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Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Wales international switches allegiances and 'richest game in rugby' proposed
Today's rugby news as Wales international switches allegiances and 'richest game in rugby' proposed The latest rugby news stories from Wales, the Lions and beyond Willis Halaholo, right, playing for Wales (Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency ) These are your rugby headlines on Friday, July 4 Halaholo gets Tonga call-up Willis Halaholo has been named in the Tonga squad for this summer's Pacific Nations Cup. Halaholo won 10 caps for Wales after moving to the country in 2016 and making more than a century of appearances for Cardiff Rugby before leaving last summer to move to New Zealand. He decided to return home to the southern hemisphere, joining up with Bay of Plenty last July. Halaholo's last Test appearance for Wales came in 2022 against Italy, meaning he is now free to represent another country on the international stage. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. The 34-year-old was a cult figure during his eight years in the Welsh capital and signed off his time at the Arms Park with an emotional statement this time last year. Article continues below "First I want to thank God for watching over me and my family here in Cardiff the last 8 years," a part of the statement began. "A lot of highs and some tough lows but definitely a memorable part of my life and career so far. Winning a European Challenge Cup, a Welsh rugby debut alongside a Six Nations title and joining the 100-cap club for Cardiff Rugby (are) some of my favourite achievements. "Big thank you to all my brothers I have had the honour of playing alongside in both jerseys, memories that will last forever." Cockerill makes case yet again Georgia head coach Richard Cockerill has again made the case for their inclusion in the Six Nations - but admits he wouldn't agree to it if he were one of the other nations involved in the competition. Georgia have publicly pleaded a number of times for a place in the tournament, with Wales the country in their sights after beating them under the reign of Wayne Pivac. Since then they have offered repeat invitations to Wales to come to Tbilisi to face off in an unofficial play-off match. Cockerill took over in January of last year and hopes for a chance of inclusion - but he's not holding his breath. A play-off would be fair, reckons Cockerill, calling it the "richest game in rugby". 'No, not a chance because if I was one of the Six Nations teams I wouldn't put myself at risk,' Cockerill said ahead of their match with Ireland this weekend when asked if he thought it would happen. 'We're at a standstill because we are an inconvenience as a national team, aren't we? 'Where do we go? We keep winning Rugby Europe and we don't have to play at our best to win that, with respect to all the other teams. 'For me, sport is about opportunity. It's Wales at the moment, it could be anybody, but whoever finishes bottom of the Six Nations, if we or Spain, Portugal, Romania, whoever that may be, they should be good enough to beat us, shouldn't they? 'Why can't we be in the Six Nations for a year? And we might get spanked but it's no different to Italy getting the opportunity and it took them however long to win a game. 'They've been able to build and we need that opportunity too but where do we get it? Are we just going to sit here winning Rugby Europe until the government gets bored of funding it because where do we go with it? Or are we going to take the next step? 'We've got some work to do with infrastructure and all the other bits and pieces but until we're in it and we're learning from playing right the way through to the board and administration, it's all new to us. Rome was the great new Six Nations weekend when Italy first came in – come to Tbilisi, it's an amazing place. 'We talk about expanding the game – Italy have been allowed into the Six Nations, the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika are in Super Rugby. Where do Georgia get their opportunity? A play-off seems fair to me. I've said it before, it would be the richest game in rugby – how good!' French teams fined for violent scenes French Pro D2 clubs Grenoble and USA Perpignan have been handed fines for their parts in the ugly scenes that marred the end of their promotion play-off last month. The two sides met on June 14, with Perpignan winning an extremely close encounter 13-11 to deny Wales' Sam Davies and Grenoble Top 14 rugby next season. But it was events after the final whistle that caught the headlines, with a pitch invasion and physical fights between supporters taking place, with the police forced to keep the peace. Grenoble has been fined €25,000 and banned from playing their opening home match of next season at Stade des Alpes. Perpignan were handed the same financial sanction and also given a one-game stadium ban, although the latter stipulation was suspended. Ford set to join 100 club By PA Sport staff George Ford will make his 100th appearance for England in Saturday's opening Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The 32-year-old Sale fly-half, co-captain alongside Jamie George, has been named in head coach Steve Borthwick's starting line-up alongside Test debutants Seb Atkinson and Will Muir. Gloucester's Atkinson and Bath's Muir, will win their first England caps at centre and on the wing respectively, while Bath back-row Guy Pepper could make his international bow off the bench. Ford, who made his senior international debut in the 2014 Six Nations against Wales, helped England reach the 2019 World Cup final in Japan. Borthwick said: 'George has been a standout player for over a decade. 'Reaching 100 caps is a remarkable achievement and it speaks volumes about both the professional and the person he is. Everyone in the squad is incredibly proud to share this moment with him.' Borthwick named a 36-man summer tour squad 10 days ago for a two-match series against Argentina, who beat the British & Irish Lions 28-24 in Dublin last month, with the second Test in San Juan on July 12. They will then play a one-off Test against the United States in Washington DC on July 19. Borthwick added: 'We're excited to be playing in Argentina and to test ourselves against a strong, in-form side. 'Having beaten the British & Irish Lions, they come into this series as favourites. They're brilliantly led by Julian Montoya and we know it will be a huge challenge.' Borthwick, without 13 players who are currently on tour with the British and Irish Lions, included 10 uncapped players in total in his squad. Article continues below Joe Carpenter, Oscar Beard, Charlie Atkinson, Arthur Clark, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh and Afolabi Fasogbon, a late replacement for injured prop Emmanuel Iyogun, are all hoping to force their way into Borthwick's side. England line-up: F Steward, T Roebuck, H Slade, S Atkinson, W Muir, G Ford, B Spencer, F Baxter, J George, J Heyes, C Ewels ,A Coles, B Curry, S Underhill, T Willis. Replacements: T Dan, B Rodd, A Opoku-Fordjour, C Cunningham-South, G Pepper, A Dombrandt, J van Poortvliet.
Wales Online
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales players train in brutal Japanese heat in bid to end losing streak
Wales' first Test against Japan is just six days away, and the squad have been preparing in Kitakyushu in search of their all-important win. Matt Sherratt is back at the helm for the time being - hired on an interim basis while the search for a permanent head coach goes on. Wales were given a warm welcome six years ago for the 2019 World Cup, and they were afforded that same luxury this time around. Even before they arrived in Japan, schoolchildren sang the Welsh national anthem at Kokura Station in anticipation of their arrival. Them, when the players arrived three days ago, the Japanese hospitality became even more apparent. Holding banners, Welsh flags and red jerseys, the Japanese public welcomed Wales with open arms. The banner read: 'In 2019, we became family. Welcome back, Wales.' Over in Kitakyushu, it'll be around 30°C throughout the week leading up to Saturday's Test. While this may not seem like a ridiculous temperature to play in, the humidity stands at around 86% on some days, with the players set to play in a pressure cooker environment. With those humidity levels at that heat, due to the body's reduced ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation, It could feel as high as 45°C Back in Wales, ahead of leaving for the Far East, coaches prepared the players by putting on the heating in the gym while Wales stars got to work on the rowing machines, simulating the sweltering conditions out in Japan. The squad have been preparing for their match in the Kitakyushu sun over the weekend, and also took to the streets of the city to enjoy some downtime. A selection of pictures can be viewed below, all credit goes to Huw Evans Picture Agency.
Wales Online
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Principality Stadium confirms roof decision for Oasis Live '25 gigs
Principality Stadium confirms roof decision for Oasis Live '25 gigs The Oasis reuinion gigs are in the Welsh capital on July 4 and 5 and the question of whether the roof will be open or closed has been answered Will it be open or closed? (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) The biggest gig of 2025 is almost here - the opening night of Oasis Live '25 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on July 4. Many who've attended a concert in the Welsh capital, or been to one if it's many major sporting events, will know the beauty of the Principality is its retractable roof. The cauldron of Welsh rugby lends itself to closed-roof gigs, the sound bouncing off the sky-high metal, building up an atmosphere of feverish proportions and a cacophenous space filled with cheers and singing - then on the other hand, the open air option gives the tunes a sense of freedom, a summertime, festival quality - or, like Coldplay back in 2017, the option to put on some fireworks that could be seen beyond the stadium boundary. Oasis fans will be pleased to know that for their opening dates in Cardiff the roof will be closed, as per the fan guide sent out to Ticketmaster customers today (June 27). Earlier on Friday (June 27) the band shared a new clip marking one week to go until the Oasis Live '25 tour starts, showing the Welsh stadium in a state of major preparation. The soundtrack to the clip is the opening bars of Supersonic - Oasis' debut single released in 1994. Sending shivers down the spine of any true Oasis fan, the video shows low key prep is underway with mops and buckets and brushes waiting to be used, before showing rigging being moved around getting the staging area ready for Liam and Noel Gallager, plus rumoured band members, Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, and Joey Waronker. The video then focuses on a number seven seat before it fades to black with the statement "7 days to go." From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Watch the video here: Content cannot be displayed without consent Oasis competition: Win tickets to see Oasis at Wembley Article continues below For last-minute tickets for Oasis Live '25 in Cardiff Ticketmaster is offering verified resale tickets for the opening night, available here. Tickets for the second night are up for grab here.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea City announce second departure in less than 24 hours as deal cut short
Swansea City announce second departure in less than 24 hours as deal cut short Swansea City have confirmed another departure this summer Nathan Tjoe-A-On of Swansea City (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Nathan Tjoe-A-On has left Swansea City by mutual consent. The full-back, who's won 12 caps for Indonesia, was signed from Excelsior for a fee believed to be around £350k back in the summer of August 2023. He has since become a big star among Indonesian fans, amassing millions of social media followers, and he was the first player from the country to make an EFL appearance. However, he has largely struggled to make an impact on the first team - firstly under Michael Duff and then under Luke Williams. He was loaned out to Dutch side Heerenveen in January 2024, and his chances of first-team football have shown little sign of improving under current boss Alan Sheehan. Article continues below It's not yet known whether the 23-year-old has another destination lined up, but he leaves Swansea despite previously having a year left to run on his current deal. In total, he made just three appearances for the Swans, with his only two starts coming in last season's EFL Cup campaign, which included an embarrassing defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers. His only outing in the league came as a late substitute against Preston North End back in August. Article continues below Tjoe-A-On's departure is the latest move away from what was widely seen as a disastrous recruitment drive in the summer of 2023 under previous sporting director Paul Watson. Of the 13 players brought in that summer, only five players remain, with Kristian Pedersen and Mykola Kuharevich among the latest to depart. That number could yet dwindle further before the summer is over, with the club also likely to listen to offers for striker Jerry Yates, who spent last season on loan at Derby County.
Wales Online
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
I had my Welsh rugby career ripped from me and it left me fearing I was going to die
I had my Welsh rugby career ripped from me and it left me fearing I was going to die 'You are so worried about the future, that you can't live in the present' Lennon Greggains played for the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Ex-professional rugby player Lennon Greggains says players need more support when being let go from Welsh regions, after his mental health hit an all-time-low when his Dragons RFC career ended aged 25. Greggains, now 26, joined the Dragons Academy at 15, and the prospect of him playing rugby for a living was a dream come true to the once eight-year-old boy who started playing for NHSOB on the weekends growing up. For a while, Greggains was one of former coach Dean Ryan's favourites, signing his first pro contract in 2017 aged 18, and regularly being picked for the squad as he represented Wales in all age groups. Then, disaster struck. In the summer of 2019 he tore his ACL during the pre-season, and from that point on things were never the same. Greggains faced set-back after set-back, injury after injury, taking a nasty blow to the forearm before breaking both of his shoulders in the years following. Lennon Greggains (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Article continues below He says he did not prepare for the end of his career, and neither did any of his peers, because they simply focussed everything they had on the sport from the minute they got given the chance. It was his lifestyle, his identity, his purpose. When it was over, Greggains lost himself. He describes how during the transition his anxiety got so severe, he was experiencing frequent panic attacks and would go to bed at night dreading having to wake up the next morning. "When I say I was in a real bad place, I would dread waking up every day. These feelings started the day I was told I wasn't going to be staying at the Dragons," he said. "Anxiety and depression came straight at me. It was the realisation that everything I ever wanted in my life has come to an end. "I remember having a panic attack in training whilst I was on the bike. "I was suffering so badly with anxiety that I was getting physical symptoms, which led to me believing I had a chronic illness. "From the March I was having constant panic attacks, I couldn't leave Newport, couldn't leave the country. "I didn't understand it at the time but now I can see that it was the impact of losing my contract - spending my entire life trying to pursue one dream, that coming to an end, and having to start again. I had to figure out who I was without rugby, it was like being stripped of my identity. "It took me a while to reach out and get help. For seven months I was waking up depressed, anxious, having physical symptoms every single day, I was in panic that I was going to die. It was mental." Greggains is now advocating for change within the industry, and says players deserve to know their worth and be offered more support, including being given job opportunities before they are let go by their regions. He says this news often comes with little to no warning, and that this is something that needs to change. "Everyone knows the life of a rugby player is short-lived, but you're not thinking of that when you are 15, 16, 17, giving your all to it week in, week out. You want to make it all the way, and you truly believe that you will," he explained. "I was part of the Dragons Academy at Newport High before getting my pro contract, and even though there are academic commitments, it is a 'do it if you want' mentality. Lennon Greggains is highly thought of (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency ) "I always had hope things would change for me, injury-wise, even though deep down I knew they wouldn't. "The thing is, being a rugby player isn't glamorous. I've heard people who have never been rugby players, saying 'what's there to moan about, get a real job' but unless you're someone earning stupid money, it is not the lifestyle people think it is. "Yes ok, the hours are good, but a lot of players are definitely not earning the money people think they are, and you are breaking your body in process. "There are also not many other jobs where you are worrying about whether you'll be employed in a few months time. It is such a stressful and anxious environment, that you don't understand unless you've been in it. "You are so worried about the future, that you can't live in the present." Lennon Greggains, left, with Cerith Lloyd, right, after a game for Merthyr. For many players like Greggains, the initial thrill of being seen as a talented up-and-coming youngster soon wears off, especially after so many injuries, which are inevitable in the sport. As much as players need the talent and ambition, they also need luck. "The reality is, money in Welsh rugby is getting worse, and so the amount of players you see earning good money is getting lower and lower. "Kids, like myself who have aspirations to become a professional rugby player, unless you're going to be at the top of your game, have to really think if it's worth it. The game is not what it used to be. "You see these academy kids now, who stay with their regions until they're 22, earning little to no money before being told there's no future there for them. Then they're 22 with no experience to get a job. "That's what I had to go through. At 24 - I had to go through what most people do when they are 16, or 18. Because of rugby, you are left to feel eight or so years behind everyone else. "It really hit me at the time - it was tough. "Before Dragons told me I wasn't going to be re-signed, I knew myself I wanted to move onto the next chapter. I felt defeated from the constant injuries. "I was ready to move, but when the coaches actually said the words, reality set in. I remember thinking, 'what next?' "I didn't have any direction, or any vision, of what I wanted to go into. All my dreams and ambitions had been taken away. "I had to find something that was going to work for me, and I struggled with that the most. "You do see some rugby players who know what they want when their chapter ends, but you see even more who are so focused on being the best player they can be in that environment, that they're not thinking about what's coming next. "The not knowing was scary, I didn't know what to do. You aren't told 12 months in advance, or even eight months. You don't have an awful lot of time to make a decision. I can't imagine what it's like for players who have a family to provide for. "You aren't only worried about money, your entire lifestyle is getting taken from you. Your regimented routine, seeing the same people you've grown up seeing every day since you were 15. It's a lot. "You're conditioned for that lifestyle, the boys you've grown up with are your family, and at the end of the day whether people understand it or not, being told 'that's it, you are done, go fend for yourself' is a really hard thing to take, especially in your mid 20s. "At that age, your non-rugby mates are on their own journey, they've found the job they like, progressing in that job, but you are back to square one. Greggains worked as a labourer alongside his teammate Benjamin Fry. He took this role as his confidence was at an all-time low, and he didn't believe he could do what he truly wanted to, which was to become a personal trainer. Lennon and Ben Fry "By the time I left the Dragons, I was a complete shadow of the person I was when I was 20. Between the ages of 20 and 24, I lost myself completely. "When rugby was taken away from me, and I had to go find a job. Even though I always knew I'd love to be a coach, I didn't have the confidence to do it. "So now I've left the dragons, taken on a carpentry apprenticeship and from the minute I walked through the door I knew it wasn't for me. "I've gone from being a professional rugby player with aspirations of representing my country, to sweeping someone's work bench and cleaning skips. "I genuinely believed this was what I'd be doing for the rest of my life. "Now I am out the other side, I am glad it happened to me in the way it did." Lennon competing in the Cardiff Hyrox 2025 with his friend and client. Greggains managed to better his mental health through his devotion to fitness and focussing on himself. This led him to the path that he is on today. Article continues below He now plays semi-professional rugby for Merthyr, alongside running his own personal training business, LG Coaching - a job he loves - using his own experiences to help people, and other aspiring young rugby players. You can find Lennon on Facebook and Instagram, @LG Coaching.
