should have been in front after 56 minutes after some lovely handling released Offiah but the son of Martin dropped the ball over the line after trying to bump off last-man Jack Woods, his Bath teammate from Abercarn. It was getting manic, which led to a comical Welsh 'try' just past the hour and, ultimately, a turning point. Wing Aidan Boshoff went down with cramp and got treatment and was retreating back to the defensive line when he claimed an England cross-kick and raced away. Mr Breakspear eventually went back to penalise the Bristol speedster for being offside, England kicked to the corner and then won a penalty try. The visitors were 21-14 up when it looked like they could have been down by the same scoreline, then reaped the rewards of daring to play from a loose kick and iffy chase to work space for Hammick to race away. England were running wild and Offiah picked off a pass to scorch down the right, Weimann went over down the left and another interception led to Nic Allison breaking away. Wales scorers: tries – E Evans, C James; conversions – H Ford (2). England scorers: tries – R Hammick (2), G Timmins, penalty, T Offiah, J Weimann, N Allison; conversions – J Bellamy (2), B Coen (3). Wales U20 : Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Ioan Duggan (Dragons), Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Elis Price (Scarlets), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Ford (Dragons), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby); Cam Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff Rugby), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Owain James (Dragons), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons, captain). Replacements: Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Deain Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons), Logan Franklin (Dragons), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Jack Woods (Bath Rugby), Dylan Alford (Scarlets). Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales).
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Premiership semi-final: Bristol lead at West Country rivals Bath
Update: Date: 13 mins Title: Penalty Content: Bath 0-3 Bristol Bristol strike first as they work the ball in from the right after a break from Noah Heward and win a penalty infront of the posts which is meat and drink for AJ MacGinty. Update: Date: 11 mins Title: Post Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol First glimpse of Bath's ability with ball in hand as the ball is worked wide right to Tom de Glanville, but he runs out of space and his hopeful chip forward is straight to AJ MacGinty who calls a mark and relieves the pressure. Update: Date: 10 mins Title: Post Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol It's already apparent that Bath do not want to allow their visitors to build up a head of steam and start working the ball around... they have taken a couple of opportunities to launch the ball into touch in midfield to reset and regroup already, the latest from Tom de Glanville. Update: Date: 7 mins Title: Post Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol Ellis Genge is a proud Bristol boy and you can see how much this means to him in his 60th appearance for the Bears. He is in the middle of everything but he also needs to keep a lid on his emotions. He's up against his potential Lions team-mate Will Stuart in the scrum tonight, with double World Cup winner Thomas du Toit on the bench for Bath. Update: Date: 19:53 BST Title: 'Really poor play from Bristol' Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol Gareth ChilcottEx-England and Bath prop on BBC Radio Bristol That is the worst possible start for Bristol. Completely out of order. Maybe it's the nerves but it was really poor play. It's silly to give away a reversal penalty in a really tight game early on. They're on the rack now. Update: Date: 5 mins Title: Post Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol Wave after wave of pressure from Bath within five metres of the Bears line, but the visitors' defence stands firm, for now... Ellis Genge is in the middle of everything and manages to hold the ball up as the hosts try to get over the line and the Bears are able to clear their lines and catch their breath. Update: Date: 3 mins Title: Post Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol Full-blooded start as Bath kicked into touch on halfway from their own 22, Bristol win the lineout and secure a penalty in midfield but now the heated Ellis Genge has talked his way into trouble with ref Christophe Ridley awarding the hosts a penalty allowing the hosts to kick towards the Bristol 22. Update: Date: 1 min Title: Kick-off Content: Bath 0-0 Bristol Away we go... the Bears get us under way, playing in white and black tonight, whereas Bath are in their familiar black, blue and white. Twickenham awaits for one of these sides... Update: Date: 19:44 BST Title: Post Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Right, up to speed? Good... the players are on the field at the Rec, packed to the rafters, and kick-off is moments away. We've had fireworks off the pitch, let's start them on it. Update: Date: 19:44 BST Title: 'There will be lot of nerves tonight' Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Gareth ChilcottEx-England and Bath prop on BBC Radio Bristol It's a massive game for both clubs and it's a game of contrasts. We have a brilliant game in store for us. There'll be lot of nerves tonight. Update: Date: 19:43 BST Title: Three changes for Bears Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) England prop Ellis Genge returns to the Bristol starting line-up having missed last weekend's victory over Harlequins through injury. Genge is one of three changes to Pat Lam's pack with lock James Dun and flanker Steven Luatua also back - Yann Thomas, Pedro Rubiolo and Santiago Grondona drop out - while the backline remains unchanged. Bristol boss Lam confirmed on Wednesday that Lions selection Genge and Dun had overcome knocks picked up in training while Luatua is preferred to Argentine international Grondona, who scored twice in Bristol's victory at Bath earlier this season, at blind-side. Lock Joe Batley, selected in the Premiership Team of the Season, joins Dun in the second row with Fitz Harding leading the team from open-side. The experienced AJ MacGinty starts at fly-half alongside scrum-half Harry Randall while South African Bernhard Janse van Rensburg and James Williams are the centre pairing. Wing Gabriel Ibitoye, the Premiership's joint top try-scorer this season with 13, is joined by Fijian flyer Kalaveti Ravouvou and Noah Heward in the back three. Bristol: Heward; Ravouvou, Van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Batley, Luatua, Harding (c), Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Rubiolo, Grondola, Marmion, Byrne, Bates. Update: Date: 19:42 BST Title: All change for Bath Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Bath boss Johann van Graan unsurprisingly names an entirely different XV to the second-string team that started the 36-26 defeat at Saracens last Saturday. Guy Pepper starts at open-side flanker in place of the suspended Sam Underhill while Ted Hill makes his 50th appearance for the club at blind-side and Alfie Barbeary completes the back row at number eight with Miles Reid on the bench. Springboks prop Thomas Du Toit, named in the Premiership Team of the Season, starts on the bench for Bath with director of rugby Johann van Graan opting for England and British and Irish Lions selection Will Stuart (pictured) at tight-head. Captain Ben Spencer and Finn Russell are restored at half-back while Max Ojomoh partners Scotland international Cameron Redpath at centre and Will Muir, Joe Cokanasiga and Tom De Glanville make up the back three. Another Team of the Season pick, hooker Tom Dunn, and Beno Obano join Stuart in the front row with the established duo of Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels making up the second row and flanker Josh Bayliss among six forwards on the bench. Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Pepper, Barbeary. Replacements: Annett, van Wyk, Du Toit, Molony, Reid, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Bayliss. Update: Date: 19:40 BST Title: 'Bristol won't fear the task' Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Sophie HurcomBBC Sport at The Rec As soon as Bristol's fourth place in the Premiership was confirmed last Saturday, director of rugby Pat Lam was speaking about the Bears' record against their neighbours Bath. Lam and Bristol will be under no illusions about the challenge they face against Bath this evening, but they definitely won't fear the task in front of them. Since Johann van Graan took over Bath in July 2022, Bristol have beaten them five out of six times they have met in the Premiership – including the double this season. That being said, Gloucester boss George Skivington said in April that beating Bath at the Rec was one of the 'biggest challenges' in European rugby at the moment. If Bristol can win tonight and book that place in the Twickenham final, it will surely go down as one of their greatest victories. Update: Date: 19:38 BST Title: Ewels wary of Bears threat Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Bath lock Charlie Ewels is wary of the threat of Bristol, having lost twice to their west country rivals in the regular season. Bristol prevailed 36-26 at the Rec in October before running-out 36-14 winners at the Principality Stadium last month. "They're a very good team, that's what I've taken from those matches, he said. "Obviously there's an extra level as it's a derby around the fans. "We've played them a few times this season - in the cup, twice in the league. At Cardiff we played different teams against them. "They will be very well prepped, we'll be very well prepped and we'll be really looking forward to it." Ewels has emphasised his side's need to "trust the process", a similar mantra coined by his coach last month, in order for Bath to go one step further and win the Premiership on 14 June to complete an historic treble. Update: Date: 19:36 BST Title: 'Dream game' for Bears boss Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Bristol Bears' Premiership semi-final against Bath has been described as a "dream game" by director of rugby Pat Lam. Lam's side go into tonight's match as underdogs having finished the season fourth, 14 points behind their local rivals in the regular season standings. However, a league double over Bath this season backs up Lam's notion that his side "know how to beat Bath" - a defiant claim made following his side's 52-26 victory against Harlequins which confirmed Bears' play-off spot. "We're proud of that record, but it's the next one that counts," Lam told BBC Radio Bristol. "We've never played a derby game as a semi-final and for us we've never been in a final. It is the dream game really. "There's so much interest in it. We've already picked that up from both sets of supporters. There's good banter going back and forth. "Our goal was never to just get in the top four though; this is just the first stage," Lam added. Update: Date: 19:34 BST Title: Bath boss urges side to keep discipline Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan has urged his side to keep their discipline in their Premiership semi-final against Bristol on Friday. Van Graan's side finished the regular season with 72 points, 11 points clear at the top of the Premiership standings, and 14 clear of fourth-placed Bristol. But the South African is wary of the threat Bath's local rivals pose, having lost twice to the Bears in the league this season already. "This is our third semi-final we've played this season and I'll just say the usual - make sure you're disciplined, stick to what you do and make sure you perform on the day," Van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol. It has been a historic season in many ways already for Bath, having already completed a cup double by winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup - ending a drought of 17 years without a trophy. Update: Date: 19:32 BST Title: Play-off coaches on season finale Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Chris JonesBBC rugby union correspondent English rugby's top coaches say they are determined to revel in the pressure of leading their sides into do-or-die Premiership semi-finals this weekend. "If you can't love this, then get another job," says Bath's Johann van Graan. After 18 rounds of the regular campaign, two sides will emerge from this weekend to reach the final on 14 June at a sold-out Twickenham, with Leicester hosting Sale on Saturday. In a special Rugby Union Weekly podcast, we were joined exclusively by all four of the men plotting to lead their team to Premiership glory, just days before the biggest game of their season. Pat Lam of Bristol said: "I use that word 'privilege'. When you look at the Champions League final, PSG winning 5-0, that is a team that decided to go out and enjoy themselves. "Every time I have these moments I feel just privileged to be here and feel lucky to be doing what we do." Van Graan added: "This game is not about fear. This game is about attacking it - and may the best team win. "What would the world be without sport? I'm privileged to be part of it and part of a team that wants to achieve. "And if we want to get to the next stage, we've got to get past a very good team on Friday night." Update: Date: 19:30 BST Title: Who will survive Western shootout? Content: Bath v Bristol (19:45 BST) Welcome to your weekend... boy, do we have a treat in store for you under the Friday night lights! It's the business end of the Premiership season and tonight will see the first semi-final as table-topping Bath welcome a dangerous Bristol Bears side to the Rec. A place in the Twickenham final next weekend is at stake, with Leicester and Sale set to face off on Saturday to decide who will face tonight's winners. The Rec is a perfect setting for this showdown between two free-scoring sides on what might eventually end up being a wet and windy night in the wild west. Kick-off is 15 minutes away so let's quickly bring you up to speed...
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Wales collapse against England and Farrell sweats on injured Lions stars
Tonight's rugby news as Wales collapse against England and Farrell sweats on injured Lions stars The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond Sion Davies of Wales is tackled by Connor Treacey and Ben Redshaw of England (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, June 6. Wales in late collapse against England Wales U20s conceded five tries in the final 13 minutes as England U20s ran out 47-14 winners in a World Cup warm-up at Pontypool Park. There were only five survivors from the side which beat England U20s in the final game of the U20s Six Nations, but Richard Whiffin's team held a 14-7 lead at the interval. Outside centre Elijah Evans opened the scoring before openside flanker Caio James powered over from short-range, with Harri Ford converting both tries. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. But England hit back in the 25th minute when backrower Reggie Hammick barged his way over the line with Josh Bellamy adding the extras. Whiffin made mass substitutions after the break and second-row Luke Evans got sent to the sin bin for a technical offence. England's pack began to gain the upper hand, with flanker George Timmins smashing his way over the line. Article continues below Wales wing Aidan Boshoff was then cruelly denied a try from 45 metres because he was deemed to be offside when he received the ball. The hosts fell apart after that and England extended their lead through a penalty try which also saw Wales tighthead prop Jac Pritchard sent to the sin bin for illegally collapsing the maul. Hammick then claimed his second try for England, with Bellamy adding the extras. England piled on the misery as Tyler Ofiah - son of rugby league legend Martin Offiah, ran in an interception try from 70 metres out. There were further tries for Jonny Weimann and Nic Allinson. Farrell sweats on Lions Leinster have lost two more of their British and Irish Lions call-ups to injury, with both Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan missing for the United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow Warriors. They join fellow tourists Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose on the sidelines just two weeks before the Lions' first match, as Leinster continue their bid to avoid a fourth successive season without silverware. Ireland international Robbie Henshaw is also missing through injury. Keenan and van der Flier both picked up injuries in their BKT United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final victory over the Scarlets last Saturday, which could well have Lions coach Andy Farrell concerned ahead of the tour of Australia. The Lions travel down under later this month, ahead of their three Test series against the Wallabies in July and August. Back-row van der Flier was forced off after 30 minutes against the Scarlets, with the former World Rugby player of the year failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Full-back Keenan misses out due to a calf injury. The Lions take on Argentina in Dublin on June 20 - a week after the URC final - before playing their first game on Australian soil against the Western Force in Perth on June 28. URC Player and Coach of the Year announced Leinster and Springboks second row RG Snyman has been crowned United Rugby Championship Players' Player of the Season. The award is voted for by the captain and vice-captains of the 16 URC teams, with the 30-year-old following in the footsteps of Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan and Munster fly-half Jack Crowley by winning it. He joined Leinster from rivals Munster last summer and has been a huge presence as the Irish giants topped the regular season table and beat the Scarlets to earn a place in the URC semi-finals. Zebre's Massimo Brunello is the surprise winner of the Coach of the Year award after guiding the Italian side to five wins and a draw this season CEO of BKT Europe Lucia Salmaso said: 'Massimo has done a wonderful job this season with Zebre Parma, guiding them to some famous wins against tough opposition. 'He has demonstrated excellent leadership in his first season at the helm, creating history with Zebre's first away win in four years. In creating a custom ring for him as the BKT Coach of the Season, we want this achievement to live long in the memory. 'Congratulations to Massimo on his fantastic work this season, and we wish him all the best in the future.' Wales' Ioan Lloyd won the Golden Boot award, while Cardiff's Harri Millard was top try scorer and Cam Winnett took the Ironman prize for the most appearances. Full list of URC Awards Winners 2024-25 Gilbert Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets) OFX Top Try Scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff Rugby) Tackle Machine: Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers) Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff Rugby) Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby) Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster Rugby), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Farrell (Munster Rugby), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster Rugby), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) Next-Gen Player of the Season: Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) Innovation Award: Hollywoodbets Sharks Try of the Season Powered by Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) South African Vodacom URC Player of the Season: Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) BKT Coach of the Season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre Parma) Players' Player of the Season: RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby) Huw Jones to miss out again as Warriors face Leinster in URC semi-finals By PA Sport Staff Glasgow centre Huw Jones will again miss out as Warriors travel to Dublin to face Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship semi-finals. Jones has been missing for several weeks with an Achilles problem and has failed to make the 23-man squad for the Aviva Stadium encounter despite some optimism over his fitness from Scotstoun earlier in the week. Forwards Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson all miss out again as expected but were progressing well in their recoveries earlier in the week. Head coach Franco Smith has made just two personnel changes following the 36-18 triumph over Stormers last weekend, which took the defending champions into the final four of the competition. Former Scotland Under-20 international Fin Richardson comes into the starting line-up at tighthead prop as Murphy Walker drops out of the 23. Adam Hastings is recalled at fly-half to spark a reshuffle in the back division. Tom Jordan moves to inside centre, where he will partner Sione Tuipulotu. Stafford McDowall drops to the bench. Warriors are making their third trip to Dublin inside two months and will need to make further improvement. Glasgow were thrashed 52-0 by Leinster in April in the Champions Cup and lost 13-5 in the Irish capital in the final match of the regular URC season. Article continues below Smith told 'Leinster are the standard setters in this competition. They finished top of the standings for a reason, and have consistently out-performed teams across the course of this season while showing their strength in depth. 'It is a challenge that we know we will need to be at our best to meet, and the players are focused on the task at hand. 'Training this week has been sharp and competitive, with every player working hard for each other to put this squad in the best possible position.'
