Women's Six Nations 2025: How to follow Wales on the BBC
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South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Alex Callender in Wales squad for Women's Rugby World Cup
The 25-year-old Harlequins back-row was a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in the second Test defeat to Australia at the start of the month. Head coach Sean Lynn has selected all 30 players he took on the summer tour, which ended in a 1-1 series draw. Centre Kerin Lake and uncapped Wales Under-20 skipper Branwen Metcalfe have also been named. Metcalfe, 18, and full-back Nel Metcalfe, 20, are one of two pairs of sisters in the squad, alongside prop Gwenllian Pyrs and lock Alaw Pyrs. Gloucester-Hartpury flanker Kate Williams will share captaincy duties with Callender. Wales begin the World Cup on Saturday, August 23 against Scotland at Salford Community Stadium and also face Canada and Fiji in Pool B. Lynn said: 'The Wales squad selected is a mix of experience and exciting young talent that have all proved they deserve the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of a World Cup. 'As coaches, there were some tough calls on selection, but this is the strongest squad we could have selected and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead of us.' Scrum-half Sian Jones was not considered due to a wrist injury. Wales squad: Forwards: K Baverstock (Leicester), M Davies (Bristol), G Pyrs (Sale), D Rose (Saracens), J Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), S Tuipulotu (Gloucester-Hartpury), K Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), C Phillips (Harlequins), M Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), A Callender (Harlequins, co-capt), G Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury), G Evans (Saracens), A Fleming (Harlequins), B King (Gwalia Lightning), B Lewis (Gloucester-Hartpury), A Pyrs (Gloucester-Hartpury), T Vucaj (Gwalia Lightning), K Williams (Gloucester-Hartpury, co-capt), B Metcalfe (Hartpury College). Backs: K Bevan (Bristol), M Davies (Gloucester-Hartpury), S Lockwood (Gloucester-Hartpury), L George (Gloucester-Hartpury), K Powell (Harlequins), C Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), H Dallavalle (Gloucester-Hartpury), K Lake (Gwalia Lightning), C Keight (Sale), J Joyce (Bristol), N Metcalfe (Gloucester-Hartpury), L Neumann (Harlequins), C Richards (Gwalia Lightning).
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
T20 Blast to be revamped in 2026
A shake-up to the domestic white-ball summer will take place in 2026, including a slimmed down Vitality Blast played in one block before the start of The Hundred.A review into the white-ball domestic structure led by the counties - in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) - recommended changes with an eye on player welfare and competition next summer the T20 Blast competition reduces the group stages by two games to 12 matches per side, with the quarter-finals and Finals Day following on directly so the competition is wrapped up in one two groups of nine sides will be replaced by three groups of six split into north, central and south groups as they were in Women's T20 Blast competition has a similar reduction in games with the group stages featuring 12 games, down from 14. Finals Day will mirror the men's finale with two semi-finals and a final on the same Yorkshire Women moving to Tier 1 on professional terms, the structure of the women's T20 changes to two groups of nine with the second-tier sides playing eight group games and a three-team two-match Finals six-week break between the group stages and quarter-finals in the T20 Blast has come under fire, with critics saying the competition loses its "momentum".Counties and the ECB are also set to announce the results of a review into the schedule and structure of the County Championship but no decisions are expected for at least two weeks. What will happen from 2026 Men's Vitality T20 BlastThe group stage of the Vitality T20 Blast reverts to three groups with North, Central and South Groups with the eight best-placed teams on points and net run-rates going through to the Group: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and LeicestershireCentral Group: Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Somerset, Glamorgan, WorcestershireSouth Group: Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Middlesex, Essex, HampshireEach county plays the other teams in their group home and away - a total of 10 matches. They will additionally play one home game against a county from outside their group and one away game against a side from another top two teams in each group plus the best two third-placed teams progress to the quarter-finals. The winners of the quarter-finals will progress to men's T20 Blast Finals Day. Changes to the women's white-ball summer Vitality Blast women's competition (Tier 1)Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, county will play 12 group-stage matches - six home and six away. They will play four counties twice and four counties top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to women's Vitality Blast Finals Day, which will include two semi-finals and the Blast Women's League 2 (Tier 2)Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire county will play eight group-stage matches - four home and four away. They will play each county either home or top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to Vitality Blast Women's League 2 Finals Day, which will include an eliminator and Bank One-Day Cup women's competition (Tier 1)Group: Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire Hawks, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, county will play 16 group-stage matches - each county plays each other county at home and top three counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The top county progresses straight into the final to meet the winner of the eliminator between second and third Bank One-Day Cup Women's League 2 (Tier 2)Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire county will play eight group-stage matches - four home and four away. They will play each county either home or top four counties at the end of the group stage will progress to the knockout stages. The winners of the two semi-finals progress to the final.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
What Scarlets deal means amid WRU shake-up
Scarlets and Ospreys do not meet in the United Rugby Championship until 26 December yet the hits have already been going changes are looming in Welsh rugby with the possibility of the four professional sides - the west Wales pair, Cardiff and Dragons - being cut to three or even Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will present its preferred plan soon, which will be followed by a six-week consultation and then an expected final decision in will be a theme of the first block of the URC and more bombshells are likely before the competitive action gets under way on 26 went up a notch last week with the announcement that US-based company House of Luxury (HOL) has agreed a deal that will see it acquire a 55% stake in the Sport Wales has a look at the prospective investment by the so-called "international luxury asset agency". Why now? On the face of it, the timing of a deal is odd given that there are so many questions about the future of professional rugby in investment is subject to that process and HOL chief experience officer Simon Kozlowski insists the company is not put off by the uncertainty."We tend to go where there's blood on the streets because we think that's an opportunity for the most positive social change," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast."We are a bit like Rockerfeller, not in our money, we don't have that much money yet, but we like to get in when everyone is getting out and we like to get out when everyone is getting in."We think there's massive value in Welsh rugby to be preserved, to be sustained, to be increased and shared with the surrounding communities."We were waiting for a long time for someone to do that. We come to the forefront here as something of a reluctant hero because we were waiting for somebody else to wear the cape and they wouldn't. We are stepping in based on what we believe in."The WRU has stated that it has given no assurances over the future of any clubs amid speculation that the governing body favours teams based in Cardiff and Swansea. Western rivals It was a tumultuous week in the west with planning permission granted by Swansea council for the Ospreys to redevelop St Helen's despite some Carmarthenshire 16, the Scarlets Supporters Trust, objected to the plans and a cross-party group of politicians have called on the Welsh government to intervene in the are high while waiting to see what the union's preferred structure is, but HOL has insisted there is no appetite for a voluntary said: "We just really haven't given much thought and energy to a merger situation because in terms of plan A, B, C and D it is probably at the lower end of the alphabet for us."There'll be other conversations to be had here. We are the new meat on the chopping board here so we are going to have to have some conversations with the various stakeholders."But for now we haven't even gotten to thinking about mergers. That's so low on our wish list and desire list. You are going to need some very persuasive people with some very elegant words to bring us onside with that one." High-profile pair The HOL announcement featured two names that raised eyebrows beyond west Ospreys, Wales and Lions fly-half Dan Biggar is part of HOL's sports and entertainment division that is headed up by former Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David was famously at the helm for the launch of regional rugby and in 2014 sought election to the WRU board with a manifesto for change."I would be very naive to say that he wouldn't be someone that you will hear from because David is a passionate, outspoken person," admitted chances of Biggar, who made 221 appearances for Ospreys and scored 2,203 points, rocking up to call the shots at Llanelli appear slim."The names like Dan Biggar, Andy Golding, David Moffett are playing at a higher level, leading a bigger narrative than just sitting on the daily management of the Scarlets," continued Kozlowski."Dan won't be sitting in a chair at Scarlets, David won't be sitting in a chair at Scarlets. They have bigger things to lead and we have got very experienced people to come in and move the needle at a club level."Moffett believes that HOL will quickly make an impact in Wales under chief executive Kirsti Jane."The owner of HOL is a self-made successful businesswoman who hails from Pontypridd," Moffett wrote on LinkedIn."Her enthusiasm for Welsh rugby is infectious and she wants to help answer the only question going forward, which is 'what is in the best interests of Welsh rugby as a whole?'."I am honoured to be part of her awesome team and we should start to see some positive results in weeks, not months." Cautious optimism There has been cautious optimism from Scarlets fans and intrigue from rival clubs, with the mention of Moffett's name making ears prick up in certain areas."Great news! Looking forward to hearing more about your vision to take the club forward," said Crys 16 about the HOL devil will be in the detail and question and answer sessions have been promised, but in the meantime the messages responding to the initial BBC story on the subject were largely optimistic."I'm a pretty passionate Llanelli and now Scarlets man and I'm a bit torn, but if it helps us survive and carry on a 150-year story a little longer then that would be good," said Will Scarlet."As a Scarlets supporter this is good news notwithstanding Moffett," said Mike Prager. "WRU and the regions have been at war since the beginning."
