Latest news with #JapanTour
France 24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Japan's Iwai wins Mexico crown for first LPGA title
The 22-year-old from Saitama fired a final-round six-under par 66 to finish 72 holes on 12-under 276 at Mayakoba resort. She matched the biggest LPGA victory margin this year in defeating runner-up Jenny Bae by six strokes with South Korea's Kang Hae-ji third on 283. "I'm so happy," Iwai said. "My mentality was so calm every time. It was just calm, good play." Iwai became the third LPGA winner of the season from Japan, after Rio Takeda won the Blue Bell in China in March and Mao Saigo took the Chevron Championship last month, and the 20th Japanese player overall to win an LPGA crown. Iwai, who won her eighth Japan Tour event in March, earned her LPGA Tour spot with a runner-up showing in last December's qualifying tournament and won as a rookie just five months later. Dominant early in the final round, Iwai opened with a birdie and reeled off four more in a row starting at the third hole. "Nervous in the morning, but I played the first hole and I was calmed down," Iwai said. She added birdies at the par-three 10th and par-five 13th to reach 13-under and stretch her lead to eight strokes. Bae, a 23-year-old American rookie who began the day with a one-stroke lead over Iwai, opened with back-to-back bogeys, went bogey-birdie at the par-five fifth and par-four sixth and closed the front nine with another bogey to tumble out of contention. Iwai made her first bogey of the weekend at the 14th hole and Bae made birdies at 13 and the par-three 15th but added a bogey at 17 as Iwai's lead only slid to seven strokes before Bae closed with a birdie. "I'm pretty happy with this week," Bae said. "It just tells me that I have a long ways to go but also I'm also getting there, too. "I definitely realized that I've gotten more patience. I think that's a really key thing out here, just being able to focus within all the stress and pressure. I think that was really good.
Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Wales pick experience for Japan tour in bid to end 17-game losing run
With Wales desperate for a win, any sort of win, after 17 consecutive defeats, the interim head coach Matt Sherratt has spurned any hint of development and selected what he considers his strongest possible squad for the two-Test tour to Japan in July. Yes, there are two players — only two — in Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams away with the British & Irish Lions and a number of others are either injured or unavailable. Dafydd Jenkins is having surgery, while Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Evans, Mason Grady and Max Llewellyn were not considered for various reasons, but Sherratt has gone for experience in his 33-man squad, with the likes of Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright, Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wales still without head coach as search for Warren Gatland successor rumbles on
Wales will tour Japan without a full-time head coach as Matt Sherratt reprises his interim role and bids to break a run of 17 consecutive Test losses. Sherratt has previously stressed that it would take 'something significant' for him to leave his post as head coach of Cardiff, but with Abi Tierney, the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, searching for a permanent replacement for Warren Gatland, he was asked to return. 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again with the Wales senior men's side on an interim basis for the Japan tour,' said Tierney. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. It was a tough campaign, but we know we are in safe hands while we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Sherratt will be assisted by the presence of Danny Wilson and Adam Jones, who have been seconded from Harlequins to complete a makeshift backroom team. 'We're proud to see Danny and Adam gain recognition at the international level, and the opportunity to develop within a national coaching team this summer,' said Laurie Dalrymple, the Harlequins chief executive. 'It's a reflection of the respect they both have as coaches within the game, and the dedication to their craft as they undertake the roles in what will be their off-season. While they are short-term secondments, it's a fantastic chance for them to grow professionally and bring back new experiences that will ultimately benefit our club. 'Danny and his coaching team have already carefully crafted our pre-season programme, and we're fully aligned with the Welsh Rugby Union on the path ahead. We look forward to welcoming them back at the start of pre-season, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running as we prepare for the new campaign.' Six uncapped players feature in Wales' 33-man squad, which will be without a pair of British and Irish Lions in Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams. Liam Belcher of Cardiff, Dragons prop Chris Coleman, Macs Page of Scarlets and the Ospreys trio of Garyn Phillips, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams comprise the contingent of new faces. Besides the two Lions, other notable absentees include Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Henry Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Gareth Anscombe, Nick Tompkins, James Botham and Evan Lloyd. Beard and Rowlands are rested, with Jenkins and Thomas addressing injuries. The others have been overlooked. Elsewhere, there are recalls for Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett. 'I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,' said Sherratt, who will take on Eddie Jones' team in Kitakyushu on July 5 and in Kobe a week later. '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.' While they have won 13 of their past 14 meetings with Japan, Wales signed off the Six Nations with a 68-14 loss to England at the Principality Stadium and are languishing in 12th on the World Rugby rankings ladder; just one place above their hosts for this summer and one place below Georgia. 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 Macleod.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Matt Sherratt returns as interim coach as Wales confirm squad for Japan tour
Matt Sherratt will resume interim head coach duty for Wales ' two-Test Japan tour in July, with six uncapped players included in his squad. Cardiff boss Sherratt took charge for Wales' final three Six Nations games this season after Warren Gatland left 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 that started with a 2023 World Cup quarter-final reversal against Argentina. Sherratt, though, will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for appointments with Japan in Kitakyushu on 5 July and 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 the Premiership club's scrum specialist Adam Jones will join Sherratt on the tour, in addition to Gloucester's TR Thomas and former Wales prop Gethin Jenkins. Jones and Thomas worked alongside Sherratt during the Six Nations and - together with interim forwards coach Wilson - are on secondment from their Premiership clubs. Defence coach Jenkins, meanwhile, is on secondment from Cardiff. Sherratt added: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to return and coach Wales again this summer. It is an exciting prospect to go to Japan for two matches in July. "We are all looking forward to getting into camp and starting preparations for our summer campaign." Hooker Dewi Lake has been appointed captain of the touring party after missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions squad. Fly half Sam Costelow, lock Ben Carter and prop Archie Griffin return after missing the Six Nations from injury, while young Scarlets back Macs Page is an eye-catching inclusion after an exciting United Rugby Championship season. Hooker Liam Belcher, tighthead Chris Coleman, wing Keelan Giles, scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams and loosehead Garyn Phillips will also hope to earn their first caps. Dafydd Jenkins will undergo surgery while Henry Thomas also misses out as he seeks a specialist opinion on a long-term condition. Second rows Adam Beard and Will Rowlands have been given the summer off. "I'm excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,' Sherratt added. 'I think there's a good blend of experience and young talent selected and that 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." WALES SQUAD FOR JAPAN TEST SERIES Forwards (19) Keiron Assiratti Liam Belcher Ben Carter Chris Coleman Elliot Dee Taulupe Faletau Archie Griffin Dewi Lake (capt.) Josh Macleod Alex Mann Garyn Phillips Taine Plumtree James Ratti Tommy Reffell Nicky Smith Gareth Thomas Freddie Thomas Aaron Wainwright Teddy Williams Backs (14) Josh Adams Sam Costelow Dan Edwards Keelan Giles Kieran Hardy Reuben Morgan-Williams Blair Murray Macs Page Joe Roberts Tom Rogers Ben Thomas Johnny Williams Rhodri Williams PA
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.
