Latest news with #WalesRugby
BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales to add Halfpenny to coaching staff for Japan series
Wales will confirm former full-back Leigh Halfpenny will be added to the coaching team for next month's trip to will work under interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the two Test tour as kicking coach, a role that has been occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 will also be joined in his backroom staff by his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum), and Gloucester's Rhys coaches who were part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will not be involved in would be involved for the first time as the kicking coach and is expected to be involved full time from next 36-year-old former British and Irish Lion has left Harlequins and is expected to continue playing by joining French second division side Beziers next who has been an important mentor for Halfpenny during his career with the pair remaining close, is currently helping Wales Under-20s before the Junior World Championship starts later this month. Sherratt will again act in the caretaker role he adopted during the Six Nations after Gatland resigned in Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) performance director Dave Reddin is leading the hunt for Gatland's permanent Japan, Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses, having not won an international since October 2023 in a run that includes two successive Six Nations Wooden will play the Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to slip from their lowest ever position of 12th in the world first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July in the city where Wales held their Rugby World Cup training camp in second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days later.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Wales forward Pyrs makes Gloucester switch
English champions Gloucester-Hartpury have signed Wales forward Alaw Pyrs for the forthcoming Premiership Women's Rugby 19-year-old lock made her Wales debut last September and featured in this year's Six previously played for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge as well as Hartpury University in the British universities championship."To be an international whilst still a teenager is a remarkable achievement, and shows the potential that Alaw clearly has," Gloucester's head of rugby Dan Murphy said."She's a physical player and has impressed with Wales, Hartpury and Gwalia Lightning, so we're delighted that she's put pen to paper here."She'll learn so much from the experienced forwards we have here and get better and better, and that's what really excites us."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wales centre Williams signs new Scarlets contract
Wales centre Johnny Williams has signed a new two-year deal to stay at 28, has been in impressive form this season and has been rewarded with a Wales recall for the summer tour of arrived in Llanelli in 2020 after signing from Newcastle Falcons."Johnny is a key member of the squad, someone who has become a leader for us on and off the field," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel."That experience is going to be vital over the coming years as part of the young back division we are developing at the club."His re-signing is more positive news for the club as we continue to build and grow as a group." Williams has not played a Test for Wales since the World Cup warm-up matches in August 2023."It is great to be back in the Wales set-up," said Williams."I have been gutted to have missed a couple of squad selections, so I'm obviously delighted to be back in the mix."Following the departures of Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, he is now the elder Scarlets statesman in a crop of centres that includes internationals Joe Roberts and Eddie James, with the uncapped Macs Page also selected for Wales' tour of Japan."I have been here five years now and I feel this team is really evolving," said Williams."There is a lot of talent within the squad, especially with the young guys coming through - I am one of the oldest players in the squad now at 28."These are exciting times and I am looking forward to seeing where this team can go."Fellow backs Page, James, Roberts, Tomi Lewis and Sam Costelow have also agreed new deals, alongside Wales forward duo Taine Plumtree and Kemsley Scarlets signings include fly-half/centre Joe Hawkins, lock Jake Ball, scrum-half Dane Blacker and full-back Ioan Jones.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wheelchair warrior Evans finds new place in rugby
Wales rugby league international Brogan Evans thought her dreams had come true when she signed for Women's Super League side Wigan Warriors 18 months sport, as it often does, struck the cruellest of blows when the forward suffered a career-threatening injury just a few games into the coming through surgery to reconstruct her knee, further complications emerged in her spine and Evans admits it is "highly unlikely" she will ever return to the running game."I was crushed, I can't express what a massive part of my life rugby was," the 29-year-old said."I was in hospital all over the new year [2025] and I can't express how lost I felt, then I saw a poster to give wheelchair rugby a go." A whirlwind transition After just a couple of training sessions, Evans was invited into the Wales camp and is now set to make her international rugby league wheelchair debut in Saturday's Celtic annual competition sees Wales take on reigning champions Ireland and Scotland at Cardiff Metropolitan University (11:00 BST).Evans will actually make a bit of history as she will become the first player to win a senior international cap in more than one major rugby league discipline."It's all happened so fast, it's been a bit of a whirlwind," she said."I know rugby, the game in essence is the same, what I lack is chair control. I have been training so hard ahead of Celtic, hiring sports halls two or three times a week in prep. I don't want to make a fool of myself or let my team-mates down."But Wales head coach Alan Caron has no qualms in including Evans in his squad."Brogan's work-rate in the build-up to this tournament has been second to none. She's been putting in extra sessions to improve her chair skills and she scored a well-worked try for Salford last weekend," Caron said. "Her ball skills are already there of course, and the fact she won multiple awards in the women's game a couple of years ago just proves what she can accomplish. I know she'll grip this opportunity with both hands." 'Convinced my life was over' Evans said it was an emotional transition from running to wheelchair rugby and admits to shedding a few tears in her first session with Wales. "As fun as it was, there is a real possibility that one day I won't be able to just stand up from the wheelchair after a game, and that was daunting and terrifying," she said."I was convinced my life would be over but, through this, I have met the most incredible people."One of my favourite Welsh team-mates is paralysed and his life is incredible. He is the most abled and least disabled person I have ever met. His life gives me hope about my future."I'm actually okay about the whole thing now, whether I end up in a chair permanently or whether I don't, there is a place for me. A new rugby family."While Evans' initial dream of competing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup may be over, she still hopes to play at a major tournament, and even one day compete at the Paralympics Games "in one sport or another". Evans is part of Wales' 10-player mixed squad and she will not be the only one to break records on Saturday. Jodie Boyd-Ward will become the sport's most capped player when she leads Wales out at Archers Arena. The 32-year-old is currently on 44 international appearances, level with Welshman Harry Jones. "It truly is an honour to be asked to captain Wales for the Celtic Cup, especially as it's an opportunity to lead the squad out and look to reclaim the trophy," Boyd-Ward said. "Last year, I knew after an amazing tour to the US, that I needed to take some time out after not taking a break for the whole of my wheelchair rugby league career."Now I'm back and feeling better than ever, I'm looking forward to getting stuck in with the team and also seeing how both Scotland and Ireland have continued their development, as I know we have at Wales."Wales' World Cup captain from 2022, Stuart Williams, is named as 40-year-old, who is Wales' record international try scorer with 66, returns to the side after missing last year's Wales matches. Wales Celtic Cup squad: Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Hereford Harriers), Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos), Jess Booth, Jonathan Gill, Jakub Wasieczko, Stuart Williams (all North Wales Crusaders), Brogan Evans (North Wales Crusaders/Salford Red Devils), Alex Powell (Torfaen Tigers/Hereford Harriers), Scott Trigg-Turner, Mark Williams (both Torfaen Tigers/Wigan Warriors).
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Centre Williams signs new Ospreys deal
Ospreys centre Keiran Williams has signed a new contract to remain with his hometown 27-year-old has been a regular in the starting line-up since making his debut in 2016, notching up 91 has also been capped by Wales, featuring in the warm-up match against England ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. "I'm really happy to be staying, this is where I've spent my whole career and I'm looking forward to continuing it with this group," said Williams. "The team are playing some great rugby under Mark [head coach Jones], and the backs have really benefitted from the expansive game we've been playing."Boss Jones said Williams is an "integral part" of the team and an "extremely consistent performer"."We all know about what he does well on the pitch, on both sides of the ball, but it's his attitude that has impressed me the most since I joined the club," Jones said."His dedication to improving is second to none and we are all excited to see him continue to push on and contribute for us in the coming seasons."
