Latest news with #GloucesterHartpury
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC expand Premiership Women's Rugby coverage
BBC Sport will expand its women's rugby union coverage with a new deal to broadcast Premiership Women's Rugby matches for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. A match will be streamed every week, with one semi-final and the final being shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. In May, Gloucester-Hartpury beat Saracens at StoneX Stadium to win their third PWR title in a row. Next month England host the Women's Rugby World Cup, with John Mitchell's side the favourites to win the tournament. BBC Sport have confirmed exclusive rights to broadcast every game of the tournament. Select matches will be shown on the BBC's linear channels, while every game will be available to watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra will also broadcast radio commentary on the tournament. Sunderland's Stadium of Light will host the opening game 22 August, while Twickenham will stage the final on 27 September. "This deal is another big step in BBC Sport's commitment to women's sport," said BBC head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski. "Premiership Women's Rugby is fast, physical and full of elite talent, and we're proud to bring that to audiences across the UK on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. "With the Women's Rugby World Cup exclusively on the BBC this summer, 2025 is a landmark year for women's sport, and we're right at the heart of it." In 2023, English rugby union's top-tier women's domestic league was rebranded as Premiership Women's Rugby and it has continued to grow. The nine-team league includes some of the sport's biggest stars, including World Rugby's women's player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who plays at full-back for Harlequins and England. The league contains all of Mitchell's Red Roses, but also includes oversea stars such as Canada and Saracens number eight Sophie de Goede, with social media sensation Ilona Maher featuring last season on a short-term deal with Bristol Bears. "Today marks another important step forward for Premiership Women's Rugby," PWR executive chair Genevieve Shore added. "In partnership with the BBC we intend to give our incredible athletes the biggest platform possible, to show off the elite rugby talent that exists in this country. "The Rugby World Cup later this year will be a breakthrough moment in our sport, but the story won't end there. "The world's best players play their rugby every week in the PWR, and I am excited to say that now they'll also be shown every week on the BBC." BBC Sport to show 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup World Cup 2025 final in line for record crowd
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
My body wanted me to rest - Tuipulotu now raring to go
Women's two-Test series: Australia v WalesVenue: Ballymore, Brisbane Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 05:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer, listen on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds Wales prop Sisilia Tuipulotu says she is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and is now raring to go on her return to 21-year-old missed the end of Gloucester-Hartpury's title winning season with a hamstring was also sidelined for the Women's Six Nations, swapping the scrum for pundit mics and DJ decks while recovering from surgery."It was the first big injury I've ever had, it was a big struggle," said Tuipulotu."But the girls really helped, they were all there and in return I was there supporting them."I'm a massive believer that anything can happen at any time, I guess my body just wanted me to rest and get back raring to go for the World Cup." Tuipulotu has travelled with the Wales squad to Australia ahead of a two-Test tour against the Wallaroos, starting with Saturday's game in Brisbane."I'm doing everything I can to return to play, I'm as ready as I can be," said the are still looking for a first win under head coach Sean Lynn after five straight Six Nations face an Australian side four places above them in World Rugby's rankings, but Tuipulotu is confident they can be competitive after a brutal pre-season."It's been tough, we've been training in the heat, climbing up sand dunes and going into army camps, but we've got to put our bodies in uncomfortable positions in order to be comfortable in the game," she said."I think it will be a good test before the World Cup, just to see where we are at as a team."We've got to take confidence in all the work that we've done in this pre-season and just go out and be us." On their return to the UK, Lynn's side will have just three weeks to prepare for the World Cup opener against Scotland on 23 is a game that historically has gone down to the wire, with the teams also meeting in the opener of the last World have come out on top in the most recent meetings, but Tuipulotu believes Wales can make it out of Group A, which also contains Canada and Fiji - the latter now coached by Lynn's predecessor Ioan Cunningham. "We're preparing as hard as we can for that first game against Scotland, it's going to be a tough battle between the two," said Tuipulotu."We're always competitive whenever we play against each other, I have full confidence that we can do it."
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Williams signs new Gloucester-Hartpury contract
Wales co-captain Kate Williams has signed a new contract with Premiership Women's Rugby champions 25-year-old flanker has won the league title in both of her seasons since joining the club from Auckland-based Blues in was named Gloucester-Hartpury's players' player of the season last term and scored the opening try as they beat Saracens in the PWR final in has 16 caps for Wales and was this week named co-captain of the national team."I'm incredibly grateful to Gloucester-Hartpury for everything they've done for my career. The past few seasons have been a whirlwind, but I've loved every single minute of it," she told the club's website, external."To be able to do what I love, alongside a group of girls who have truly become my family, is such a privilege - and honestly, you don't need much more motivation than that."Gloucester-Hartpury did not state the length of Williams' contract.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales coach Lynn on 'honest' captain conversation
Wales head coach Sean Lynn says he axed Hannah Jones as captain so she could concentrate on her performances heading into the World Jones had skippered Wales for more than two years and held onto the role when Lynn charge at the start of this year's Six after a winless campaign, it was revealed last month Lynn – Jones' former coach at English champions Gloucester-Hartpury - had opted for a Alex Callender and Kate Williams were confirmed on Monday as co-captains for the upcoming two-Test tour of Australia and the World Cup that kicks off in England in August."We had a chat after the Six Nations, some good honest conversations, and I just felt I didn't see a Hannah I saw in Gloucester-Hartpury," Lynn said."She's gone through some tough times as captain and I can't fault what she's done."She was very professional about it; she just said, 'Whatever's right for the team, I will do'." Jones has won 65 caps for Wales and initially replaced Siwan Lillicrap as captain in despite success on the club front at Gloucester, she has endured a difficult time with Wales following back-to-back wooden spoons and a contract dispute that led her to contemplate quitting."She was very disappointed – as you would expect when you're told the captaincy is going to be taken away," added Lynn, who said he was not worried he was risking his relationship with Jones over the move."She was upset but she knew it was my decision and her response has been brilliant in training, going above and beyond."I'm hoping we will see a different Hannah and I want her to lead the way she can lead on the pitch." Jones has been included in the 30-player squad for the two fixtures against the Wallaroos, starting with the first test in Brisbane on Saturday, 26 they will be led by co-captains for the first time, with Lynn praising Callender's "energy" and 25-year-old Williams' "strategic approach"."I think the two personalities just bounce off each other," he said of the back-row pairing, who were told together of the decision by Lynn."We're both really excited about the journey we're on," said Callender, the 24-year-old Harlequins flanker. "Hannah congratulated us; she's done a massive job for us during tough times, including the contracts, but she's been happy for us to lead the team."To do it together takes some of the pressure off just one person, but we're just excited to get going into the World Cup."Meanwhile Gloucester-Hartpury's Swansea-born Williams – who only joined the Wales set-up three years ago having been brought up in New Zealand – said: "I didn't think I'd be at the next World Cup when I first came over, but for the coach to put his trust in me and Alex is a massive opportunity I'm really proud and grateful for." 'Schedule is what it is - but we'll embrace it' Three young uncapped players have been included, with Lynn saying scrum-half Seren Lockwood, prop Katherine Baverstock and lock Tilly Vucaj all have a chance of making it to the World Cup that begins for Wales against Scotland in Salford on Saturday, 23 he hailed the return of prop Sisilia Tuipulotu who has not played since undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in Natalia John (calf) and centres Kerin Lake (shoulder) and Hannah Bluck (calf) are missing through injury, though none are thought to be at risk of missing the World Cup, where Wales will also face Fiji and trio's recovery will continue at home where Lynn has so far overseen a gruelling fitness regime having identified fitness and discipline as issues following a review of the winless Six Nations has included sand dune running at Merthyr Mawr, training in dojos under the supervision of a new 'collision coach', former Wigan and Wales Rugby League international Ben Flower, as well as military training with the Royal Welsh regiment."I learnt a lot in that Six Nations campaign and the big thing was we needed to work harder," Lynn said, who said accuracy dropped off in games. "Everything about us now is building this identity and making sure that we are competitive and we're a hard team to beat and we work hard for each other."Players and staff have been held accountable and we're in a good place to go to Australia where it will be a challenge."We're not going to be the finished article, but everything will be building, going into Scotland."Wales has lost their last two against Australia following their maiden victory over the Wallaroos in Newport in September though, played down the debatable choice of travelling 10,000 miles for two test matches in the space of six days to prepare for a tournament in if it was ideal preparation, Lynn said: "It is what it is, and we're going to embrace it."He added: "It was booked before I took on the role, but I'm getting excited; we're playing Australia, in Australia and it'll be a great opportunity for us as a group to spend valuable time with each other."
South Wales Guardian
06-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Hyett delighted by resilient England in Six Nations Summer Series
Tries from Player of the Match Joia Bennett, Grace Clifford, Lucy Simpson, Amelia MacDougall and Molly Luthayi were enough to seal the win at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly. But England were pushed all the way by Scotland, who battled hard for 80 minutes and continually refused to let their opponents get away from them in the scoring, as Holly McIntyre, Emily Norval and Poppy Mellanby all crossed over. And while the final scoreline looks like it was a comfortable win for England, Hyett explained there were plenty of times when her side had to dig deep to hold Scotland at bay. 'I'm really pleased with the girls and the result,' said the 20-year-old. 'We definitely had to fight for it. There were moments in the game where we weren't where we wanted to be, but I think the fight and the desire that we all have, one to 23 right through the squad, is what got us over the line in the end.' Hyett, who tasted PWR [Premiership Women's Rugby] glory with Gloucester Hartpury earlier this year, also said how England's gameplan was always to take the game to Scotland and was delighted by the way the backs and forwards combined. 'We spoke all week about being direct, playing with intent and beating the other team physicality wise, and I think when we did that. 'We earned the right to go wide, and we scored a lot of tries out there. That just proved that when the forwards do a great job, our backs can then reward our forwards.' 😎 A recap of the results from yesterday's opening games in the #U6NSummerSeries Next up for England is a clash against Italy, who fell 46-5 to France in their opening game of the tournament, but Hyett is not underestimating the challenge they'll pose on July 11. 'Italy is a new game on a new day,' she added. 'This game is done and over with and it's on to the next job. 'Italy will be a tough challenge, definitely. '[Against France], they showed that they can be very physical, but also, they are very quick, and they have a lot of threats around the park. 'For us, it'll be how we manage that whilst also focussing on ourselves.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
