#Josh Adams

Returning Wales coach Warren Gatland will have been thrilled at how the regions fared, winning four from four across the Heineken Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, while players old and new staked a claim to new England boss Steve Borthwick. England and Wales, as well as Scotland, will all be naming their squads for the Championship next week,…

Mason Grady earns reward for bright performances off the bench with a start for Cardiff when they face Newcastle Falcons in the EPCR Challenge Cup encounter at the Arms Park today (1pm). He is one of eight changes coach Dai Young makes after last weekend's home defeat in the United Rugby Championship to the Scarlets. The young centre, an imposing…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, January 13. Scotland's sporting anthem Flower of Scotland should be ditched because of its anti-English "chippiness", according to rugby legend Jim Telfer. Having previously made the call for it to be replaced 12 years ago, the Scot hasn't changed his mind about the song which refers to Robert the…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on the evening of Wednesday, December 8. Thousands of pounds have already been raised to help Ospreys player Ifan Phillips, who is being treated for "life-changing injuries" after being involved in a motorbike crash. The Welsh region confirmed that 25-year-old Phillips - the son of former Wales and Neath hooker…

Ireland travel to Rome to face Italy in the Six Nations this weekend. This year's tournament has not gone to plan so far for Andy Farrell, with his side losing their opening two games against Wales and France. They face an Italian side who are also winless in the competition after defeats to France and England. Farrell has made seven changes to the…

Lineen played for the Scots from 1989 and 1992, sharing in their 1990 Five Nations grand slam. There has since been a continuous Kiwi influence in the Five Nations/Six Nations since 1994. This year's tournament kicks off this weekend, with seven New Zealand-born players and two Kiwi head coaches involved. Some - notably French prop Uini Atonio -…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, December 26, 2022. Louis Rees-Zammit went off injured within the opening 10 minutes of Gloucester's Christmas Eve defeat to Leicester Tigers. The Wales winger suffered an ankle injury just six weeks before the Six Nations begins. The severity of the injury is not yet known but the ankle was heavily…

I used to really like refereeing at Twickenham - although England versus Wales, of course, was always out of bounds for me. Obviously.. Although I'd have refereed it just like any other game, I really would have. I've said this previously, but one of the greatest compliments I was given during my career came after a Twickenham match when, whilst…

Wales have announced the team that will take on South Africa in Saturday's second Test today. Wayne Pivac has largely kept faith with the 23 that pushed the world champions so close last weekend, with Alex Cuthbert the only addition to the starting XV. Josh Adams moves to the bench, while Tomas Francis is replaced by uncapped Sam Wainwright after…

Eddie Jones has been keen to manage expectations and play down England's tag as favourites to win the 2020 Six Nations, pointing to how sides have "deteriorated" after playing in a World Cup final, but the state of the teams around England suggest he should be quietly confident. England were some way ahead the other northern-hemisphere sides in…

Wayne Pivac's reign as Wales head coach has come to an end less than a year out from the World Cup in France. He paid the price for some damaging defeats, notably this year against Italy and Georgia. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the highs and lows during Pivac's time in charge. HIGHS 2021 Six Nations title success Pivac had the…

To say Wayne Pivac needs to start drilling down names into his World Cup plans must be an early candidate for understatement of the year. Quite how many players are inked in at this stage we cannot know after a Six Nations that ended chaotically for Wales, but maybe we can have a stab at projecting how Pivac's squad will look. Alun Wyn Jones has…

Wales are playing for pride on Super Saturday as their Six Nations 2022 campaign draws to a close with a home clash against Italy. The reigning champions are set to relinquish their title but can still claw their way up to third in the table if results fall their way. Wayne Pivac's men have been hamstrung by key injuries and third place would…

Rugby's Greatest Championship returns this Saturday and will feature what is set to be a titanic clash between two fierce rivals at Twickenham. It will be the first home match of the tournament for Eddie Jones' side who are looking to build on their 33-0 demolition job in Rome while Wales are riding a wave of confidence following a 20-17 victory…

Wales have the bit between their teeth as the Summer Internationals draw to a close against South Africa this weekend. Wayne Pivac's men caused a major upset last time out as they toppled the hosts by a single point in a 13-12 win. The hard-fought encounter saw just one try, from Josh Adams, in the 78th minute. Gareth Anscombe slotted home the…

WALES will be eager to build on their impressive win last weekend when they take on Georgia in their next Autumn Internationals match. Wayne Pivac's side bounced back from a heavy defeat to New Zealand with a morale-boosting victory over Argentina. And Man of the Match Taulupe Faletau stood out the most as it was his tries which inspired Wales to a…

It is sixth against ninth in World Rugby rankings as Argentina arrive in Cardiff to face Wales. Except this time, after a 30-29 win over England at Twickenham, it is Michael Cheika's Pumas riding higher in the global standings than Wayne Pivac's Wales. Three places between the two sides, three years and three months after Wales had topped the world…

With each of the 15 players that make up a rugby team playing a vital part, we take a look at the roles they all play during a match ahead of Rugby's Greatest Championship getting underway. Loosehead prop Wears the No.1 jersey, stands to the left of the hooker at the scrum Plays a key role in helping a team get on top at scrum time Often involved…

WALES welcome captain Alun Wyn Jones back ahead of schedule as they host whipping boys Italy in their final Six Nations match. Wales' title defence has not gone to plan so far as they have been beset by injuries and lost three of the four games they have played. However, they did show signs of improvement last week as they pushed Grand Slam chasers…

The annual Autumn Internationals rugby carnival is underway, with England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to be tested by the best the southern hemisphere has to offer. New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina are all in action over a five-week period, which began with Scotland's narrow defeat to Australia at Murrayfield last…

These are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, November 3. Wales head coach Wayne Pivac is due to name his starting XV today, when it will become clear how much injuries within the squad have taken their toll. The build-up has seen a number of players with injury issues, including key performers like Taulupe Faletau, George North and Josh Adams.…

Hardcore rugby fans the world over will be licking their lips as the armada of Southern Hemisphere giants steams north to take on the old world powers of the Six Nations. New Zealand laid down a statement of intent last weekend when they stopped off in Washington DC to cuff around a callow United States Eagles team, shorn of their more experienced…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, October 27. Wales boss Wayne Pivac will be left sweating on the fitness of star winger Louis Rees-Zammit after the try ace was named in Gloucester's starting XV for their English Premiership clash with Exeter this weekend. The wing flyer is one of just two fully-fit back-three stars currently…

A week out from Wales' squad announcement for their final autumn campaign before next year's World Cup, there are some selection dilemmas still remaining. Scrum-half, as has often been the case, is a position where Wayne Pivac seems pretty settled on his cast list, but still a little fuzzy on who the leading man will be. As for full-back, injury to…

Here are your rugby morning headlines on Sunday April 10. Wales boss Wayne Pivac is sweating on the fitness of two more players for the summer tour to South Africa after Lions prop Wyn Jones and back three star Johnny McNicholl limped out of Welsh derby action. The duo were forced from the field with knee injuries as the Scarlets beat Cardiff at…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, September 20. Double-headers involving United Rugby Championship and English Premiership teams at the same stadium could become a thing of the future in a bid to create a "festival of rugby", according to URC boss Martin Anayi. The chief executive mooted the proposal to stage a game from each league…

We were treated to a stunning spectacle of rugby last weekend which saw all four Southern Hemisphere nations take the chocolates, while France was the only team from up north to collect a win. With several series on the line can England, Ireland or Wales fight their way to victory in Game 2? Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it…