Latest news with #MattSherratt
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Cardiff centre Jennings signs new contract
Cardiff centre Rory Jennings has signed a new deal to stay at the Arms 29, arrived from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2024 and made 17 appearances during his debut season."Rory has added massive value to the club both on and off the field," said Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt."His input to our game off the field has been excellent and has brought exactly what we'd hoped for on the field."Jennings will continue to compete with Ben Thomas, while helping to bring the likes of Wales Under-20s centre Steffan Emanuel through."It was an easy decision for me to make in the end," said Jennings."We have a squad with a huge amount of talent and potential, and I have been impressed with the staff and players from the moment I joined."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wales number eight Faletau signs new Cardiff deal
Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has signed a new deal to stay at 34, was out of contract at the end of the season at the Arms who were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in April after temporarily going into administration, have announced Faletau is staying for a fourth has been named in Wales' squad for the two Test tour of Japan in July which is being led by his Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt in his role as interim head number eight will have not given up hope of being called up for a fourth British and Irish Lions tour having not been named in the initial touring party to has played 108 internationals for Wales and five Tests for the Lions. "I'm happy to be staying with Cardiff and continuing to play my rugby here at home," said Faletau."Being part of this group of players has been amazing. There's a good vibe on and off the pitch, and I really enjoy working with Jockey [Matt Sherratt]. His insights and support have challenged me to grow and improve."I'm grateful for the continued opportunity and looking forward to what's shaping up to be an exciting year ahead." 'One of the greatest' Faletau, who started his career with Dragons, has been limited to just 23 appearances for Cardiff in three years since his move from Bath.A broken arm suffered in the 2023 World Cup against Georgia was followed by a fractured shoulder on his club return in April 2024 against has had a run of games in recent months and has been excellent in the second half of the season."We are delighted to be able to keep Taulupe at Cardiff and in Wales," said Sherratt."He is a highly respected member of our squad and has shown recently the quality he brings to the pitch. "He is one of very few players who has real quality in every aspect of the game."He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to pull on a Cardiff shirt and the red shirt of Wales and we are delighted he is staying with us."Taulupe and his family are settled in Cardiff and this played a big part in him agreeing a new contract."
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Matt Sherratt has huge Japan calls to make as several Wales stars face defining tours
Matt Sherratt has huge Japan calls to make as several Wales stars face defining tours Wales will face a tough challenge in Japan this summer Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Matt Sherratt and his coaching team have already started to plan a way Wales can end a 17-game losing streak by beating Japan this summer. The interim Wales head coach will be joined by Harlequins coach Danny Wilson (forwards), Gethin Jenkins (defence), Adam Jones (scrum) and T. Rhys Thomas (skills) in Japan. In normal circumstances Wales would look to use a trip which coincides with a British & Irish Lions tour to blood players, but these are strange times. Wales only have two players on the Lions tour - Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams - while Sherratt is merely keeping the seat warm before the Welsh Rugby Union find a long-term replacement for Warren Gatland. But more importantly than that Japan (13th) are ranked just one place below Wales (12th) in the World Rugby rankings. Defeat this summer would weaken Wales' Rugby World Cup seeding and potentially see them drop into a pool which contains a further three tier one nations. There cannot be too much mixing and matching this summer because Wales really need to win this one. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below So, what are the biggest conundrums facing Sherratt this summer and what could he do differently from the Six Nations? During the Six Nations Sherratt was handed over a squad at a really low ebb midway through the Championship and it would have been extremely difficult to change too much. Yes, there was a shift in terms of the way they moved the ball but this summer Sherratt and his coaching team will be able to get through far more detail in the lead-up to the tour. This is now his squad and he will be able to stamp his own authority on the team. Japan are not the same quality of team which toppled South Africa at the 2015 World Cup or reached the quarter-finals four years later by disposing of Ireland and Scotland, but they remain a dangerous outfit. They are also coached by Eddie Jones and given Wales' recent struggles will fancy their chances of taking a tier-one scalp. Sherratt and his players must be prepared for that, along with the searing heat they are likely to experience in Kitakyushu and Kobe. But arguably the biggest challenge Sherratt will face is what style of rugby to adopt. Traditionally Sherratt likes his team to play with speed and width, with players backed to play what is in front of them, which is in stark contrast to Gatland's risk-averse philosophy. But if they go down that road they will need to be accurate and it is worth noting that Japan aren't the biggest of sides, so they will undoubtedly look to play with speed and tempo. That is the style of rugby which took three significant scalps at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. Japan will want to draw Wales into a fast and loose game, hoping their skill levels and the potential heat can get them over the line. Wales need to ensure the pack dominate physically and the set-piece functions well but they do have two outstanding coaches in Wilson, who will take charge of the forwards, and scrum guru Jones. It will be interesting to see who Sherratt opts for at inside centre but in all likelihood it will be Ben Thomas who has served him well at Cardiff. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Thomas is a very talented footballer with a strong kicking game and is in the mould of a Southern Hemisphere second five-eight. But in-form Scarlets centre Johnny Williams is the more powerful carrier and is capable of making significant post-contact metres. Williams is a player Japan won't want to face because they will have difficulty containing his carrying game, and this is a big tour for the Scarlets man who fell out of favour with Gatland. What also favours Williams is the fact his Scarlets midfield partner Joe Roberts is highly likely to start at 13 because cohesion is vital at Test level. As always the breakdown will be key and Wales will want to slow down the speed of Japan's ruck ball with both Tommy Reffell and Scarlets captain Josh Macleod set to play important roles on this tour. If Japan are forced to play on the backfoot then it will be very difficult for them to score points against Wales due to the lack of size and power in their side. In terms of players it's a big tour for both Sam Costelow and Dan Edwards. Costelow is now an experienced player and needs to bring his excellent Scarlets form onto the international arena by becoming a leader in the group. Kieran Hardy is also playing the best rugby of his career for the Ospreys and it would be hugely beneficial for Wales if he was able to exert some serious pressure on Tomos Williams in the autumn. Up-front, tighthead prop is a problem position in Wales therefore it is a huge positive to see Archie Griffin return. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below But what is intriguing is the selection of Dragons prop Chris Coleman because Wales really needs to build some depth at tighthead. But the biggest priority is winning both Tests because if Wales lose even one they will have hit a new low.
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The unluckiest players in Wales right now and the call that has left people baffled
The unluckiest players in Wales right now and the call that has left people baffled There are many players unlucky to have missed out on Matt Sherratt's squad Ospreys backrower Morgan Morse was unlucky to miss out on the Wales squad in the eyes of many (Image: Steve Haag/Huw Evans Agency ) Many players would have been elated to be included in Matt Sherratt's 33-man Wales squad to tour Japan this summer. But for every ecstatic player there are ones who are left disappointed and a bit baffled as to why they have not been included in the squad. Some have missed out due to injury, while there are two Welshmen - Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams - on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia - but others have been omitted for other reasons. Here are the omissions which have raised a few eyebrows among the Welsh public. Morgan Morse The 20-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best prospects in the Welsh game, if not the best, and his omission has left many supporters scratching their heads. Morse is not just a player for the future but the here and now after putting in some impressive performances this season. The Ospreys backrower is a dynamic and explosive carrier who rarely fails in making significant post-contact metres. Article continues below Morse is also a huge weapon at the breakdown while his work rate, physicality and his rugby intelligence marks the former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil out as a special talent. But Sherratt is only the interim head coach and his focus is purely on winning two Test matches against Japan, whereas if he was the permanent boss there might have been more of an eye on the future. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. There is also the significant figure of Taulupe Faletau standing in Morse's way while Aaron Wainwright has proven himself to be a high-quality international No 8. The in-form Taine Plumtree can also cover that position. But Morse does offer a different dynamic to those currently in the squad, while he can also cover the entire backrow. Also, he arguably has a higher ceiling than those who have been selected ahead of him with the exception of the 34-year-old Faletau. There's no doubt he will win many international caps but he could have really added some extra physicality and X-factor to this Wales squad. What is even more of a head scratcher is the fact he has not been selected in the extended Wales U20s squad ahead of the U20s World Cup this summer. James Fender The 23-year-old was on Warren Gatland's radar last season but a series of injuries prevented the Ospreys lock from winning his first cap. Fender has never failed to impress for the Ospreys with his physicality, manic work rate in defence and his lineout ability a big asset for the Welsh club. Welsh rugby isn't exactly bursting at the seams with extremely physical no-nonsense locks who can dominate physically against the stronger packs, but Fender is one of them. With experienced duo Will Rowlands and Adam Beard not selected now would arguably have been the perfect time to blood Fender as an international. Sherratt has selected Fender's Ospreys team-mate James Ratti in the squad who is a bruiser of a second-row known for doing the unfashionable dirty work, which allows others to thrive. But in the main Sherratt has gone for athleticism and mobility from his second-rows. Cardiff second-row Teddy Williams will have a big part to play this summer while Gloucester's Freddie Thomas will suit the fast and expansive game Wales are likely to play in Japan. Fender has a nice mix of athleticism and outright physicality and would arguably have been perfect for this tour. The Ospreys lock will need to stay injury-free and start next season well in the hope of impressing Gatland's long-term successor. James Botham It has been a horrible season for the men's national side but Botham is one player who can hold his head up high because he has performed well in a poor side. The absence of the Cardiff backrower from the Wales squad to tour Japan is a little surprising, especially considering he is coached by Sherratt at club level. Of course, Sherratt cannot show any favouritism but Botham has performed well at both club and international level. But if there is one position where Welsh rugby has some strength in depth it is at openside flanker. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Tommy Reffell is a quality player and the Leicester Tigers man was always going to get selected but Sherratt has opted to give Scarlets captain Josh Macleod an opportunity, while there is also a recall for Cardiff's Alex Mann. Macleod has been excellent for the Scarlets this season, leading from the front, while Mann has impressed for the Blue & Blacks of late. Botham's athleticism and physicality along with the fact he covers the entire backrow would have come in handy but there is a lot of competition here. Ryan Elias The 30-year-old has always been a player who has come in for some unjust criticism from Welsh fans on social media, with his throwing in often criticised. But the powerful hooker has been outstanding for the Scarlets in recent weeks and put in a superb performance in the shock victory over Leinster last month. Elias has had a tough season with injury and was sidelined for a number of months with a neck and shoulder injury but he has come back with a bang. Sherratt was always going to select Dewi Lake, who captains the squad, while Elliot Dee performed well during the Six Nations. The Carmarthen man has missed out to Cardiff captain Liam Belcher who has been a consistent performer in the United Rugby Championship but it remains to be seen whether he has what it takes to successfully make the step up to Test rugby. Elias' detractors usually fail to mention his scrummaging prowess, his size, his power and the fact he is one of the only front-five forwards in Wales able to make significant dents while carrying into heavy traffic. On the other hand a summer off might do him good in preparation for a season where he will be determined to win back his place in the Wales squad. Ellis Mee The Scarlets man made an impressive start to his international career in the narrow defeat to Ireland but had a tough time against Scotland and England. But Mee has been in good form for the Scarlets, putting in two excellent performances against Leinster and the victory over the Lions at high-altitude in Johannesburg. Sherratt has opted to select Ospreys flyer Keelan Giles in the squad with his electric pace undoubtedly winning the day. But Giles had a really tough time both defensively and especially under the high ball during the Ospreys' defeat to the Sharks a couple of weeks ago. Those who have played and coached at Test level have always said if you make mistakes in the international arena then you get ruthlessly put to the sword. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Mee is as safe as houses under the high ball with Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel comparing the wing to an Australian Rules player. Article continues below He is also strong in defence and during the Scarlets' victory over the Lions showed his strength to win the ball back on a few occasions with a couple of excellent counter rucks against big South African forwards. But as Sherratt said in the week, Mee is likely to go on to win many more Wales caps despite this setback.
Japan Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Sherratt returns as Wales interim coach for Japan tour
rugby union Matt Sherratt has agreed to return as Wales interim head coach for the tour of Japan in July. Cardiff boss Sherratt took charge for Wales' final three Six Nations matches earlier this year after Warren Gatland stepped down following a defeat against Italy. Wales ended their Six Nations campaign with a record 68-14 home loss to England and have suffered 17 successive Test defeats dating back to 2023. Sherratt will have a new team of assistant coaches alongside him for the two Tests against Japan in Kitakyushu on July 5 and Kobe seven days later. 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. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: "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. "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 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." © 2025 AFP
