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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Warren Gatland gives first interview after taking shock new job and reveals who he spoke to about it
Warren Gatland gives first interview after taking shock new job and reveals who he spoke to about it The Kiwi coach says he's been impressed by the standard of talent so far Warren Gatland has given his first interview since arriving in Uruguay (Image: Instagram: cap_rugby ) Warren Gatland says he's excited to get started at Uruguayan side Penarol, and says he's already been impressed by the level of talent at his disposal. Gatland has taken up an advisory role at the club ahead of the Super Rugby Americas (SRA) play-off finals, just three months after ending his second spell with Wales. The 61-year-old will reportedly also contribute to Uruguay's bid to reach the Rugby World Cup. Uruguay have a qualifier against Paraguay in August and could play either Chile or Brazil for a place at the 2027 tournament in Australia. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "Before I came here, it's my first time, I've been to Argentina a number of times, so it's not a big country," he said in his first interview since making the move to the Montevideo-based side. "It's about the same size as New Zealand. A few less people. But I did have a look at from an an economic point of view and a political point of view, how stable it is in South America and how safe it is. "I spoke to a good friend of mine, Craig White, who was with Uruguay in a couple of World Cups and he said 'you'll have a fantastic time and the people will look after you and they're incredibly friendly and very hospitable'. "So I'm excited to be here and I'm looking forward to it. "I've been lucky enough to play Uruguay in a few World Cups and so it's good to be here with Penarol, and having a look at how rugby's come on in Uruguay over a number of years. "It's my second day here but I've been very impressed with the attitude of the players and the work of the coaches and the presentations. "My Spanish isn't very good so I'm trying to pick up as many names as I can and some phrases and try and understand as much as I can." But while there could well be a language barrier, the level of talent has clearly still managed to catch the eye of the New Zealander. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below "I've enjoyed it so far and been, like I said, very impressed with the attitude of the players and how everyone's been preparing and it's a very big game for them this weekend. "Having watched some of the Sevens players I thought in the world Sevens circuit they did extremely well. I was impressed by some of those players and some of them are here now. They look very athletic and skilful. "There's some big boys here. Some athletic boys and I'm looking forward to seeing how they go over the next few weeks. "
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sevens players victims of potential IRFU money worries says Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll has speculated that the IRFU has cut the Men's Sevens squad because of potential financial issues "down the line". The Leinster and Ireland great says that he has "total sympathy" for the plight of the players who were informed last week that the programme has been shut down. They were subsequently told that they will be paid until the end of the year but the IRFU has been criticised by current and former Sevens stars and their families for this action. "Almost immediately they got onto the HSBC series and they have had an awful lot of success," O'Driscoll told Off The Ball. "OK, they didn't manage to win one of the events but they've been in finals, they've been third in the World Cup a few years ago in Cape Town, they've been incredibly consistent. "So I have total sympathy for their situation, how all of these players now all of a sudden look as though they're going to be out of a gig." Former IRFU performance director David Nucifora, who founded the Sevens programme, has described the decision as "total nonsense". O'Driscoll, however, adds that there's two sides to every story and he insists that Irish rugby chiefs - including Nucifora's successor, David Humphreys -must have a good reason for their decision. "I would imagine that the powers that be within the IRFU haven't taken this decision lightly," said O'Driscoll. "My sense is that there's potential trouble looming down the line from a financial point of view and all this comes down to is securing financial stability over the course of the next five to 10 years. "It's been very well documented about Wales, I think Scotland are not far away from being in a similar predicament or are certainly on the road there. "Even a union like Ireland, who everyone thought was bulletproof, when you see an €18 and a half million loss last year, the implications of a World Cup year when you don't host those November Test matches having such a significant impact on the balance sheet, there's something not right. "We're seeing clubs in the UK folding, we know that three of the four provinces are really struggling from a funding point of view, commercially not successful at the moment, they just haven't really recovered post-Covid. "So I think the decision is a financial one and I feel for David Humphreys where he has come into the role and now he's barely got his feet under the desk and he has to deliver this sort of news. "And it's not just because I know Humphs and know what sort of a guy he is. This is a bigger picture piece and it doesn't mean that everyone shouldn't feel worthy of feeling hard done by. "The Union, the players, the public, because it's not a good news story or news day for anyone. I think many of us thought Sevens was going to be the route into the global market, it became an Olympic sport, an opportunity to achieve a medal of some sort - it's such a carrot to these players. "But ultimately Sevens in Ireland is about being a feeder into 15, which runs the game and is the financial payer and the capital appreciator of rugby and you can't get away from that. "I'd be interested to ask all the players who play Sevens, I bet you all of them would say Sevens isn't the final marker or where they want to reach. I bet you all of them see it as a segue into the 15s game. "So it's very disappointing from their perspective because of the unbelievable work that they have put in, almost over-achieving based on the quality of global teams, but it's got to be a bigger picture piece around what is coming down the line. You can't get away from that and it's just trying to future proof the security of rugby in general in Ireland."
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Matt Williams: The IRFU gets almost all the big calls right, but axeing the men's Sevens programme is shameful
For many years, politics within the IRFU kept Ireland from participating in the global Sevens programme. In 2009, the excitement surrounding Sevens reached fever pitch when the game was accepted into the Olympics . Yet Ireland remained steadfast in refusing to participate until 2014. During that period, the IRFU's stance astounded me and many others in Irish rugby. [ IRFU to axe men's sevens programme following review ] I became part of a loose coalition of former players, coaches and administrators who publicly and privately agitated for Ireland to enter both men's and women's squads into the World Sevens. The IRFU's public stance against joining the World Sevens circuit was because of financial restraints. Sound familiar? READ MORE However, we were informed via back channels that the real reason was highly political, as theoretically an Ireland Sevens player from Northern Ireland could declare for the Great British team before the Olympics. At the Olympic Games, the IRFU is not the governing body, it is the Olympic Federation of Ireland . The astounding strength of Irish rugby's alliance between North and South that has stood firm against the most arduous of political tests rightly remains sacrosanct within the IRFU. The feedback that reached our group's frustrated ears was that Ireland was refusing to join the World Sevens because the IRFU was being ultra-cautious to avoid even the slightest possibility of ever having to face the problem of a player leaving an Irish team to join a Great British Olympic team. Many plausible solutions were put to the IRFU on their hypothetical problem. The most simple of the proposals was the creation of a watertight contract for Sevens players to declare for Ireland before playing a game. Multiple unofficial communications were held over tea, coffee or pints with supportive members of the special committee who were tasked with looking at the possibility of Ireland joining the World Sevens circuit. Still, for several years, the IRFU rejected all proposals. As a result, it was not until 2019 that Ireland's men's team finally qualified for the World Sevens programme. Ireland celebrate winning gold in the men's rugby Sevens final at the 2023 European Games and qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO In all my many experiences with the IRFU administrators, they have got the vast majority of their big decisions absolutely right. We only have to look across the water at the financial shambles and the high-performance train crashes that are happening at various levels of the game in England, Scotland and Wales to see that the path the IRFU administrators have trodden has Irish rugby financially secure and performing on the field far above almost every other union on the planet. However, on the matter of the Irish men's Sevens programme, the long years of delay before the IRFU finally gave it the green light denied generations the opportunity to compete on the global and Olympic stage. That long delay remains a deeply flawed decision by the IRFU. There is a sentence that every union on the planet has in their constitution that states one of their core responsibilities is 'to grow and foster the game of rugby'. It does not say to grow and foster only the 15s version of the game. Sevens is a unique and integral part of rugby's history. Like all sports, rugby is in a state of constant change, and Sevens has evolved at an astonishing speed. It is now a unique hybrid game that stands almost totally divorced from the men's 15-a-side game. Public statements from the IRFU that the men's World Sevens and Olympic programmes can only be viewed as a vehicle to produce players for the 15s game is out of touch with reality. Sevens Rugby is a singularly elite sport. It is not a step along the path of a player's developmental process to play 15s. The IRFU are wrong to compare international sevens with provincial academies. The crucial aspect in Sevens evolution is that it has opened up rugby to a different calibre of athlete who has natural rugby skills and buckets of aerobic and anaerobic fitness. While Sevens players are exceptionally athletic, you don't have to be a bulging genetic mammoth performing as a battering ram in a mindless 7-1 bench to play Sevens rugby. Jordan Conroy scores Ireland's second try against New Zealand in the men's rugby Sevens at last year's Paris Olympics. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/INPHO Those who watched the Paris Olympics Sevens tournament were captivated by the exceptional skill, athleticism and courage that was on display. This was not a developmental tournament for 15s. It was elite sporting entertainment in which Ireland's men's and women's teams were wonderful contributors. The decision to abandon the men's Irish Sevens programme has broken the hearts and shattered the dreams of generations of players. As children, we started to play the game because we hoped that one day we could be like our heroes. I wonder how many little boys and girls watched the Olympic Sevens tournament in Paris and said to themselves: 'One day I am going to do that.' One of the IRFU's most sacred responsibilities is to ensure there will always be the opportunity for the dreams of our young rugby boys and girls to come true. That our young men can no longer dream of playing for Ireland at an Olympic Games because the IRFU says they cannot afford men's Sevens borders on the shameful. While budgets are real, savings should have been made in other areas to ensure that Ireland's men will continue to represent the nation at world sport's greatest event, the Olympic Games. Meanwhile, rugby minnows such as Kenya, Uruguay and Spain must be selling raffle tickets to raise money, because they are capable of sending their men's teams on the Sevens circuit. This makes the IRFU decision appear even more farcical. It has taken over a decade for Irish rugby to develop the pathways and infrastructure that now empowers our superb men's and women's Sevens athletes to compete on equal terms with the world's best. For the IRFU to abandon that generation of work, which has created the men's Sevens programme, is to walk away from a huge part of rugby's future. This decision is rightly being seen by many in the rugby community as a dereliction of duty by their governing body. History is a ruthless editor and the IRFU's chapter on men's Sevens makes for some ugly reading.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallaroos thumped 45-7 by Canada in harsh World Cup reality check
The rise of Australia's rugby women has been rocked by a clinical Canada in Brisbane, walloped 45-7 by the world No 2 side to crush local hopes of a first Pacific Four title. It extends the Wallaroo's dismal run against the North Americans to 0-7 in XVs and leaves them plenty to ponder in the three Test lead-in to the World Cup in August. The eight-try trouncing salts the wound of Australia's shock defeat to Canada in the Sevens semi-final at the 2024 Olympics, where a 12-0 lead at Stade de France imploded into a 22-12 cataclysm. It ended their gold medal dreams and impacted the playoff for bronze, where a late USA try ultimately left the 2016 champions without a medal. Related: World Cup buzz grows as steely Australia upstage Ilona Maher's USA But hopes were high those demons could be laid to rest in Brisbane. With an infusion of Sevens stars by coach Jo Yapp, Australia had posted spirited victories over Fijiana and USA this past month. But against the Pacific Four champions – fresh from a 27-all draw with world champs New Zealand – they needed everything to go their way. It didn't. The kickoff was a disaster with a wicked bounce allowing Canada to regather 10 metres out. Two desperate turnovers by captain Siokapesi Palu kept the Canadians out initially, but a third error in as many minutes let the Red Army roll a maul 30 metres downfield, where prop McKinley Hunt planted the ball over the stripe for 7-0. With blood in the water, Australia's panic was preyed on. Timid defence and repeat errors was gifting hairless halfback Olivia Apps fast ball to light up Canada's attack. In the 11th minute DeLeaka Menin burst through loose Wallaroos defence to put Karen Paquin over. A third stolen lineout then sent fullback Julia Schell to the line for 21-0. Australia capitalised on a disallowed visitors try to launch raids down the short side. Again, Sevens convert Charlotte Caslick was the spark. Shifted from wing closer to the action at inside-centre, the 30-year-old was troubling Canada captain Alexandra Tessier with her charges and putting the Red Army on their heels with torrid defence. But the gulf in class between the sides was sobering. Although Canada botched a second try through obstruction in the 39th minute, they shrugged it off to deal the home side a mortal blow on the stroke of halftime, a stolen scrum giving Laetitia Royer a clear path to the line for a fourth try and an ominous 26-0 lead at the break. If there was a glimmer of hope for the Wallaroos, it was that they had fought back from 26 down against New Zealand a fortnight back, holding the Black Ferns to parity in the final 30 minutes to go down fighting by 38-12. Sure enough, they shot from the sheds, a Caitlyn Halse kick winning territory for Adiana Talakai to cross the stripe. Alas, the try was scrubbed for a knock-on in the lead-up. Undaunted, Australia came again, Georgina Friedrichs making the break for Desiree Miller to carry two defenders over the line for 26-7. The 'game on' glow lasted three minutes before Canada struck again, fast hands from Apps to her backs putting wing Krissy Scurfield into the corner. Yapp had made five changes to the match-day 23 that defeated USA 27-19 in Canberra last week, including an all-new front row for the second-week running. When veteran centre Alex Tessier cut through to make it a 30-point margin, the coach rang more changes, seeking the alchemy Australia need to win a RWC top-four berth in England. It put starch in the gold line but not enough to stop Julia Omokhuale crossing for 45-7. Although the Wallaroos have improved significantly this season and have one Test against New Zealand and two against Wales to experiment before the RWC pool stages, the dissolution of their set-piece in Brisbane is a major worry. The lineout and scrum were a shambles and Canada dismantled the home side in every department. 'Our setpiece was challenged,' Palu said after the loss. 'But if we're to try and take the positives, we've grown our depth in the middle.' Canada's victory leaves them top of the Pacific Four ladder, although New Zealand can wrestle the title away by defeating US and surging past Canada's on points difference.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallaroos thumped 45-7 by Canada in harsh World Cup reality check
The rise of Australia's rugby women has been rocked by a clinical Canada in Brisbane, walloped 45-7 by the world No 2 side to crush local hopes of a first Pacific Four title. It extends the Wallaroo's dismal run against the North Americans to 0-7 in XVs and leaves them plenty to ponder in the three Test lead-in to the World Cup in August. The eight-try trouncing salts the wound of Australia's shock defeat to Canada in the Sevens semi-final at the 2024 Olympics where a 12-0 lead at Stade de France imploded into a 22-12 cataclysm. It ended their gold medal dreams and impacted the playoff for bronze where a late USA try ultimately left the 2016 champions without a medal. Advertisement Related: World Cup buzz grows as steely Australia upstage Ilona Maher's USA But hopes were high those demons could be laid to rest in Brisbane. With an infusion of Sevens stars by coach Jo Yapp, Australia had posted spirited victories over Fijiana and USA this past month. But against the Pacific Four champions – fresh from a 27-all draw with world champs New Zealand – they needed everything to go their way. It didn't. The kickoff was a disaster with a wicked bounce allowing Canada to regather 10-metres out. Two desperate turnovers by captain Siokapesi Palu kept the Canadians out initially, but a third error in in as many minutes let the Red Army roll a maul 30 metres downfield where prop McKinley Hunt planted the ball over the stripe for 7-0. With blood in the water, Australia's panic was preyed on. Timid defence and repeat errors was gifting hairless halfback Olivia Apps fast ball to light up Canada's attack. In the 11th minute DeLeaka Menin burst through loose Wallaroos defence to put Karen Paquin over. A third stolen lineout then sent fullback Julia Schell to the line for 21-0. Advertisement Australia capitalised on a disallowed visitors try to launch raids down the short side. Again, Sevens convert Charlotte Caslick was the spark. Shifted from wing closer to the action at inside-centre, the 30-year-old was troubling Canada captain Alexandra Tessier with her charges and putting the Red Army on their heels with torrid defence. But the gulf in class between the sides was sobering. Although Canada botched a second try through obstruction in the 39th minute, they shrugged it off to deal the home side a mortal blow on the stroke of halftime, a stolen scrum giving Laetitia Royer a clear path to the line for a fourth try and an ominous 26-0 lead at the break. If there was a glimmer of hope for the Wallaroos, it was that they had fought back from 26 down against New Zealand a fortnight back, holding the Black Ferns to parity in the final 30 minutes to go down fighting by 38-12. Sure enough, they shot from the sheds, a Caitlyn Halse kick winning territory for Adiana Talakai to cross the stripe. Alas, the try was scrubbed for a knock-on in the lead-up. Undaunted, Australia came again, Georgina Friedrichs making the break for Desiree Miller to carry two defenders over the line for 26-7. The 'game on' glow lasted three minutes before Canada struck again, fast hands from Apps to her backs putting wing Krissy Scurfield into the corner. Advertisement Yapp had made five changes to the match-day 23 that defeated USA 27-19 in Canberra last week, including an all-new front row for the second-week running. When veteran centre Alex Tessier cut through to make it a 30-point margin, the coach rang more changes, seeking the alchemy Australia need to win a RWC top-four berth in England. It put starch in the gold line but not enough to stop Julia Omokhuale crossing for 45-7. Although the Wallaroos have improved significantly this season and have one Test against New Zealand and two against Wales to experiment before the RWC pool stages, the dissolution of their set-piece in Brisbane is a major worry. The lineout and scrum were a shambles and Canada dismantled the home side in every department. 'Our setpiece was challenged,' said Palu after the loss. 'But if we're to try and take the positives, we've grown our depth in the middle.' Canada's victory leaves them top of the Pacific Four ladder although New Zealand can wrestle the title away by defeating US and surging past Canada's on points difference.
