Latest news with #LisaNeumann
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Neumann set for 50th cap in Wales' World Cup opener
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v WalesVenue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds If the start of the 2025 Rugby World Cup was not exciting enough, Wales wing Lisa Neumann is also facing the honour of winning her 50th 31-year-old is set for her landmark appearance in Wales' opener against Scotland on will be a full circle moment for the Harlequins player after winning her first cap against the same opposition in the 2018 Six Nations. "It's amazing to be here at the World Cup, to be able to play and get your 50th is just extra special," said Neumann."It feels a bit surreal. All my friends are like 'how have you managed this?'" Neumann herself once questioned how she had managed to juggle full-time work with the demands of training during Wales' amateur would make the eight-hour round trip from Manchester to Cardiff three times a week for training, then play at the took a leap of faith in 2022 by shelving a promising career in biomedical science to become one of the first 12 women to sign a professional contract with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). "To go from a secure job and to take a pay cut to pursue your dream of being an athlete and a rugby player comes with challenges," Neumann said. "It's a big risk, but there have been so many highs which is what keeps you going through all those lows. "You just remember how much good you've had in that jersey, it's something that I want to keep doing." Neumann fell out of favour during the latter stages of Ioan Cunningham's time as Wales head coach, but a move from Gloucester-Hartpury to Harlequins in February 2024 reignited her form and passion for the game."I was in a place where I didn't enjoy my rugby as much as I had in the past," she said."The best thing I could have done was sign for Harlequins. I play with a smile, they allow me to play really freely."Playing with people like Ellie Kildunne [World Rugby player of the year] is just amazing, to be able to learn from experienced players like that is incredible."I've played some of my best rugby at Quins and hopefully I can bring that in a Wales shirt as well." With Canada hotly tipped to top Pool B, Neumann and her team-mates know all too well that their quarter-final hopes could very well hinge on the opening game with have won the last three outings between the two sides, but their players are experiencing a similar contract turmoil to the one Wales went through last year."I empathise with them, we've been through it and to have that going into a World Cup is not ideal," said Neumann. "It's really hard to put the emotions and the feelings aside and to then focus on your rugby. It is difficult, but you come to a place where you just have to hope for the best and focus on what you can control."It's a Test match at the end of the day, it's a World Cup, it's going to be a battle so we need to focus on what we can do, just like they will focus on what they can do, and we'll see what happens."
The Guardian
29-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wales v England: Women's Six Nations rugby union
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (c), Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans. Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King, Megan Davies, Courtney Keight, Nel Metcalfe. England: Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (c), Sadia Kabeya, Maddie Feaunati. Replacements: Amy Cokayne, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan, Abi Burton, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland. Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy) Share Two teams operating on different planes meet at the Principality Stadium this afternoon. England and Wales currently bookend the world's top 10 but have very different expectations for this game. The visitors are seeking a 'perfect game' as they build towards a home World Cup where victory is the only acceptable outcome. John Mitchell has shuffled his starting XV from the opening win over Italy, giving fringe players a chance to stake their claim. Wales, who will play in front of least 18,000 fans today, will aim to flourish in the spotlight, building on the narrow defeat to Scotland in the opening week. Still, a first victory over England since 2015 would be a seismic shock. With last year's wooden spoon winners rebuilding under new head coach Sean Lynn, focus may be on the performance rather than the scoreboard for Wales. With Welsh rugby in something of an existential funk, the women's side will be eager to avoid the kind of chastening defeat suffered by the men two weeks ago. England, on the other hand, are operating under exacting standards and unbeaten since the painful 2022 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand. Even in the 38-5 rout of Italy, there was a second-half drift that the team are keen to correct. It's a big afternoon for women's rugby in Wales; the hosts will hope it doesn't become a long one. Share
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales winger Neumann extends Harlequins deal
Wales winger Lisa Neumann has extended her contract at Harlequins for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby campaign. The 31-year-old has scored six tries in 22 appearances since moving to the London club just over a year has played 41 times for Wales and started their 24-21 Six Nations loss to Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday."Joining Quins last year was the best decision I could have made," Neumann told the Harlequins website. "I've seen my confidence grow but most importantly, my enjoyment for the game."To be able to continue at Harlequins makes me so happy and I can't wait to go again next season."Head coach Ross Chisholm added: "Lisa is a player with great work rate and a real energy in everything she does."She is a strong carrier in contact, brilliant defensively and really suits the style here at Quins. "She's a great character and a really positive influence on our environment. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can produce next season here at the club."
