Latest news with #ScotlandvWales
BBC News
44 minutes 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."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Phillips joins Wales greats at a fourth World Cup
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 Carys Phillips will join an elite group of players when she represents Wales at a fourth World Cup this Harlequins hooker has been named in Sean Lynn's squad which kicks-off their campaign against Scotland on goes into the record books alongside Welsh legends Sioned Harries, Elinor Snowsill, Caryl Thomas, Louise Rickard, Jacqueline Morgan and Liza Burgess in making four major tournament appearances."It's a bit surreal, a mind-blowing time to get a fourth call-up" said the 32-year-old."This [World Cup] is going to be the biggest, no doubt about that. The pool stages are pretty much sold out, which is unbelievable so I'm really excited to get started." From exile to history maker Phillips is one of Wales' most capped players - just two short of World Rugby hall of famer Burgess who finished her stellar career on 87 caps - but she still has some way to go to catch up with Rickard, who ran out for 112 Tests between 1993 and made her Wales debut against Ireland in 2013 and was later selected in Rhys Edwards' squad for the 2014 World Cup. "I was 20 when I went to my first tournament in France, although I only looked about 16 in the team photo," Phillips said."I remember facing the Haka for the first time during the pool matches. That was quite scary."Phillips later united with her father Rowland Phillips who appointed her captain for the 2017 tournament in Ireland, before taking her place in Ioan Cunningham's squad for the 2021 World Cup (played in 2022) in New Zealand. And while she seems to have been a mainstay in the squad for the past 12 years, Phillips' career has had a few bumps in the road, including two years in international exile and the mystery departure of her father as head she came roaring back onto the scene in the 2021 autumn internationals, scoring a hat-trick against South Africa and the following year she became one of 12 players to be awarded a first professional contract from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).But Phillips is very modest about her achievements, she is clearly the joker in camp and not someone who likes to be taken too seriously."I don't act like it," she said when asked how it felt to be one of the most senior players."I'm still not the oldest in the squad which I'm happy about." Looking ahead to Wales' World Cup opener, the enormity of the Scotland match is not lost on Phillips and her team are tipped to top Pool B, which leaves Wales, Scotland and Fiji fighting it out for the runner-up spot to progress to the quarter-finals."It is a repeat of our first game in New Zealand in 2021 and it is massive for us," said Phillips."All eyes are on that and we have to get our performance right to give us the momentum we need in the competition. "If we can get out of the pool stages then anything could happen. We could meet England in the quarter-finals in Bristol, which would be a massive event.""Pre-season has been tough, but really good for us," she added."Ben Flower has come in to help us on the contact area, which was a massive work-on for us after the Six Nations. "The tour to Australia was much needed and we are now much closer as a group heading into the World Cup."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales' sisters doing it for themselves (and Nant)
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v Wales Venue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds You will be hard pushed to find a prouder rugby club in Wales right now than Nant Conwy. The north Wales club has produced not just one but two sets of sisters for Wales women's 2025 Rugby World Cup squad. Nel and Branwen Metcalfe have been named alongside Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs in Sean Lynn's 32-player group which will kick-off their campaign against Scotland later this month. And while the Pyrs sisters are getting used to packing down together, it will be a new experience for the Metcalfes, with Wales Under-20s captain Branwen yet to make her senior debut. Callender in Wales' World Cup squad despite injury Callender raring to go for Wales after World Cup injury scare "I'm lost for words to be honest, everything that's happened in the past year has been a whirlwind," said Branwen. "I haven't trained much with the squad yet, but it's been really great coming into this environment, I'm learning a lot as I go. "Everyone is really nice and it's nice to come in as a young player with all these experienced players." Asked who she looks up to in the camp, Branwen said: "Definitely Al Cal [Alex Callender] and Kate Williams, they're just role models, the way they play, the way they talk, I just want to be like them. "Hopefully I can make a breakthrough at some point, I'm just trying to learn at this time." Nel said she was delighted for her not so little sister. "The family is buzzing," she said. "People have asked 'how do you feel?'. I couldn't be prouder. I've seen how hard she has worked, she deserves this. "I would say I do look out for her [in camp] and check she's ok, but she can handle herself, everyone has been pretty welcoming." Women's Rugby World Cup fixtures and BBC coverage 2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby Humble beginnings Wales is no stranger to having siblings run out together, Horgan twins Claire and Louise both won international honours against France in 2008. But two sets of sisters is something quite special, even more so when they all come from the same grassroots club. Gwenllian, Alaw, Nel and Branwen all got their start at Nant Conwy, a community rugby club nestled between the villages of Llanrwst and Trefriw. "They are always so supportive of us whatever we do," said Nel. "It's just everything about Nant, it's not just a club, it's the whole community, everyone knows each other." That sense of belonging is underlined by Branwen: "Growing up we were probably there every day," the younger Metcalfe adds. "The club has been such a big part of, not just our journey, but our whole family. It's really nice that we can do this together." The siblings will find out if they will play alongside each other when Wales announces its team to face Scotland next Thursday. Nant Conwy RFC chairman Marc Jones said it was with a "heartfelt sincerity" that they celebrated the success of their former players. "Congratulations to the girls, their achievements are down to their total dedication and commitment," he said. "Their success is intrinsically linked to their coaches, staff and our whole club ethos. "Being part of the Nant Conwy community, it was only a matter of time that major representation was achieved. They will through their achievements, I'm sure, be a catalyst for all of our players moving forward." Tudor Roberts leads the girls section, Ceirw Nant, and he too is "immensely proud" of the girls for making the Wales squad from "humble beginnings". "It certainly spurs the young ones on, and shows that the pathway is there and through hard work and commitment it is possible," he said. "We wish them all the best of luck and will be cheering them on for sure. "The standard of girls rugby in north Wales has bloomed, with quality games being played weekly. It's only a matter of time before more girls from north Wales start putting their hand up for selection."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales' sisters doing it for themselves (and Nant)
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 You will be hard pushed to find a prouder rugby club in Wales right now than Nant north Wales club has produced not just one but two sets of sisters for Wales women's 2025 Rugby World Cup and Branwen Metcalfe have been named alongside Gwenllian and Alaw Pyrs in Sean Lynn's 32-player group which will kick-off their campaign against Scotland later this while the Pyrs sisters are getting used to packing down together, it will be a new experience for the Metcalfes, with Wales Under-20s captain Branwen yet to make her senior debut. "I'm lost for words to be honest, everything that's happened in the past year has been a whirlwind," said Branwen."I haven't trained much with the squad yet, but it's been really great coming into this environment, I'm learning a lot as I go."Everyone is really nice and it's nice to come in as a young player with all these experienced players."Asked who she looks up to in the camp, Branwen said: "Definitely Al Cal [Alex Callender] and Kate Williams, they're just role models, the way they play, the way they talk, I just want to be like them."Hopefully I can make a breakthrough at some point, I'm just trying to learn at this time."Nel said she was delighted for her not so little sister."The family is buzzing," she said."People have asked 'how do you feel?'. I couldn't be prouder. I've seen how hard she has worked, she deserves this."I would say I do look out for her [in camp] and check she's ok, but she can handle herself, everyone has been pretty welcoming." Humble beginnings Wales is no stranger to having siblings run out together, Horgan twins Claire and Louise both won international honours against France in two sets of sisters is something quite special, even more so when they all come from the same grassroots Alaw, Nel and Branwen all got their start at Nant Conwy, a community rugby club nestled between the villages of Llanrwst and Trefriw."They are always so supportive of us whatever we do," said Nel."It's just everything about Nant, it's not just a club, it's the whole community, everyone knows each other."That sense of belonging is underlined by Branwen: "Growing up we were probably there every day," the younger Metcalfe adds."The club has been such a big part of, not just our journey, but our whole family. It's really nice that we can do this together."The siblings will find out if they will play alongside each other when Wales announces its team to face Scotland next Thursday. Nant Conwy RFC chairman Marc Jones said it was with a "heartfelt sincerity" that they celebrated the success of their former players."Congratulations to the girls, their achievements are down to their total dedication and commitment," he said."Their success is intrinsically linked to their coaches, staff and our whole club ethos. "Being part of the Nant Conwy community, it was only a matter of time that major representation was achieved. They will through their achievements, I'm sure, be a catalyst for all of our players moving forward."Tudor Roberts leads the girls section, Ceirw Nant, and he too is "immensely proud" of the girls for making the Wales squad from "humble beginnings". "It certainly spurs the young ones on, and shows that the pathway is there and through hard work and commitment it is possible," he said. "We wish them all the best of luck and will be cheering them on for sure."The standard of girls rugby in north Wales has bloomed, with quality games being played weekly. It's only a matter of time before more girls from north Wales start putting their hand up for selection."
BBC News
12-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Callender raring to go for Wales after World Cup injury scare
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 Alex Callender has handed Wales a major fitness boost ahead of their crucial Rugby World Cup opener against co-captain had been named in Wales' 32-player squad on Monday, but there were doubts whether the Harlequins back row would feature against their Six Nations rivals on 23 picked up an ankle injury in the second Test defeat against Australia on 1 August, with the sight of her on crutches fuelling fears her tournament could be over before it had begun. But the 25-year-old allayed those fears on Tuesday, confirming her selection availability for when head coach Sean Lynn names his side for their opener in Salford. "It was a precaution to take me off, I just tweaked an old injury, but I'm raring to go for Scotland," Callender said. Callender sat out most of the Six Nations with an ankle injury she picked up while playing for Harlequins, but showed what a miss she had been in Wales' impressive first Test win against the Wallaroos in Brisbane, topping the statistics for tackles and admitted her first thoughts were "Oh God, here we go" when she went down just four minutes into the second Test in asked if she thought her World Cup was over, she added: "Yes, to be honest but I'm in a really good place at the moment, I'm just excited to get going."Lynn said they will manage their star back row carefully, but added reassurance that Wales were "all on track" heading into the Scotland game. Wales' opening game is already being billed as their World Cup final, with Pool B also containing a Canada ranked second in the world and widely expected to top the managed by Wales' former head coach Ioan Cunningham, will also be fighting for one of two spots to the knockout the fixture seems like a deja vu, you would be right. It is exactly the same scenario from the last World Cup. Fortunately for Wales, they edged that contest against the Scots thanks to a last-minute penalty kicked by Keira Bevan."We live for these moments and these Test matches," said Callender."We're all really excited to step out and showcase all the hard work that we've put in over the last couple of months, and hopefully we can put in a performance and the result will follow."
