Latest news with #RhodriJones
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Challenge Cup finals day 2026 to be held at Wembley
The Challenge Cup finals day has been held at Wembley every year since 2007, except in 2022 when it took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium [PA Media] The Challenge Cup finals day will be held at Wembley Stadium once again for the 2026 season. Rugby League Commercial has confirmed the showpiece event will return to the national stadium on Saturday, 30 May next year. Advertisement Hull KR snatched a narrow 8-6 victory over Warrington Wolves in the men's final at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, while Wigan Warriors thrashed St Helens 42-6 to seal their first Women's Challenge Cup title. The 2026 finals day will mark the 19th time it has been held at Wembley since the stadium underwent renovation. But it will be the first time since 1999 that Wembley has hosted the event in May, with the 2022 final being held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. "We are delighted to be able to confirm the date of Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day in 2026 as we reflect on a season of significant progress for the sport's oldest knockout competition," said RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones. Advertisement "The introduction of a new format and the earlier involvement of the 12 Betfred Super League clubs was a big success, leading to a series of record attendances in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. "The Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium remains a special occasion for rugby league and always produces unforgettable moments and images – this year including a spectacular performance by Wigan Warriors in the Women's Challenge Cup final."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Challenge Cup finals day 2026 to be held at Wembley
The Challenge Cup finals day will be held at Wembley Stadium once again for the 2026 League Commercial has confirmed the showpiece event will return to the national stadium on Saturday, 30 May next Warriors thrashed St Helens 42-6 to seal their first Women's Challenge Cup title at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, while the men's final is being contested between Warrington Wolves and Hull 2026 finals day will mark the 19th time it has been held at Wembley since the stadium underwent it will be the first time since 1999 that Wembley has hosted the event in May, with the 2022 final being held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. "We are delighted to be able to confirm the date of Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day in 2026 as we reflect on a season of significant progress for the sport's oldest knockout competition," said RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones."The introduction of a new format and the earlier involvement of the 12 Betfred Super League clubs was a big success, leading to a series of record attendances in the third, fourth and fifth rounds."The Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium remains a special occasion for rugby league and always produces unforgettable moments and images – this year including a spectacular performance by Wigan Warriors in the Women's Challenge Cup final."
South Wales Argus
15-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Injury-hit Dragons at risk of a URC hammering by the Bulls
Head coach Filo Tiatia has been denied the services of three more players after injuries against the Stormers last weekend. Loosehead Rhodri Jones, who has been limited to six outings this season after a knee injury, was meant to start but tore a calf in the warm-up at DHL Stadium. Flanker Dan Lydiate suffered a concussion in the first half and wing Jared Rosser, who had been shifted to midfield for tactical reasons at half-time, tore a pec in the closing stages when attempting to make a tackle. They have flown back to Wales and the Argus understands there are a number of other niggles ahead of the team announcement at midday on Friday. Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia at training in Cape Town (Image: Ashley Vlotman/Huw Evans Agency) The Dragons have been poor this season and will suffer a 17th straight league defeat on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld against a Bulls side looking to cement second seeding. However, the mitigation is that they have also been plagued by injuries and have almost a full XV unavailable. The Dragons, who are also without Wales hooker Elliot Dee because his partner Ruby is expecting their second child, are impacted in every position apart from scrum-half. They are particularly stretched in the front row with three looseheads, three hookers and two tightheads not in the selection mix. The Dragons have so far used 56 players in all competitions this season, that despite summer signing Solomone Funaki and frozen-out Jordan Williams not featuring. With Welsh squads thin due to small budgets, their injury woes have led to six players from the academy making professional debuts - loosehead Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, tighthead Owain James, lock Nick Thomas, back row forward Evan Minto, fly-half Harri Ford and wing Harry Rees-Weldon. Injured Dragons XV: Cai Evans (Achilles); Rio Dyer (ankle), Scott Williams (leg), Harri Ackerman (arm), Jared Rosser (pec); Josh Thomas (leg), *scrum-halves are all fit* Rhodri Jones (calf), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Matthew Screech (concussion), Steve Cummins (arm), Dan Lydiate (concussion), Harri Keddie (leg), Taine Basham (leg). Also injured: Sam Scarfe (shoulder), Rodrigo Martinez (leg), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Luke Yendle (knee), George Nott (knee), Nick Thomas (ankle), Solomone Funaki (knee). Unavailable: Elliot Dee (paternity).
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Retiring Lydiate to miss final Dragons farewell
United Rugby Championship: Bulls v DragonsVenue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick-off: 14:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on S4C, BBC iPlayer and via BBC Sport website. There will be no final farewell for retiring Wales flanker Dan Lydiate this British and Irish Lion had been due to run out one last time in Dragons' United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Bulls in Pretoria before moving into a coaching role with the instead of a deserved guard of honour, the 37-year-old's final act was leaving the field on a medical buggy in their defeat by Stormers in Cape Town last head coach Filo Tiatia confirmed Lydiate has since flown home to Wales after suffering "a nasty concussion"."It's really unfortunate," said Tiatia."He's been a real servant to the club and for Wales. It's unfortunate that was his last game." Tiatia will also be without Wales prop Rhodri Jones, who suffered a calf injury during the warm-up in Cape Town, while Jarred Rosser tore a chest muscle in a must pick up a point against Bulls, who are already guaranteed a home semi-final in the play-offs, if they are to avoid equalling the worst URC league currently hold that record after claiming just nine points in 2021-22."It's one final push," said Tiatia."It's the last game of the season, the environment that we're going to in Pretoria is a challenging place. "They are second in the league, they are playing a dominant style of rugby, which is the Bulls' DNA."So we're under no illusion on the challenge and we want to finish strongly with the young players that are here."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos to meet in Las Vegas
Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos are to meet in Las Vegas next year in the second Super League game to be held in the United States. They will face off at Allegiant Stadium, the home of NFL side Las Vegas Raiders, on 28 February. Warrington and Wigan met in the same venue earlier this season, with the Warriors claiming a 48-24 victory. The Super League game will kick off a triple header of rugby league games also featuring NRL sides Canterbury Bulldogs, Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys and St George Illawarra Dragons. The Robins, who top Super League and will face Warrington in next month's Challenge Cup final, and eight-times Grand Final winners Leeds have been selected following an application process led by Rugby League Commercial. "It was a huge statement of intent by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves to pursue the opportunity of making history in Vegas in 2025, and it is a credit to the impact they made that we have been able to work so closely with the NRL on ensuring a continued northern hemisphere presence," Rhodri Jones, managing director of RL Commercial, said. "Super League's first Las Vegas fixture delivered a huge spike in profile and glamour for the whole competition, as reflected in the viewing figures, and in the response from other sports and the wider sporting public." BBC rugby league reporter Matt Newsum: Hot on the heels of the success of Wigan and Warrington's venture into Sin City in 2025, Hull KR and Leeds are the latest Super League entrants to make the trip over the Atlantic for the now annual Las Vegas event in tandem with the Australian NRL. This time, RL Commercial have been more heavily involved in the process, after Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski and then Warrington counterpart Karl Fitzpatrick set the ball rolling for this year's event off their own backs. Both Hull KR and Leeds, and perhaps importantly from selling the game, brands, have a strong presence. They have shown themselves to be successful off the field of late as well as on it, and should provide the type of match-up which will show Super League in its best light. Rovers could pitch up in Las Vegas as champions and Challenge Cup winners, and this would be another memorable experience for a fanbase that has shown itself to be loyal and high in turnout at major events in recent seasons - one of the key reasons for their inclusion. Leeds still carry a cachet to an Australian audience from their legacy of success, their links with high-profile Australians over the years, and the fanbase again, and while some of the success from the years of annual Grand Final appearances has tailed off, there is a sense the club is now heading in the right direction. The aim one day is that all clubs in the Super League will get a chance to show their wares, but right now, these two clubs need to be shrewd and provide a meaningful showpiece, and there will be confidence that neither will wilt in the glare of the Nevada sun.
