Latest news with #WynJones
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Forgotten Wales and Lions star returns to Welsh rugby as announcement made
Forgotten Wales and Lions star returns to Welsh rugby as announcement made He last played for Wales in the 2023 Six Nations and was an impressive performer on the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa Wales prop Wyn Jones The Dragons have officially announced the signing of Wales international and Lions prop Wyn Jones. Jones joins from Harlequins next season as he returns to Welsh rugby just over a year after being let go by the Scarlets. The move represents an opportunity for him to prove he can still be a force at the top level and potentially win back his place in the Wales squad after a rapid fall from favour under previous coach Warren Gatland. The 33-year-old is the latest in a raft of signings by the Gwent region, which include current Quins team-mate Dillon Lewis and Cardiff trio Thomas Young, Seb Davies and Tinus de Beer. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Jones last played for Wales in the 2023 Six Nations and was an impressive performer on the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa. "I'm delighted someone of Wyn Jones' undoubted quality and experience is set to join us next season," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia. "He adds to our front-row strength, providing competition for Rhodri Jones and Rodrigo Martinez along with our exciting young talent. Article continues below "His experience will be invaluable to our younger players as they push for first-team selection." Jones made 136 appearances for Scarlets before moving to Harlequins in 2024. He said: "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to link up with Dragons and return home to Welsh rugby this summer. "I'm excited by the direction and aspirations of the club and being part of plans to build and move a new-look squad forward in the coming seasons. "I'd like to thank everyone at Harlequins for a hugely enjoyable season in England. "It's been a fantastic experience and beneficial to my game to test myself in the English Premiership and work alongside such a talented group of players and coaches. 'My target now is to help Quins in any way I can achieve a strong finish to this campaign before linking up with Dragons for a fresh challenge next season.' Forwards Coach Sam Hobbs added that Jones would bring both experience and quality to the club's forward pack from next season. 'Wyn has played at the highest level internationally and for the Lions, is hugely experienced in the URC and has benefited from his time in Harlequins playing in a tough league for set-piece,' said Hobbs. Article continues below 'He has benefited from an injury free season performing well in numerous appearances this year. 'He will add real technical prowess at set piece providing another level of competition to our senior loosehead group, while also acting as a mentor to young exciting prospects like Dylan KG, Jordan Morris and George Tuckley.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales prop Jones joins Dragons from Harlequins
Wales prop Wyn Jones will join Dragons from Harlequins for the start of the 2025-26 season. The 33-year-old follows fellow front-rower Dillon Lewis in swapping south-west London for Gwent. Jones was the starting British and Irish Lions loose-head in the final Test against the Springboks in 2021. He has played 48 internationals for Wales, with his last Test appearance coming in the Six Nations defeat against France in March 2023. Jones joins Harry Beddall, Tinus de Beer, Levi Douglas, Fine Inisi, Lewis and Thomas Young as the seventh new Dragons recruit confirmed for next season, with Cardiff lock Seb Davies also expected to join. "I'm delighted someone of Wyn Jones' undoubted quality and experience is set to join us next season," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia. "He adds to our front-row strength, providing competition for Rhodri Jones and Rodrigo Martinez along with our exciting young talent. "His experience will be invaluable to our younger players as they push for first-team selection." Jones made 136 appearances for Scarlets, winning the United Rugby Championship (URC) title in 2017, before moving to Harlequins in 2024. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to link up with Dragons and return home to Welsh rugby this summer," said Jones. "I'm excited by the direction and aspirations of the club and being part of plans to build and move a new-look squad forward in the coming seasons. "I'd like to thank everyone at Harlequins for a hugely enjoyable season in England. "It's been a fantastic experience and beneficial to my game to test myself in the English Premiership and work alongside a talented group of players and coaches."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales prop Jones joins Dragons from Harlequins
Wales prop Wyn Jones will join Dragons from Harlequins for the start of the 2025-26 33-year-old follows fellow front-rower Dillon Lewis in swapping south-west London for was the starting British and Irish Lions loose-head in the final Test against the Springboks in has played 48 internationals for Wales, with his last Test appearance coming in the Six Nations defeat against France in March joins Harry Beddall, Tinus de Beer, Levi Douglas, Fine Inisi, Lewis and Thomas Young as the seventh new Dragons recruit confirmed for next season, with Cardiff lock Seb Davies also expected to join. "I'm delighted someone of Wyn Jones' undoubted quality and experience is set to join us next season," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia."He adds to our front-row strength, providing competition for Rhodri Jones and Rodrigo Martinez along with our exciting young talent."His experience will be invaluable to our younger players as they push for first-team selection." Jones made 136 appearances for Scarlets, winning the United Rugby Championship (URC) title in 2017, before moving to Harlequins in 2024."I'm looking forward to the opportunity to link up with Dragons and return home to Welsh rugby this summer," said Jones."I'm excited by the direction and aspirations of the club and being part of plans to build and move a new-look squad forward in the coming seasons."I'd like to thank everyone at Harlequins for a hugely enjoyable season in England. "It's been a fantastic experience and beneficial to my game to test myself in the English Premiership and work alongside a talented group of players and coaches."
BBC News
09-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Struggling Wales aim to avoid unwanted history
What now constitutes rock bottom for Welsh rugby?It is a question that has been continually posed over the past year following defeat after losing sequence now stands at 16 international matches following the 35-29 defeat against Scotland in Murrayfield. It was a familiar tale of plenty of effort and endeavour from an inexperienced side but ultimately yet more total of defeats is regarded as unacceptable? When will words like spirited be replaced by successful?The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) committee were looking on from their Murrayfield VIP seats witnessing a now familiar tale that has been of their own governing body are looking for a director of rugby and head coach to try and lift this proud rugby nation out of the mire. Welsh rugby fans are just looking for some hope. The sad indictment is that defeats now are met with a shrug of the shoulders followed by comments like Wales were never expected to has to be reiterated this proud rugby nation has not won an international match since October are rewriting the record books along the way. Italy are the only other tier one nation that have lost as many consecutive Tests in the professional back further and Wales might break new ground for the top tier sides over the coming weeks and lost 18 in a row in a nine-year stint from 1911 to 1920, while Scotland suffered 17 successive defeats between 1951-55. Unfortunately, Wales have them in their have also never gained an outright Wooden Spoon in two successive seasons in the Five or Six Nations or lost all their games in successive defeat against England in the tournament finale in Cardiff next Saturday would create a bit more unwanted history. Forgotten how to win A few hours before kick-off at Murrayfield a host of former internationals could be spotted entering the Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Shane Williams, Jamie Roberts, James Hook and Ian Gough strode in for their various media or corporate work. Players who knew what it was like to win at Murrayfield. Who knew how to win international matches and experienced Grand Slams, World Cup semi-finals and successful British and Irish Lions band James once wrote a lyric "if I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor". That can apply to long-suffering Welsh current squad does not have that expertise or experience of Test was hoped events in Edinburgh might change that. This struggling Welsh side were intent on backing up a heartening display against Ireland in Matt Sherratt's first game in interim charge following Warren Gatland's almost universal positive reaction to the Ireland performance was probably over-the-top. Welsh fans chose to ignore this because there has been so little hope to cling onto in the past 18 months. Some will again chose to focus on Wales' second-half revival in the Scottish it was normal service resumed as Wales suffered a 10th straight Six Nations defeat with Scotland celebrating a hat-trick of successive wins in this fixture for the first time since 1991. Harsh realities of international rugby It was a disastrous first half where the calamitous mistakes from Blair Murray and Ben Thomas that led to Scotland's fourth try typified the like Ellis Mee and WillGriff John, who had produced encouraging Six Nations debuts against Ireland, were ruthlessly exposed to the realities of international Mike Forshaw's Wales' defence, especially out wide, unravelled with 33 missed tackles during the game. Wales lost the aerial and kicking battles with Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn running riot and Finn Russell pulling the led 35-8 after an hour and a record defeat beckoned, before a revival in the final quarter was orchestrated by replacement fly-half Jarrod Evans who had come on for an ineffective Gareth managed to score three tries to pick up two losing bonus points and make the scoreline far more had relaxed as Wales capitalised. Even Sherratt admitted Wales' comeback occurred after the game was settled and Scotland had slipped by 5%.Co-captain Finn Russell was off the field in the final quarter after suffering from cramp and other key performers had been brought off the the visitors could have set up a frantic finale if a late Taulupe Faletau try had not been disallowed because of Murray hurdling a tackle in the build-up, the hosts were the dominant side. Any cause for optimism? Through the doom and gloom, the beacon of light has been captain Jac weekend was no exception as a British and Irish Lions call-up for the summer tour of Australia Wales flanker was once more a tower of strength in adversity, excelling at the breakdown and completing 25 tackles to maintain outstanding form. Morgan was assisted by industrious Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins, who topped the tackle charts with 28, and also returning Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake - all three having captained Wales during the past and Lake are both 25, while Jenkins is 22, so this trio can be the spine Wales build a side around. Because of different injuries, it was the first time they had appeared together in the same side during Wales' 17-month losing the other end of the scale, 34-year-old number eight Taulupe Faletau hinted he was getting back to his best after long-term injuries with 163 metres made from 15 carries and 19 tackles. His class is permanent and Wales should utilise it while they can despite his advancing fly-half Evans demonstrated his attacking abilities by masterminding the second-half rally to enhance his chances of a starting spot against England. Expectation against England The romanticism of Wales ending a losing streak against England at home next weekend will always be with an Englishman at the helm in Gloucester-born Sherratt, who will be preparing for his final match in charge of his temporary stint before returning to might still be in Six Nations title contention when they arrive in Wales, so there will be no lack of Principality Stadium cauldron will always be red-hot for this fixture but it is worth remembering Wales have forgotten how to win in front of their own most recent home win was a World Cup warm-up victory against England in August 2023, while the latest Six Nations triumph in Cardiff was a narrow victory over Scotland more than three years ago.A victory against England next weekend to banish these stark statistics will provide some yet another loss to take the sequence to 17 successive Test defeats will feel like rock bottom once more.
