Latest news with #GwaliaLightning
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales forward Pyrs makes Gloucester switch
Alaw Pyrs started against Scotland in this year's Six Nations [PA Media] English champions Gloucester-Hartpury have signed Wales forward Alaw Pyrs for the forthcoming Premiership Women's Rugby season. The 19-year-old lock made her Wales debut last September and featured in this year's Six Nations. Advertisement Pyrs previously played for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge as well as Hartpury University in the British universities championship. "To be an international whilst still a teenager is a remarkable achievement, and shows the potential that Alaw clearly has," Gloucester's head of rugby Dan Murphy said. "She's a physical player and has impressed with Wales, Hartpury and Gwalia Lightning, so we're delighted that she's put pen to paper here. "She'll learn so much from the experienced forwards we have here and get better and better, and that's what really excites us."
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales forward Pyrs makes Gloucester switch
English champions Gloucester-Hartpury have signed Wales forward Alaw Pyrs for the forthcoming Premiership Women's Rugby 19-year-old lock made her Wales debut last September and featured in this year's Six previously played for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge as well as Hartpury University in the British universities championship."To be an international whilst still a teenager is a remarkable achievement, and shows the potential that Alaw clearly has," Gloucester's head of rugby Dan Murphy said."She's a physical player and has impressed with Wales, Hartpury and Gwalia Lightning, so we're delighted that she's put pen to paper here."She'll learn so much from the experienced forwards we have here and get better and better, and that's what really excites us."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
WRU to revamp nation's top women's teams
The top level of women's rugby in Wales is to be revamped with its two current teams to be replaced by fresh Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will ask the nation's four professional men's regions - Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff and "selected universities" - to bid to form the new will replace Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge, a competition in which two sides each from Ireland and Scotland also WRU stated: "The professional clubs will be asked to bid for a 'Celtic Challenge Licence' and split the funding for the two teams for the next three years until 2028, with Welsh universities also welcomed into the process."The cost of each team will be match-funded by the WRU, with each club's operating cost expected to be £200,000 a season."The WRU added: "This exciting and key development for Welsh rugby recognises that women's rugby is the fastest growth area of the game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup set to be a 'generational' moment for the sport." WRU head of women's and girls rugby Belinda Moore said: "This is a hugely significant and exciting moment for women's rugby in Wales. It underlines the WRU's commitment to grow the game at home, and we look forward to having discussions with the professional clubs in Wales and our educational establishments."The initial discussions that have taken place have recognised that this is a unique and exciting opportunity for Welsh rugby."Moore added: "From my personal experience across the border, the English clubs have recognised the value and commercial opportunities available in women's rugby."This will not be easy, and we expect to have detailed discussions around what support the WRU will provide and to scrutinise what the clubs who apply will offer the next generation of players in Wales."Moore also highlighted the achievements of university side Cardiff Met."Cardiff Met's recent fantastic success, beating Loughborough and being crowned Women's BUCS Super Rugby champions, included 10 players who played in the Celtic Challenge last season," said Moore."It underlines that Wales produces rugby talent, and we just need to provide that talent with the opportunity and a stage to develop and flourish."The new teams' coaches will be appointed by the union added that successful bids to form the teams "will meet the operating standards set by the tournament organisers".For the last two campaigns, Brython Thunder played at Parc y Scarlets, while Gwalia Lightning switched between Cardiff Arms Park and Rodney Parade in their first season and at Ystrad Mynach in WRU has set a deadline of Friday, 2 May for any expressions of interest in forming one of the new teams.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Six Wales players to watch in Women's Six Nations
Women's Six Nations: Scotland v WalesVenue: The Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMTCoverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport online and listen on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru The 2025 Women's Six Nations is almost here and this year's championship brings fresh optimism for Wales. Armed with a new head coach in Sean Lynn, the side will be looking to bounce back from last year's bottom-place finish, starting with Saturday's opening trip to Edinburgh to take on Scotland. Lynn, who goes into camp fresh from winning the Premiership Women's Rugby title with Gloucester-Hartpury, has a 37-player squad to work with - made up of seasoned internationals and up and coming talent from the Celtic the action kicks-off, and with the World Cup later this year, BBC Sport has picked out six young Wales players to watch. Alaw Pyrs, 19, second row The younger sister of established Wales loose-head Gwenllian Pyrs, Alaw Pyrs certainly has big boots to made her senior Wales debut in a WXV2 warm-up against Scotland last September and travelled to South Africa with the squad the following was a turbulent time for the Bangor-born lock to make an impression given the player contracts upheaval and the eventual departure of head coach Ioan this season's Celtic Challenge is where Pyrs stepped out of her sister's was a standout player in Gwalia Lightning's third-place finish and showed herself to be a willing and powerful ball carrier with a eye for the 5ft 11in and over 14 stone, Conwy farmer Pyrs offers raw strength and a physical presence Wales will need if they are to take on the bigger admits Gwenllian is her rugby hero, but watch out for the not-so-little sister in 2025. Maisie Davies, 19, prop Maisie Davies demonstrated her international pedigree in the 2024 Women's Summer Series in Parma, with three tries in three matches earning her the accolade of Wales' MVP (most valuable player).Originally a blindside flanker, Davies made a seamless transition to loose-head prop while retaining the skills and swagger a seasoned wing would be proud of. She is also a natural leader and tipped by many as a future Wales made her senior debut in the same Scotland warm-up as Pyrs and also toured South Africa in the she enjoyed an outstanding season with Gwalia Lightning, her talent epitomised in a player-of-the-match display at Parc y Scarlets, which she dedicated to her late women are famed for their prop idols, and Davies has everything in her armoury to be another member of that band. Sian Jones, 20, scrum-half Sian Jones is another Gwalia Lightning success story, with her debut season earning her a call-up into Wales' senior squad for the 2024 Six in Bodelwyddan, Jones was the only girl in her mixed rugby team until the age of 14, a rite of passage which has given her a feistiness typical of her position.A fine distributor of the ball, Jones made her senior debut in last year's championship opener against while it was a memorable occasion for the youngster, one memory that will hurt is a kicking error which cost Wales their final attack of the what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?Jones showed her mettle in starting the next match against England and has been pushing Keira Bevan for the nine jersey ever Lewis' return from injury will add extra competition this year, but Jones rightfully backs her ability. Nel Metcalfe, 20, wing/full-back Nel Metcalfe was a shining light in Welsh women's rugby in what was otherwise a forgetful Nant Conwy utility back fittingly made her senior debut in north Wales in a WXV1 warm-up victory over USA in 2023.A few weeks later she made her first start against world champions New Zealand, 12,000 miles away in Dunedin. And while Wales were hammered and Metcalfe was shown a yellow card for pulling hair, it was an experience which put her in good season she has been running in tries for Gloucester-Hartpury and was Wales' standout player at WXV2, playing with freedom and cites Dyddgu Hywel to be her inspiration, a player from the same roots and arguably the same mould. Bryonie King, 21, back-row Bryonie King has been on the international radar since she was just athletic back-rower from a sporting family, King also has international honours for Wales sevens and rugby in Mountain Ash and first tasting rugby at Abercynon RFC, King is another natural leader in this was given the armband for Gwalia Lightning this season, sharing captaincy duties with another powerhouse in Gwennan Hopkins. With her rugby inspiration coming from legendary All Black Richie Macaw, it is of little surprise King's game is all about graft and determination. She made her international debut in the 2023 Women's Six Nations, but opportunities have been scarce with the back-row one of Wales' greatest after a promising domestic season, 2025 could see the return of the King. Molly Reardon, 21, hooker Merthyr Tydfil's Molly Reardon has been playing rugby since she was just five, turning out alongside her brother before women's rugby came calling at Nelson King, she switched codes and played rugby league for Wales which heightened her physicality and game a scrum-half, Reardon made the switch to hooker while studying at Cardiff Met and has never looked senior debut came in the 2024 Six Nations game against England and with Kelsey Jones succumbing to a season-ending injury, Reardon took her opportunity with both hands, earning eight caps to date.A mobile front-rower and accurate at the lineout, Reardon can look forward to becoming a regular try-scorer off the back of Wales' most potent weapon - the driving lineout. Just ask Carys Phillips.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lynn names 37-player Wales squad for Six Nations
Sean Lynn has named a 37-player squad for his opening Women's Six Nations Championship as Wales announced a 48-player training squad ahead of the tournament and has opted for a blend of experience and youth ahead of his side's first match in Scotland on Saturday, 22 March (16:45 GMT).Wales will be without vice captain Alex Callender for the opener against Scotland, while Sisilia Tuipolutu will miss the whole tournament after undergoing hamstring Keira Bevan will also act as vice captain while centre Hannah Jones will continue to lead the side. "This is an exciting and significant moment for the players, coaches and staff, when all the Wales family come together for the forthcoming Women's Six Nations campaign," said Lynn."We have a good mix of the 15 Welsh internationals who featured in the recent Premiership semi-finals and exciting younger players who have stood out for Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge."We all meet up on Monday and it is a short turnaround, but I know we all appreciate what we need to do and the support of the Welsh public."We are all excited about this Six Nations which is part of an exciting year for women's rugby, and we are aware of the challenges ahead of us but it's all about working hard for each other and inspiring the nation."Centre Jones is among the Gloucester-Hartpury contingent who will take on fellow Welsh international Georgia Evans' Saracens in Sunday's Premiership Women's Rugby final. This will be Lynn's final game in charge of King is joined by Lightning team-mates Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs in the national captain Natalia John is joined by prop Rosie Carr and centre Hannah Bluck.A week after their opening game in Edinburgh, Wales host England in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on 29 March and are on course to break their record crowd of 10,592 for a standalone women's rugby fixture in Wales. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) says they having already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the then travel to face France on 12 April before welcoming Ireland eight days side conclude their campaign with a trip to Italy on 26 April. Wales Six Nations squad Forwards: Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning), Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks), Abbey Constable (Leicester Tigers), Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning), Rosie Carr (Brython Thunder), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury), Carys Phillips (Harlequins), Donna Rose (Saracens) Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning), Abbie Fleming (Harlequins), Alaw Pyrs (Gwalia Lightning), Natalia John (Brython Thunder), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Kate Williams (Gloucester/Hartpury), Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Hartpury), Alex Callender (Harlequins), Gwennan Hopkins (Gwalia Lightning), Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears)Backs: Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears), Sian Jones (Gwalia Lightning), Meg Davies (Gloucester/Hartpury), Ffion Lewis (Bristol Bears), Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury), Lisa Neumann (Harlequins), Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins), Robyn Wilkins (Sale Sharks), Hannah Jones (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury), Hannah Bluck (Brython Thunder), Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning), Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester/Hartpury), Jenny Hesketh (Bristol Bears), Catherine Richards (Gwalia Lightning), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)
