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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Connacht's Finlay Bealham called up to British and Lions squad in place of Zander Fagerson
Connacht and Ireland prop Finlay Bealham has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad. The 33-year-old tighthead replaces Scotland's Zander Fagerson after the Glasgow forward was ruled out of the trip to Australia with a calf injury. Bealham made his Ireland debut in 2016 and has 51 international caps with two Six Nation titles to his name. His inclusion takes the tally of Ireland players for the tour to 16, including Connacht team-mates Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki. The Lions are currently in Dublin and will travel to Portugal for a training camp tomorrow before returning next week to prepare for their opening game, against Argentina in Aviva Stadium on Friday week. Lions head coach Andy Farrell said: "It's tough on Zander to miss out so close to the tour, but now Finlay gets an opportunity to come in and add to the group. "This is unfortunately part and parcel of the game, so we always have to be prepared for that. "But it's great to finally be at the stage where we can get onto the training ground and get to work with these players. "Portugal will be really important for us as we look to get our house in order with only a few training sessions before we take on Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin." Players involved in the Premiership Rugby and URC final between Leinster and Bulls on Saturday, remain with their clubs until next week. England's Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour will also travel to Portugal to train with the squad. Saracens hooker George was a Lions Tourist in 2017 and 2021 - while Sale Sharks prop Opoku-Fordjour made his debut for England against Japan last November.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Wales wing Harry Rees-Weldon out of World U20 Championships
The loss of the 20-year-old for the tournament in Italy is a hammer blow for Wales, who will miss his power running. Rees-Weldon starred with a try-scoring performance in the Six Nation upset of Grand Slam-chasing England in Cardiff. The speedster then crossed on his Dragons debut against the Ospreys and started in the games in South Africa against the Stormers and Bulls. However, Rees-Weldon suffered a leg injury on his return to training with the Welsh youngsters ahead of the world cup and has been ruled out. It is not serious and the promising prospect, who has developed with Ebbw Vale in the Premiership and Super Rygbi Cymru, will target a pre-season return. PROMISING: Dragons wing Harry Rees-Weldon has been ruled out of Wales' World Rugby U20 Championship campaign (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 'Harry is out after an injury in training,' confirmed Wales head coach Richard Whiffin. 'It's such a shame because he was brilliant at the back end of the Six Nations. 'He then showed that he can step up to the next level with the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship but sadly he won't make the plane. 'Harry is in rehab already and now it's up to others to step up in what is a strong area for us, with Tom Bowen to come back into the mix [after missing the warm-up defeat to England]. One guy's misfortune is another's opportunity.' Rees-Weldon will not feature in the championship but 10 Dragons are in the mix for the final squad, which will now be named after Friday's second tune-up against Italy. The initial plan was to announce those who have made the cut before that friendly at Cardiff Arms Park but that has changed due to a number of injury doubts. TOWERING: Dragons lock Nick Thomas will add physicality to the Wales pack (Image: Richard Sellers) One of those is Dragons lock Nick Thomas, who is making good progress in his return from an ankle injury suffered in the Six Nations opener against France. The 19-year-old, who caught the eye against Newcastle, Cardiff and the Scarlets last season, is set for a return to competitive action. 'Nick has trained with us and hopefully will get some game time against Italy,' said Whiffin. 'He is tracking well to hopefully get the opportunity [at the championship].' The Dragons in the extended squad are winger Ioan Duggan, fly-half Harri Ford, scrum-half Logan Franklin, props George Tuckley and Owain James, lock Thomas and back row forwards Harry Beddall, Evan Minto, Ryan Jones and Cerrig Smith.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Powell replaces injured Wales fly-half George in France
Women's Six Nations: France v WalesVenue: Stade Amedee-Domenech, Brive Date: Saturday, 12 April Kick-off: 12:45 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online, listen on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds Fly-half Lleucu George has been ruled out of Wales' Six Nations match against France on Saturday with an ankle an otherwise unchanged side from the 67-12 defeat by England, head coach Sean Lynn moves centre Kayleigh Powell to 10 and drafts Courtney Keight into Keight partners captain Hannah Jones at centre, with another Bears player, assistant captain Kiera Bevan, at back three remains unchanged with triple GB Olympian Jasmine Joyce-Butchers at full-back and Carys Cox and Lisa Neumann the has also stuck with the same pack with flankers Alex Callender (foot) and Alisha Butchers (virus) still Thunder lock Natalia John returns from injury among the replacements, while Gwalia Lightning prop Jenny Scoble remains the only starter based in Wales. "These players deserve another opportunity to represent the Wales family against one of the best sides in the world and we know we face a Test match in front of a hostile crowd in France," said Lynn. Wales have lost both games in this year's Six Nation's after finishing bottom of the table in were some positive signs in a nail-biting encounter with Scotland 24-21 in Edinburgh in Lynn's first game in charge last they were overwhelmed by England in front of a record crowd of more than 21,000 at the Principality Stadium two weeks ago."The players, coaches and staff have put the fallow week to good use and worked hard to improve and hone our game," said Lynn."We know we can do better. Some aspects of our performance against England were not good enough and we are determined to put that right in France."We know France are a world class outfit but we have to challenge ourselves to match them."France are second in the table behind the Red Roses, having won 27-15 in Ireland before beating Scotland 38-15. Coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz have made one change from that victory in La Rochelle, with Emilie Boulard replacing Mélissande Llorens on the wing. France: Morgane Bourgeois; Kelly Arbey, Marine Menager (co-capt), Montserrat Amedee, Emilie Boulard; Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon-Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Manon Bigot, Rose Bernadou, Manae Feleu (co-capt), Madouddou Fall-Raclot, Charlotte Escudero, Seraphine Okemba, Teani Elisa Riffonneau, Ambre Mwayembe, Assia Khalfaoui, Kiara Zago, Axelle Berthoumieu, Lea Champon, Oceane Bordes, Lina Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Kelsey Jones, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King, Sian Jones, Nel Holly Wood (RFU)Assistant referees: Sara Cox (RFU) & Maria Heitor (FPR)TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)FPRO: Rachel Horton (RA)
The Guardian
23-02-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Antoine Dupont to the fore as France run riot with 11-try thrashing of Italy
If there were questions over France's ability to finish teams off after coughing up numerous chances against England a fortnight ago, they have been thoroughly put to bed. A ruthless 11-try demolition of a handy Italy side on their own patch served as a reminder that, on their day, there are few better outfits in rugby than a French team in full flow. Fabien Galthié, the head coach, made some bold selection decisions, dropping his ace winger Damian Penaud and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert from the match-day 23. A seven-one bench split was a sign of the plan and France's power game duly delivered. They stomped over the gainline with just about every carry, unloaded six heavies off the bench in one go on 48 minutes and pulverised the Italians, who sparkled on rare occasions but were totally outgunned. France's eye-watering 73-points haul is the second-highest in Six Nation's history and with this victory they leapfrogged England into second on the table. If they beat Ireland in Dublin they could yet be champions. There were early warning signs as the magnificent Louis Bielle-Biarrey had a try chalked off on 10 minutes as Thomas Ramos, shifting from full-back to fly-half, sprayed a forward pass in the buildup. Soon after, Tommaso Menoncello burst through a gap in midfield on the angle to hand Italy the lead. It was little more than a false dawn. Mickaël Guillard then carried three Italian defenders on his back to score his first Test try. After a Tommaso Allan penalty, Peato Mauvaka rumbled over off the back of a lineout maul. Antoine Dupont then rounded off a slick move sparked by Léo Barré's lightning feet and hands. Dupont was officially recognised as the player of the match, but it was the French full-back who was instrumental in so much that worked in the backline. Juan Ignacio Brex kept the try tally ticking and Italy within touching distance. Once again the French midfield of Yoram Moefana and Pierre-Louis Barassi was pulled apart like a freshly baked croissant. If there's one area of concern for France it is their weakness against first phase strike-plays from set pieces. Ireland will no doubt target them there. Not that defensive frailties matter when you have monstrous ball carriers. With Dupont zipping it around from the front-foot, he simply had to find willing runners off his shoulder. Before half-time, Paul Boudehent and Barré would score to notch up the bonus point as France went into the break 35-17 to the good. Five minutes after the restart, Grégory Alldritt crashed over. The lineout served as the platform but rather than maul, the ball pinged off the top for the No 8 to barrel down the inside 10 channel. France's ability to combine power with panache was in full bloom. Then came Le Bombe Equipe. French rugby has not fully shaken off the disappointment of their 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat against South Africa, but Galthié is not too proud to pull a page from the Springboks' playbook. A new front row, as well as fresh legs in three other positions in the pack fuelled the onslaught to come. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Better teams than Italy would have capitulated similarly. Before the hour, Bielle-Biarrey scored his sixth try in as many Tests and Dupont bagged his second of the match, collecting an inside pass from Ramos before fending off Allan with a stiff hand. The Garbisi brothers combined when the scrum-half Allesandro straightened the line and fed the fly-half Paolo off the back of a solid scrum, but the Mexican waves in the stands were proof that the home crowd had given up hope of a revival. In the closing minutes Dupont moved to fly-half as Maxime Lucu entered the scene. It might have been a coincidence, but France looked less cohesive from then, perhaps handing Galthié enough evidence that his best player is not necessarily an option at No 10. Not that it mattered. France's domination of the gainline created space in the trams for Théo Attissogbé and Barassi to score before the close. France are back with a bang and remain in the hunt for the title.
