Latest news with #Patchell
Wales Online
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wayne Pivac's brilliant one-liner turned match on its head in 'best team talk ever'
Wayne Pivac's brilliant one-liner turned match on its head in 'best team talk ever' The New Zealander delivered a half-time team talk that got his side over the line One sentence from Wayne Pivac was enough to motivate his players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Wales international Rhys Patchell has revealed a comical one-liner from Wayne Pivac inspired Scarlets to a famous victory. Patchell appeared as a guest on the latest episode of BBC Scrum V's The Warm Up alongside Lauren Jenkins, Ellis Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert. The 32-year-old rugby star spoke about Scarlets' famous semi-final win over Irish heavyweights Leinster in 2017. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Of course, that was the year the west Walians clinched the Pro12 title against Munster at the Aviva Stadium in a thrilling finale. However, prior to that, they had secured arguably an even more impressive win against the Dublin-based province. Facing Leinster in a decisive second half wasn't the only challenge for them, with winger Steff Evans being sent off for a tip-tackle before the break and leaving the Llanelli side to play the second half with one player fewer. However, this didn't dampen their spirits, as Patchell says. "The best thing that we did," began Patchell. "Was that Lewis Rawlins absolutely drilled Johnny Sexton in the first five minutes and after that, he was always getting rid of the ball early because he didn't want to come to the line, because Lewy hit him that hard. "We came in at half-time, didn't concede, managed the game to half-time, came in, Byron Hayward comes up with a plan. "Right, we're going to stick Cubby (James Davies) on the wing, on scrum defence, and otherwise, we're just going to have to work really hard in the backfields at all other times. "And Pivac's best-ever half-time team talk, the best half-time team talk ever.' "I know what's coming,' said Cuthbert. "Just before we walked out, he pops his head back around,' continues Patchell. "And goes: 'Lads, imagine the night out we're going to have if we win this way'. "We were right in the thick of Cubby's tours and the boys enjoying a beer together and the social aspect of it. "And out (in the) second half, got the job done and it was a pretty good night!" Scarlets would go on to win the match 27-15 thanks to tries from the dismissed Evans, Aaron Shingler and Gareth Davies, with Patchell and Liam Williams knocking over points form the tee. Article continues below Pivac's Scarlets defeated Munster 46-22 in the grand final in Dublin in a nine-try thriller. With Cardiff winning the Challenge Cup in 2018, Scarlets' league victory remains one of the last major trophies a Welsh region has won.
Wales Online
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Welsh star leaves door open to return and Wales given 'uncomfortable' Japan warning
Today's rugby news as Welsh star leaves door open to return and Wales given 'uncomfortable' Japan warning The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Sherratt and his side have been warned about the 'uncomfortable' conditions that await them in Japan These are your latest rugby headlines on Friday, May 30. Welsh star leaves door open to return Wales international Rhys Patchell has opened up on what his next move may be after leaving Japanese side NEC Green Rockets earlier this month. The 22-cap fly-half took up a break clause to leave the club a year early, having also enjoyed a stint at New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders the previous season after his exit from Scarlets in 2023. Having previously spoken openly about how he had missed Wales during his time in Japan, Patchell's departure from the Green Rockets has seen him linked with a potential move back home. He was quizzed on his future during his appearance on the Scrum V podcast, but wouldn't reveal specifics about where he might end up next. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Instead, he admitted that his priorities had changed having recently welcomed his first child, Llew, with presenter wife Heledd Anna Roberts, adding that his next move will be determined by what works best for his family. "I think whatever fits the family is probably what will work for me," said Patchell. "I've been very lucky as I've had 14 years of being pretty selfish and doing what suits me best in terms of prolonging my career or pushing my career on. "You've got to be selfish to play at the level that we want to play at. "[But] now that the wee man has come along, my perspective has changed significantly. So, whatever fits for us as a family unit is what I'll do next." And asked if he still "had the hunger" to keep playing, the 32-year-old added simply: "For the right thing". Wales given 'uncomfortable' Japan warning Patchell has also drawn on his experiences in Japan to issue a warning to the Wales squad ahead of their tour there this summer, as he admitted they will face "uncomfortable" conditions over their two Test matches. Led by interim head coach Matt Sherratt, Wales are looking to end a miserable run of 17 straight Test match defeats on the tour but, having spent the last year out there, the former Scarlets and Cardiff fly-half knows that the heat and humidity could end up causing the team some issues. "It's a different game out there," he told the Scrum V podcast. "The sun will be shining and it will be a wet weather game. The ball is going to be like a bar of soap. "Eddie Jones will have everything stacked in Japan's favour, he's going to make the most of the fact that Wales are coming to Japan. They are going to try to play the game as early in the day as possible, they will make the bus rides take as long as possible to get from the hotel to the stadium, everything is going to be stacked in Japan's favour. "And quite right too, he's got a real chance to make something of his international season, as they've had a pretty poor run of international results as well, Japan. "I'll give you an idea of how hot and uncomfortable it's going to be," Patchell continued. "The Maori All Blacks went to play Japan last summer and one of my teammates Ash Dixon was part of the coaching staff with the Maoris. "They had to pull their outside half off at half-time with heatstroke, his eyes were in the back of his head and he's gone into a fit in the sheds at half-time because it's so hot and humid and uncomfortable. "That gives you an idea of just how difficult [it will be]. The key for me is they've got to manage their energy really, really smartly. Japan are going to zip the ball around because Eddie Jones is a firm believer in 'ruck and run' - who wants the ball, off the deck, gone. "[There will be] a lot of ball movement, playing as fast as they can. They will want the game down here where it's really uncomfortable for Wales because they're bigger men. So, for me, it's how smart can Wales manage their own energy to be in the fight at the end?" Farrell ultimatum issued Racing 92 and Saracens have reportedly opened talks over a deal for Owen Farrell with the fly-half edging closer to a stunning return to English rugby. The former England captain joined the Top 14 side on a two-year deal last summer, but is said to be wanting to move back across the Channel after an injury-blighted first year in France, having been plagued by groin and knee issues throughout the season. Farrell is reportedly keen to re-join Saracens in a player-coach role, with discussions between the two clubs said to be at an early stage, according to MailOnline. However, with Racing understood to have paid close to £500,000 to sign Farrell last year, and with the 33-year-old still having over a year left on his contract, such a move will not come cheap. It is understood that the French club's owner Jacky Lorenzetti wants at least the majority of the money he paid for Farrell back, with RugbyPass reporting that he is "prepared to play hardball" and will force the Englishman into staying if a deal isn't done this week, to avoid months of wrangling over a transfer. It comes after Saracens boss Mark McCall declined to comment on reports linking Farrell with a return to the club, as he described the rumours as "pie in the sky". 'It's just not worth answering, to be honest, because as far as I know, he is under contract at Racing and has a year left," he said during a media call earlier this week. "There are so many of these stories that come out. 'As you know from me down the years, there is no point talking about something that is so pie in the sky. It's better for me not to comment." Welsh officials appointed Welsh referee Ben Breakspear has been appointed as one of 10 match officials for this summer's World Rugby U20 Championship Breakspear first refereed at the tournament in 2023 having impressed while officiating on the World Sevens Circuit, while he has also taken charge of matches in the URC and the Olympic Games in Paris last year. He will be joined at the tournament - which is being held in Italy between June 29 and July 19 - by Aled Griffiths, who has also been appointed to the panel as one of five Television Match Officials. After the appointments were confirmed, WRU National Elite Performance Match Official Manager, Ian Davies, said: 'One of the main priorities when I came into the role was to seek to increase the opportunities made available to our match officials. 'A year ago I was fortunate enough to oversee Ben Breakspear given his URC debut in the Edinburgh game against Zebre. His consistent performances at URC and EPCR level since then have led to his selection for this year's Junior World Championship in Italy. 'I also wanted some of our more experienced referees to consider opportunities as a TMO to support our on-field officials. Seeing Aled Griffiths appointed to the Junior World Championship is testament not only to his own hard work, but also the other TMO's in our group who have challenged Aled and each other to continually improve. 'There is now a really healthy level of competition developing in our match official department that I'm hoping will not only improve the standard of officiating at domestic level, but will also reflect in more high profile opportunities being awarded.' As well as Breakspear, the selected referees are Tomas Bertazza (Argentina), Griffin Colby (South Africa), Katsuki Furuse (Japan), Peter Martin (Ireland), Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France), Filippo Russo (Italy), Lex Weiner (USA) and Morgan White (Hong Kong China). Article continues below The four other Television Match Officials completing the panel alongside Griffiths are Leo Colgan (Ireland), Graham Cooper (Australia), Quinton Immelman (South Africa) and Dan Jones (RFU).
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wayne Pivac gone from coaching role as Wales star follows him out the door
Wayne Pivac gone from coaching role as Wales star follows him out the door Wayne Pivac and Rhys Patchell are on the move after missing out on promotion Former Wales coach Wayne Pivac has left Japanese club NEC Green Rockets (Image: PA ) Former Wales coach Wayne Pivac and outside-half Rhys Patchell have left Japanese club NEC Green Rockets. Pivac has been at the Green Rockets for the past couple of seasons but according to reports he has been deemed surplus to requirements, along with forwards coach Paul Feeney, after a difficult run of results. Former Wales outside-half Patchell is also set to leave the club after being named among 16 departures, but it is unclear where his next destination will be. Pivac did a sterling job with the Scarlets, winning the old PRO12 in 2017 and leading the Welsh club to a Champions Cup semi-final the following season. After succeeding Warren Gatland as Wales boss, Pivac won the Six Nations title and Triple Crown in 2021 but was sacked in 2022 after a series of bad defeats which included a home loss to Georgia. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The 62-year-old is out of work again and it is unclear where his coaching career will lead him to next. Article continues below Patchell, who has won 22 caps for Wales, enjoyed a stint at New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders before his move to Japan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. The Fformer Cardiff and Scarlets playmaker still has plenty to offer the game and would be a stellar pick-up for one of Wales' professional clubs. Patchell is a triple-threat player with a tremendous passing and kicking game, while he is also a danger with ball in hand. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Speaking about his move to Japan on an episode of 'Jonathan' on S4C in March, Patchell spoke about his life in the Far East and admitted he missed Wales at times. "This might sound really deep now," he said. "But I didn't think 'hiraeth' was a real thing. Article continues below "I thought it was just this really wishy-washy thing that people spoke about which wasn't real. "When you reach the longest stint I've done out there, 10 or 12 weeks, by then I was ready to come home. "I wanted my fix of Wales."
Extra.ie
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Man thought his abuser was dead until he saw 'Daffodil man' on the Late Late Show
On an ordinary Friday night, Rory Patchell was sitting at home watching the Late Late Show with his wife when he was stunned to see his childhood abuser 'on a pedestal' on his television screen. Until then, he had suppressed memories of the sexual abuse he had endured as a child in the 1980s, at the hands of his scout master who he thought was now dead. In an exclusive interview with Mr Patchell reveals that it was at that moment he first told his wife of his childhood torment. A file image of James Gilleran during a launch for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day campaign in 2018. Pic: Collins 'My wife never knew about it, but when he appeared on telly… it's not something I could hide. In my mind he was buried away. All of a sudden, he's on the telly.' James Gilleran, 70, better known as 'Daff Man' – a mascot for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) for decades – was jailed for two years this week for the historical sexual abuse of three boys. Gilleran, of Parkview Court, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on dates between 1983 and 1987. As 'Daff Man', he had gained a level of fame – he was wheeled out before the media, pictured alongside taoisigh and widely praised for his fundraising work for the charity. James Gilleran on the Late Late Show. Pic: RTE That saw him invited onto the Late Late Show in 2021 for a special programme celebrating the Irish Cancer Society. That appearance prompted Mr Patchell, now 52, to contact the charity, which reported Gilleran to gardaí and Tusla, ultimately leading to his imprisonment this week. After years of hiding in plain sight, Gilleran finally faced justice for his disgusting crimes. Mr Patchell describes seeing the abuser he believed to be long-dead glorified on one of Ireland's most popular TV programmes. He said: 'When I saw him on the Late Late, the first thing I said was: 'I thought he was dead.' It was total shock from there on in and anger and every emotion. A file image of James Gilleran during a launch for the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day campaign in 2018. Pic: Collins 'I don't remember what he said or did on the show. Seeing him was enough to realise he wasn't dead. I left Dublin a long time ago so when you see him up there, put on a pedestal, it's a shock,' Mr Patchell said. 'Not too many people get onto the Late Late unless you're being celebrated as a good person. That's what he was known as for years. He fooled everybody. Some people have a complex where they start to think 'I've overcome this', thinking they got away with it.' He added: 'I got onto the Cancer Society on the following Monday to speak to them and they had to tell the gardaí and then the gardaí contacted me further down the line about the investigation.' The court heard Gilleran had one previous conviction for the sexual assault of a boy in a cerebral palsy clinic, and was sentenced to four years in 1997, which was reduced to two years on appeal. The Irish Cancer Society told it became aware of his past only last week, when it emerged in court. After the Late Late Show appearance, Mr Patchell, along with Stephen Devlin and Greg Stafford, went on to make formal complaints to gardaí that Gilleran had sexually abused them while he was a scout leader of 117th Francis Street Scout Group during the 1980s. The three men waived their anonymity so as to allow Gilleran to be named. Mr Patchell said: 'If you looked him up online before this week you would've just seen Daffodil Man and you wouldn't have found out about the 1997 crime. Now there are names there, and people know what he did. Not only with my name and Stephen and Greg, but now other people know that it's safe to come forward. 'I don't think a two-year sentence for him is enough for what he did. It should be more like 22 years, but the important thing is that he can't hide from this now,' he added. 'He's guilty and he can't be anonymous and then all of a sudden turn up at another charitable organisation. He could have gone to prison for two years and come out and no one would have known. His name is James Gilleran and you can find him. 'If it helps other people contact the gardaí, then it's worth doing. We're all grown men now with families, and we've done nothing wrong.' Sentencing him on Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe described Gilleran's offending as a 'gross violation of children'. She noted Gilleran had subjected them to 'predatory behaviour', including exposing them to alcohol and pornography. 'The impact is still felt to this day by these injured parties.' The Irish Cancer Society said it was 'shocked to learn that someone who fundraised for the society perpetrated such crimes'. A spokeswoman said they were contacted after the Late Late Show appearance, and had been 'made aware of allegations against Mr Gilleran'. She said: 'We promptly reported these allegations to An Garda Síochána, Tusla and Scouting Ireland.' Gilleran's work with the ICS 'related solely to fundraising in public places and media work', the ICS said. 'At no point would he have had unsupervised access to children or vulnerable people in such a role.' 'Fundraising and media volunteers are not Garda-vetted as their work does not meet the criteria for vetting with the National Garda Vetting Bureau. We were not aware of his previous convictions until the court reporting this week.' In one 2016 interview, Gilleran estimated that he had collected around €45,000 for the Irish Cancer Society since he began volunteering 'over 20 years ago'. Mr Patchell believes that if there had been more publicity about Gilleran's first conviction, it would have prevented him from becoming famous as a charitable character around Dublin. 'Everyone has the right to do what they see fit, but we were shocked that he had been convicted for this same crime previously and nobody knew anything about it until sentencing at the end of April,' he said. When asked his views on Mr Gilleran representing the Irish Cancer Society in the media, having already been convicted of a child sex abuse crime, Mr Patchell was sympathetic to the charity's situation. 'The time when it happened was different with Garda vetting. Was there even such a thing back then?' he asked. 'You can blame so many people for so many parts of it, but he was the face of the Irish Cancer Society for so long and no one ever came out. 'He was on the back of buses all around Dublin so, knowing what is known now, there really should have been more safeguards in place back then. Not just in the Cancer Society but all charities. 'People would've known who he was from the fundraising he did. I was out of Dublin maybe 20 years, I didn't see him, so in my mind he was dead and I wasn't going to go looking for him. Then he appeared on TV.' Mr Patchell added that during the trial he didn't interact much with the other victims, explaining: 'Everyone's story is their own, but it's not something you sit down with a group of people and you have a chat about it over a pint. I'm very proud to stand beside Stephen and Greg. I wish I didn't have to. 'There are a lot of questions you can ask – 'if this had gone differently, would this still have happened?' – but that's life,' he said. The court heard that Gilleran had written letters of apology to the men, who said that they had no wish to read them.
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Sad time for Welsh rugby' - reaction to Gatland's departure
Having started 2025 with defeats against France and Italy, on Tuesday the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed Warren Gatland has left by mutual two most recent losses extended Wales' losing run to 14 successive Test matches - their worst run head coach Matt Sherratt will take over as interim head coach for the remaining three games of the Six previously enjoyed a successful 12-year spell as Wales coach which included three Grand Slams, two World Cup semi-finals and a record run of 14 victories that led to Wales briefly topping the world left after the 2019 Rugby World Cup before returning for a second stint when he replaced Wayne Pivac in December then Gatland has overseen just six victories in 26 Tests - a win ratio of just 23%. Wales have also slumped to a lowest position of 12th in the world both spells Gatland has been in charge for 151 games with his overall record standing at 76 wins, 73 defeats and two Gatland's second spell now officially over, how have those in Welsh rugby reacted to the news? 'Strip everything back and start again' Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell has compared Wales' current situation to that of renovating a house."This is a good three to six year project," Patchell told BBC Radio 5Live."Before it starts getting off the ground you need a director of rugby and Wales are actively looking for a director of rugby."That person should be in charge or in a position to have a say on who's going to be the head coach."I look at it like renovating a house, you have got to strip everything all the way back and start again."On the WRU's decision to part ways with Gatland mid-tournament, Patchell said: "I think it was clear that a change needed to be made. "Whether or not a week of preparation for Ireland is going to be enough time for that change to take hold, probably not. "Ultimately a decision has been made, a line has been drawn in the sand and onwards we march." Gatland 'thrown under the bus' by WRU Former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies believes the WRU failed Gatland by deciding to bring him 62, told Scrum V: The Warm Up that Gatland's second spell was "never going to work" due to a combination of the New Zealander's coaching style and players available."I think it's very sad, you feel he's been thrown under the bus," said Davies."I do think the big mistake was when deciding if he the right man to come back, they should've looked at how the regions were doing."Did the board think he was the best man with the players available to come back? It's a big fat no."It was never ever going to work because I don't think he had the variety in his coaching to adapt to the players that we had."This is where we're at. We've seen it coming and it's been really disappointing."On the decision to appoint Sherratt interim head coach, Davies added: "None of the Welsh regions play like Wales have played."Maybe that's why Sherratt has come in, they are thinking right, Cardiff are playing good rugby."But it is not as easy as that, if you play that type of rugby against Ireland they are going to get absolutely smashed. "They have to go forward, you have to get creativity to go over the gain line before you go wide." 'Results speak for themselves' Former Wales centre Jonathan Davies told Scrum V: The Warm Up that Welsh rugby is facing "far bigger issues", and that Gatland's departure will not be the solution."You see the product that we've been able to put on the field and it hasn't been good enough," said Davies."I don't know whether it [parting ways with Gatland] is going to get rid of all our problems, there's far bigger issues."I think Warren's felt that the guillotine was coming down, so he decided to go on his own terms. "It's hard to see when it happens like this in the middle of the Six Nations."It's a tough one for him I'm sure, but it's probably now time to move on, the results speak for themselves."Davies pointed to the recent struggles of Wales' Under-20s side, and says the warning signs were there but not dealt with."The Under-20s, in the last eight years, the best they have done is finish fourth in the U20s Six Nations. "Those players coming through to the senior game now, if you're just going off that as a statistic, we are getting the bottom half of the player pool. "We need to find the right personnel to develop that talent. "The problem is the academy levels and the talent production are not doing it the right way, that is what is impacting us now. "This is the product of these last eight years where we have not performed at Under-20s level." 'It's a sad time for Welsh rugby' Former international rugby referee Nigel Owens says Gatland's departure marks a "sad time for Welsh rugby".Owens - who refereed 100 Test matches before his 2020 retirement - added that Welsh fans must not forget the "unprecedented success" during Gatland's first spell in charge."It's a sad time for Welsh rugby when you lose a coach halfway through the Six Nations with the poor run we are on now," Owens told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast."I think you have got to remember the success he has brought to Wales over that period of time."Unprecedented successes of two World Cup semi-finals, and we could have gone on and won it in 2011. "We must not forget that."Owens said the difference in quality between the Welsh squads in Gatland's two spells is significant."I am not saying that we don't have world class players now, we still do have a few, but we don't have enough," said Owens."You have got to compare what we have now to back then. The likes of Josh Navidi, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Shane Williams... and all these world class players we had are no longer there."We haven't got that pedigree of players now." Former Wales back-row Josh Navidi echoed Owens' sentiments."When Gatland came back I was excited," Navidi told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast."I think it was difficult because a lot of players had retired, the older heads in the team had gone."This is a new pool of players we need to get behind and get excited, but going on a 14-game losing streak... ultimately that's what it comes down to."You want to see performance, you want to see improvement and I think it's always difficult and as Nigel [Owens] said a sad time."
