Latest news with #GwaliaLightning
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- 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).
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WRU postpones revamp of leading women's teams
Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder finished third and fourth respectively in the 2024-25 Celtic Challenge [Huw evans agency] The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has postponed the proposed revamp of top-tier women's rugby in Wales that was due to be in place for 2025-26. Celtic Challenge teams Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder were to be replaced by two fresh set-ups to continue in the Celtic Challenge, a competition in which two sides each from Ireland and Scotland also play. Advertisement The nation's four professional men's regions - Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff and "selected universities" - were invited to bid to form the new teams. But an internal email between senior WRU officials seen by BBC Sport Wales states the process has been paused "due to the ongoing transformation in the men's game". Since the WRU took over financially-stricken Cardiff in April, the Arms Park club and Dragons have signed a new agreement with the governing body, but a split has emerged with the possibility of Ospreys and Scarlets entering a legal dispute with the governing body. That scenario has left the long-term future of the west Wales teams in doubt, with options including them continuing, but on less funds than their east Wales rivals. Advertisement Speculation has also included the possibility of Welsh men's professional rugby being reduced to three or two teams. Any reduction in the men's game would impact the options for where new women's teams could be based. The email from WRU head of women's rugby Belinda Moore states: "We have made the decision that Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning will continue to represent Wales in the flagship tournament next season. "We have taken this in the best interest of our players and management teams and believe this is the right way to guarantee a professional elite sporting environment for our players in the necessary timeframe. Advertisement "It remains central to the WRU's strategy to grow marketable and commercially viable high-performance clubs for our women players in Wales and we will revisit this in the near future. "I would like to thank all parties for the work they have done to date during the tender process, it is not wasted, and we look forward to picking this up again in earnest at the appropriate time." The WRU has confirmed the development in its domestic women's game with Moore stating: "In a pivotal year for the women's game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England this autumn, we are making sure a stable, centrally supported high-performance environment is underpinning our senior women's squad." Many of Wales' top internationals play for English sides in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) league with the Celtic Challenge competition set up in 2023 to help develop players in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- 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
03-06-2025
- 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.
