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Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as shattered Wales team owe country and star fights back tears
Today's rugby news as shattered Wales team owe country and star fights back tears The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Wales players and team staff huddle after the team's 19-24 defeat (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, July 7. Rogers: We owe the nation a performance Wales wing Tom Rogers says the team owe the nation a performance in their final game of the season as they look to bounce back from Saturday's 24-19 defeat to Japan in Kitakyushu. Matt Sherratt's side travelled to Kobe on Sunday ahead of next Saturday's clash at Noevir Stadium. The second Test against Japan marks the end of a frankly miserable campaign for Wales, with their losing run at Test level now stretching to 18 matches. That saw head coach Warren Gatland leave his post mid-Six Nations, with no replacement having been appointed by the Welsh Rugby Union four months later. As the national team continues to slide down the world rankings, there is also uncertainty hanging over the four professional clubs at the minute. All too often, a new low is reached and then surpassed - with no one able to confidently predict where exactly rock bottom is. The defeat to Japan - with Wales having thrown away a 19-7 half-time lead in Kitakyushu - is as low as it's been so far, but with one game left, it remains to be seen how this tour - and this season as a whole - will end. Article continues below When asked if the Welsh players would throw everything into the final week of a long season, wing Rogers - who crossed for Wales' third try on Saturday - said: "100 per cent. "The boys will be fired up for this next game. We need to put a performance out there for the country and the people who support us." Having not tasted victory in international rugby in over 600 days, Saturday felt like the perfect opportunity to finally get that monkey off their back. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. Eight of Japan's matchday squad were uncapped, with captain Michael Leitch the only player with more than 30 caps. Yet, despite putting themselves in a solid position, Wales folded once again in familiar fashion. "It's a tough, tough loss," added Rogers. "I thought we played well in the first-half, but we just couldn't get our game plan on the pitch in the second-half." "I think we've got to use this loss as a bit of fire for next week. We've got to use it as a challenge. "We've got a good bunch of boys here. I'm sure we'll turn it around next weekend." As the final whistle blew, Welsh players were left to reflect on another tough loss - with some close to tears as the reality of 18 consecutive defeats sunk in. "It's always a pleasure playing for your country," said Rogers as he reflected on those moments on the pitch afterwards. "Every time you wear that shirt, you want to win. "Today it didn't go our way. It's just gutting." The extreme heat and humidity was a factor in how the match panned out, with the match taking over two hours thanks to a stop-start nature, cooling breaks and an extended half-time. Japan captain Leitch said afterwards that they could tell the Wales players were "blowing" in the second-half, but Rogers - like interim head coach Matt Sherratt and captain Dewi Lake - refused to blame the conditions. "I don't think you can use the heat as an excuse," he said. "At the end of the day, you're playing rugby for your country. I'm gutted, just gutted." Belcher emotional after first cap New Wales cap Liam Belcher fought back the tears as he described the mixed emotions of running out for his country for the first time. The Cardiff Rugby hooker was introduced off the bench in Japan during the 24-19 defeat, and it has been a long road for the 29-year-old. Belcher had considered other career routes not so long ago, a groundsman or an electrician, according to interim boss Matt Sherratt. But earning that first cap for Wales makes all that perseverance worthwhile. In an emotional video posted by the WRU, Belcher appeared to fight back tears as he spoke about the first time he donned the red jersey. "It's a hard one really, isn't it? Delighted to get my first cap and gutted with the result," Belcher said. "Take the rough with the smooth I guess. Thanks firstly for welcoming me into the squad, boys. It's been a pleasure getting to know boys I haven't met before. "When you come as a sub, you're trying to get the second wind and be involved as much as possible. "It was quite nice, actually, because it was more of a 'Belch, you're getting on', kind of thing. "There's nothing worse than getting told you're on in five or 10 minutes. You can overthink it a little bit. Just got told, 'You're going on' and you just run on. It's a surreal feeling, really. "It was nice being on Zoom wit my parents and seeing my nephew. Just seeing all my family happy with smiles on faces. Obviously means a lot really to be honest with you. Gets me a little bit emotional seeing them back home." Navidi: Sherratt would prefer different Wales role Former Wales back-rower Josh Navidi says he wouldn't be surprised if Matt Sherratt is kept on the Wales coaching staff in a permanent capacity, but believes he wouldn't want the top job. Sherratt took over on an interim basis during the Six Nations and has also been tasked with leading this tour of Japan, too. Among his coaching staff in Japan is Harlequins and former Cardiff coach Danny Wilson, under whom both Navidi and Alex Cuthbert played at the Arms Park. "I've said from day dot, when we had him at Cardiff, both him and Danny are international-level coaches," Navidi said on Sportin Wales podcast. "When we went to Tonga and Samoa in 2017 — it was like a stag do! — it was a great tour, but their standard of coaching is there. "It wouldn't surprise me if they got the nod." Cuthbert chipped in by saying: "I think Jockey (Sherratt) would be a backs coach." Navidi: "I think that's what he would want, as well." Moving the conversation on, both ex-players expressed their disappointment for their former Wales team-mate Tomos Williams, who suffered a tour-ending injury while on Lions duty. "I was gutted. I was devastated," Cuthbert said. Navidi added: "I was gutted when I was watching it and saw him straight away grab the top of his hamstring. "Actually hearing the news killed me. He has been in form, one of the best players I've ever played with, skills-wise, unbelievable. "I knew he would impress the coaches going into that camp. He is a top bloke." Cuthbert agreed, adding: "That's what I said. He is so good in the squad, people don't realise how good he is off the field. "He's worked hard for that. Absolutely dominated in that position, pushed Gloucester on to another level. With Wales it's been tough, but he just sees the game totally different. Article continues below "It's a big loss for the Lions."
Wales Online
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales skipper Dewi Lake ignoring Welsh rugby drama as he issues warning
Wales skipper Dewi Lake ignoring Welsh rugby drama as he issues warning Dewi Lake says players' minds will be on beating Japan and nothing else Wales skipper Dewi Lake is firmly focused on the job in hand (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Tangible positives have been few and far between for Welsh rugby in the last couple of years. A 17-Test losing run ended up costing Warren Gatland his job, while off-field issues continue to dominate. By the time Wales return from Japan in a couple of weeks, there could well be movement on the number of professional teams in Wales. Like the near-two-year stretch without an international victory, the politics in Welsh rugby can be painfully all-consuming; a miserable cloak that envelops the game. Yet, for one of the few positives Welsh rugby has uncovered in recent years, that uncertainty is far from the focus. Dewi Lake has long been tipped for a bright future in the Test game. Were it not for injury, the Ospreys hooker would have double the caps and perhaps even be touring Australia this summer rather than Japan. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'It's tough,' says Lake philosophically about his injuries. 'Things happen for a reason I guess.' Article continues below At the World Cup two years ago, Lake and fellow Osprey Jac Morgan captured the imagination as youthful co-captains in France. A year ago, in Australia, Lake again led with aplomb. One of the main positives from that tour was how Lake carried himself as Wales' creeped towards double figures. While Gatland searched for external factors, like referees, for the defeats, Lake wouldn't have dreamed of offering up an excuse Down Under. A year on, with Welsh rugby a year unhealthier, it's more of the same from the young captain. Even with his club's future up in the air, there's just one thing on Lake's mind: ending the losing run that has tormented Wales for nearly two years. "We've got a job to do,' says Lake. 'If we're thinking about all that which is going on, we're not 100 per cent focused on the rugby. 'And we've got to be 100 per cent focused on the rugby. So we're heads down and thinking about Japan." Even the search for a new head coach, still ongoing four months after Gatland's mid-Six Nations departure, doesn't concern Lake. "Not for us as players,' he says. 'We know the job we've got to do with the task at hand. 'That's not to think about what's down the line. If we go out there and don't do a job, we might not be here for the next round of coaches. There's no point in worrying or dwelling on that. 'It's not our decision to make. We've got no say in the matter. 'We can just focus on the rugby and the task at hand, which is to win a Test match. That's what we've all been speaking about.' Even without a permanent appointment, Wales head to Japan with some icons in their coaching ticket. Tighthead legend Adam Jones once again returns after helping the scrum in the Six Nations, while another legendary prop, Gethin Jenkins, is back in the national team set-up. Former full-back Leigh Halfpenny is also involved for the first time. "They can take their boots with them if they want!' jokes Lake. 'I played with Leigh and his leadership out in the World Cup was unbelievable, especially for me as a young captain doing it for the first time. 'Being able to have him by my side was class. Having him here again is amazing. 'We all know what kind of player he was. His expertise has always been kicking, so to have him in on that front is massive. 'The same with Adam and Gethin in their respective fields. The scrum in the Six Nations went very well. 'Bomb's brought that same energy to this campaign. We're excited for that prospect. 'And Gethin coming in to do defence, he's done well at Cardiff this season. Their defensive policies have been strong. 'It's been a bit different for a few of us at different clubs, but we're all melding on that now and we're very excited of the prospect of those three." Again, there's just one thing in the agenda for Lake. 'It's pointless looking ahead,' he adds. 'We know what we've got to do in the summer. It's going to be a tough test. All focus is on the here and now, really. We've got to do that in Japan. 'We're by no means underestimating the edge they're going to bring. They're a dangerous side and they've caused a lot of upsets in very recent memory. 'They're 13th for a reason and we're 12th for a reason so it's going to be a big battle once we get out there. They're playing on home soil so I'm sure they'll take a lot of confidence in that.' He adds: 'We know the style of rugby they like to play. We know they play with very quick ball. 'I think they're fourth in the top 12 for attacking speed of ball. That's no poor stat, to be fourth in the top 12. 'We know it's our job to slow it down. They'll want to play with speed. That'll stress our defence, but that's our job to slow it down, put a stop to them and make sure we can be the dominant team out there. "On the defensive front, if you're winning collisions defensively, it's tough to get speed of ball. If we can do a job at source and up front, if their lineout delivery isn't as smooth or the scrum takes a bit longer, anything we can do to slow their game down and play the games on our terms, we're going to attempt to do that. Article continues below 'Dominance is a big part of that. But we understand what they're going to bring." 'This group has a job to do on the back of a big losing run. We've got to go out there and set things right."
