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The Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Matt Sherratt hopes Wales can ‘lay foundation' against Japan and end losing run
Matt Sherratt wants Wales to 'lay a foundation' for Warren Gatland's long-term successor as head coach during a two-Test tour of Japan in July. Cardiff boss Sherratt will resume interim head coach duty for a trip that starts in Kitakyushu on July 5. Sherratt took charge of Wales' final three Six Nations games this season after Gatland departed following defeat against Italy in Rome. Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 home loss to England and have suffered 17 successive Test defeats, starting with the 2023 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. Sherratt has named a 33-strong squad for the Japan tour, with Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake chosen as captain. 'Being a Lions year, with two players away and a couple of other experienced players unavailable, it was important to get some experience in the squad,' Sherratt said. 'Probably big picture-wise, if I am honest, the development angle should be left to the next guy coming in, in terms of some younger boys he wants to look at. 'A big part of doing it when I was asked a couple of weeks ago was laying a foundation for the next guy coming in. I don't think it is our job as coaches to look at the big picture. 'It is just about getting some familiarity there, and with the world rankings and Japan being one place behind, it is about going there and trying to get a result. 'I would love for the next guy to look at the team and think there is something to build on and not have that losing record around their neck.' Sherratt will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Eddie Jones' Japan in Kitakyushu and then Kobe seven days later. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, who were part of Gatland's coaching staff throughout his second spell in charge, will not be involved this summer. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson and scrum specialist Adam Jones will join Sherratt on the tour, in addition to Gloucester's TR Thomas and Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, all on a secondment basis. Jones and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations. 'The WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) were pretty clear they wanted to take an interim staff. I think it was important, with the limited time, that we had worked together before,' Sherratt added. 'I've worked with Danny at Cardiff, I work with Gethin now, Gethin and TR have worked together, Adam Jones has played with them. It is a familiar staff, and having staff harmony rubs off on the players.' Sherratt has selected six uncapped players in Keelan Giles, Macs Page, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman and Garyn Phillips. Fly-half Sam Costelow, prop Archie Griffin and lock Ben Carter, meanwhile, all return after missing the Six Nations through injury. But Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery this summer and misses out along with Scarlets prop Henry Thomas, who the WRU say will seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are rested. Gloucester back Max Llewellyn is also injured, but there are no places for the likes of Llewellyn's club colleagues Gareth Anscombe and Josh Hathaway, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff flanker James Botham.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales name six new caps as Lake leads Japan tour
Wales interim coach Matt Sherratt has named six uncapped players for the two-test tour of Japan with hooker Dewi Lake given the captain Liam Belcher, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Ospreys trio Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan Williams, plus Scarlets back Macs Page are the fresh faces, but there is no room for Ospreys number eight Morgan leads the 33-man squad in the absence of flanker Jac Morgan, who is on tour with the British and Irish Lions in Australia, along with Gloucester scrum-half Tomos notable absentees for Japan are locks Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, Scarlets pair Henry Thomas and Ellis Mee, Gloucester duo Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins and Cardiff duo James Botham and Evan lock Jenkins will have surgery and Scarlets prop Thomas needs to seek specialist opinion on a long-term and Rowlands are rested but the absence of Tompkins, Mee, Llewellyn, Anscombe, Lloyd and Botham has not been explained. Dragons second-row Ben Carter, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow and Bath tight-head prop Archie Griffin return having missed the Six Nations due to Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett have been handed recalls."I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign," said Sherratt."There's a good blend of experience and young talent selected and this group has a lot of potential."Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches."Over the next few weeks in camp, it's about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group." Desperate need for victory Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses in Japan, having not won an international since October 2023 with two successive Six Nations Wooden will play the Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to slip from their lowest ever position of 12th in the world first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July in the city where Wales held their Rugby World Cup training camp in second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days men have won 13 of their 14 previous meetings with Japan, with the most recent encounter, in Cardiff in 2016, ending in a 33-30 victory for the home only loss in this fixture came in the summer of 2013 when they lost 23-8 in Tokyo. Wales squad to tour Japan Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Keiron Assiratti, Chris Coleman, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Elliot Dee, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, Taulupe Faletau, Tommy Reffell, Josh MacleodBacks: Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhodri Williams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Macs Page, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Keelan Giles, Cameron Winnett.
Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welsh region to be cut in bombshell development
Welsh region to be cut in bombshell development Welsh rugby is set for seismic change after the WRU informed the four professional teams it intends to go down to three Dewi Lake of Ospreys, Liam Belcher of Cardiff, Aneurin Owen of Dragons and Blair Murray of Scarlets at a recent Judgement Day photo call. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Welsh Rugby Union has decided to reduce the number of professional clubs in Wales to three, WalesOnline has learnt. We understand the WRU board has agreed that reducing the number of professional clubs is the best way forward, with the process set to begin this summer. As part of the WRU's One Wales strategy the initial plan was to retain four clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - under a new Professional Rugby Agreement which was meant to lead to increased funding and a refinancing of the debt acquired during Covid. WRU CEO Abi Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood have always maintained their desire to retain four clubs but things have changed dramatically. Primarily, the WRU's decision to take ownership of Cardiff Rugby following the capital city club entering administration has altered the landscape significantly. While the Dragons have signed the new PRA, both the Ospreys and Scarlets refused to do so over fears the WRU would turn Cardiff into a super club. The WRU and the two west Wales clubs have been locked in negotiations for the past couple of weeks but have not been able to get a deal over the line. Article continues below WalesOnline has been told the WRU have activated the two-year notice on the old PRA because it is desperate to refinance its debt. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. NatWest view the old PRA as too much of a risk to refinance the debt because any increase in the WRU's profit has to go to the four professional clubs, whereas it doesn't on the new deal. The WRU is looking to take on around £35m of new debt which would refinance its existing NatWest and Welsh Government facilities of £30m. There is Welsh Government debt of £12.5m which was passed through to the clubs via the WRU. But despite saying there was enough money in the new PRA to fund four strong professional sides, it appears the view is that is no longer be the case. It has been apparent for quite some time that Wales does not have the finances nor the sufficient volume of high-end professional players to service four clubs. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. All four professional clubs have struggled to compete with the better sides in the United Rugby Championship and Europe, while the Dragons finished bottom of the table having won just one league game all season. The WRU has decided enough is enough and want to create a structure which is financially viable and allows the game in Wales to not only survive but thrive. Cutting to three professional clubs could be seen as an ambitious move to concentrate talent and resources which should in theory improve standards across the board. Despite a two-year notice getting served, the likelihood is a change will happen sooner than that. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free One option would be to put the licences out to tender after setting some strict criteria based on things like stadium, facilities, investors and players produced for Wales, among other things. The second option would be for two clubs to merge voluntarily or for another to fall on its sword. Article continues below One thing which is certain is that seismic change is coming to Welsh rugby, not seen since the inception of regional rugby in 2003.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lake leads Ospreys as Morgan sits out Lions finale
United Rugby Championship: Lions v OspreysVenue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick off: 16:15 BSTCoverage: Watch live S4C coverage via iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. Ospreys make seven personnel changes as they round off their United Rugby Championship (URC) season at Lions on Dewi Lake will lead the side with British and Irish Lions-bound Jac Morgan left out of a contest between two sides already eliminated from the play-off Harri Deaves replaces Morgan in the back-row alongside incoming blind-side Will Griffiths. James Ratti switches to lock where James Fender also replaces Montpellier-bound Adam Steffan Thomas replaces Gareth Thomas at the scrum Reuben Morgan-Williams takes over the nine jersey from Kieran Hardy, while Luke Morgan and Ryan Conbeer come onto the wings in place of Daniel Kasende and Keelan prop Kian Hire could make his debut off the make three changes to the starting XV beaten by Scarlets last Henco van Wyk returns after injury, while Lubabalo Dobela comes in at fly-half and Juan Schoeman at prop. Both sides have suffered a disappointing drop in form during the latter part of the have won just one of their past six league games and are 13th in the table, while Ospreys are 11th having won only one of their previous Welsh side's only victory in their past seven URC visits to South Africa was against Stormers in April 2024, but they have won their previous three meetings with the Lions in all competitions - including a 30-14 victory in a Challenge Cup match switched to Parc y Scarlets earlier this season. Lions: Quan Horn; Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills, Edwill van der Merwe; Lubabalo Dobela, Nico Steyn; Juan Schoeman, Jaco Visagie (capt), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Ruan Delport, JC Pretorius, Renzo du Plessis, Jarod Morne Brandon, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Izan Esterhuizen, WJ Steenkamp, Layton Horn, Marius Louw, Kelly Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Steffan Thomas, Dewi Lake (capt), Tom Botha, James Ratti, James Fender, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Morgan Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Kian Hire, Lewis Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Owen Williams, Iestyn Eoghan Cross (IRFU)Assistant referees: Christopher Allison & Dylen November (SARU)TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Wales Online
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ospreys keep play-off hopes alive with statement nine-try derby win
The Ospreys kept up their hopes of a United Rugby Championship play-off place with a nine-try 57-24 win over the Dragons in Swansea. Tries from Will Spencer, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams and braces from Dan Edwards and Keelan Giles signed off the club's final season at the Stadium in style, as it kept their chances of a top eight finish alive. In recent weeks, the Ospreys' resurgence under Mark Jones had stuttered a little. Back-to-back derby defeats to the Scarlets and Cardiff in the league sandwiched their European knockout exit in the Challenge Cup quarter-final. Defeat to the Dragons would not only seen them lose three in a row for the first time since October, but it would have effectively marked the end of their hopes of reaching the play-offs, with away games against Sharks and Lions to come. For weeks, this game had been billed as Justin Tipuric's farewell match on home soil. In the end, a pectoral injury suffered in their European exit two weeks ago ruled him out of a occasion that, in all honesty, the humble man from Trebanos wouldn't exactly enjoy. Whether there is to be another outing for the man in the blue scrum cap before his switch to coaching, with two games to come in South Africa, remains to be seen. However, Wales second-row Adam Beard did at least recover from injury to saviour his own Swansea farewell ahead of a move abroad. For the Dragons, it was also the last time around for Dan Lydiate on Welsh soil ahead of his own retirement. The man who made a career from chop tackling showed the other side of his skillset with an early breakdown penalty that moved the Dragons up field. From there, some patient attack earned a penalty that allowed Angus O'Brien to open the scoring after 18 minutes. A few minutes later, the fly-half turned provider, with a delightfully delayed pass putting Wales U20s wing Harry Rees-Weldon through a gap to score on his senior debut. With an early 10-0 lead, the more optimistic Dragons fans might have been dreaming of a first league win since the opening day of the season against the Ospreys. As for the home support, after two blunt performances against Lyon and Cardiff, they might have been fearing the worst about their stuttering attack. However, the response of Mark Jones' side was instant. Wing Daniel Kasende regathered their kick-off, with a snipe from Hardy setting up the position for lock Spencer to cross for his second try in as many weekends. Shortly before half-time, the Ospreys provided Beard with a fitting leaving present. Even if the Wales second-row didn't end up on the scoresheet, watching him steer a maul filled with not just the Ospreys pack, but most of their backline as well, over the tryline - with Wales hooker Lake scoring. The second-half saw the fundamentals of the Ospreys' attack - a suffocating set-piece and a dominant aerial presence - continue to loosen up. Having not made the most of it in recent weeks, the lineout worked again - with prop Warren burrowing his way over for the Ospreys shortly after half-time when the maul was stopped short. A searing break from No. 8 Morgan Morse, with the Wales U20s stepping two on his way from 22 to 22, deserved a score. However, the nonchalant offload to Giles didn't stick. It didn't matter, as moments later the uncapped wing stepped his way through a tired Dragons defence for the bonus point try after the Ospreys had pinched their lineout. To the Dragons' credit, they responded well, with scrum-half Rhodri Williams stepping his way over to reduce the deficit. Once again though, the aerial work of Kasende got the Ospreys back on the scoresheet immediately. Taking another high ball, slick hands from Beard and Keiran Williams put Edwards over for a score. Minutes later, the fly-half would cross again after centre Evardi Boshoff stepped through the Dragons defence. The Dragons kept coming, with wing Jared Rosser crashing over the line off a beautiful line to score their third. However, moments after Lydiate had departed to a standing ovation from the Swansea crowd, the Ospreys went over for their seventh. Wales scrum-half Hardy broke down the blindside, with his grubber ricocheting back into his hands for a simple run-in. With the Dragons out on their feet in the dying minutes, quickfire scores from Giles and Morgan-Williams at the end ensured the Ospreys will head to South Africa with some confidence as they look to sneak into the play-offs once again. Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morse. Replacements: Sam Parry, Steffan Thomas, Tom Botha, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins. Dragons: Ewan Rosser; Harry Rees-Weldon, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (capt), Jared Rosser; Angus O'Brien, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Nathan Evans, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Che Hope, Will Reed, Huw Anderson. Referee: Ben Breakspear (SRU) Live updates below:
