#Welsh Rugby Union

The cameras were rolling for their behind-the-scenes series at Wales' Vale of Glamorgan training base on Tuesday and they were only focused on one man. Warren Gatland did not disappoint those behind the lens. The New Zealander's words were softly spoken, but each and every one carried weight. Gatland reserved his strongest thoughts for when the…

Warren Gatland believes that Rob Howley should be forgiven for breaching betting rules and been allowed his opportunity to possibly rejoin Wales' coaching staff. ormer Wales attack coach Howley was sent home from Japan on the eve of the 2019 World Cup and he subsequently received an 18-month ban from rugby, nine of which were suspended. Howley has…

With the Welsh Rugby Union deciding on a head coach change so close to the 2023 World Cup in France, Warren Gatland does not have long before the major tournament across the Channel. However, having worked under limited time frames in the past with the British & Irish Lions, if anyone can turn things around for Wales in this time, it's…

Warren Gatland set his sights on upsetting world No 1 Ireland after completing his Wales coaching set-up for the Six Nations with the appointments of Alex King and Mike Forshaw. Gatland made a dramatic return as Wales head coach in December to replace the sacked Wayne Pivac and immediately stamped his mark by removing Stephen Jones and Gethin…

It has been a hugely eventful year in the world of rugby, amid a plethora of incident and individual excellence. Here's our A-Z guide of what went on in 2021. A is for Alun Wyn Where better to start than with a man who has risen to new heights this part year amid more superhuman exploits. Having skippered Wales to the Six Nations title, he was then…

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…

Wales head coach Warren Gatland is looking to former England assistant coach Paul Gustard to fill the defence vacancy in his backroom staff. Gatland is finalising his support staff ahead of the upcoming Six Nations campaign, and PA understands that Gustard is a leading contender to fill one of the vacancies. Returning for his second stint at Wales,…

This season's Guinness Six Nations Championship will see a familiar face and an exciting international newcomer in the coaches' corner. Warren Gatland has returned for a second stint with Wales, replacing Wayne Pivac, while Steve Borthwick takes the England reins after Eddie Jones was sacked two weeks ago. Here the PA news agency looks at the four…

Welsh rugby heads into the new year with one headline-grabbing decision having been made, but lots of other issues still to be resolved. The autumn internationals marked the end of the road for Wayne Pivac as Wales coach and a return to the helm for Warren Gatland. You never like to see anyone lose their job and Pivac is a decent bloke who gave it…

The men's national team clinched a Six Nations title in empty stadiums and endured a bruising autumn when fans returned, while the women's game made significant progress on the pitch and in the boardroom. But for domestic rugby in Wales, problems continue to intensify after another austere 12 months. BBC Sport Wales looks back at an incident-packed…

There have been some seriously dark times in the rich, turbulent history that is Welsh rugby. You only have to recall the countless thrashings by New Zealand - some of which are too painful to remember without feeling embarrassed - but South Africa dished out the worst beating on June 27, 1998. In the last passage of play, replacement Springbok…

Your rugby headlines on Sunday December 11. Eddie Jones is being linked with what is being dubbed a'sensational' rugby return for the World Cup which would see him lock horns with Wales. The axed England boss is being eyed up by Australia to join their coaching team for the tournament next autumn as the Wallabies look to'weaponise' what has just…

Warren Gatland wants to operate in a "no excuse environment" after taking charge of Wales for a second time. The New Zealander's previous spell as Wales head coach between 2007 and 2019 delivered four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams, two World Cup semi-final appearances and a brief time as rugby union's world number one team. This time…

Warren Gatland won't save Welsh rugby without major root and branch surgery to the game at all levels. That's the verdict of former Sport Wales chief executive Huw Jones, who has urged newly-elected Welsh Rugby Union chairman Ieuan Evans to call an extraordinary general meeting to propose the establishment of a skills-based board to take Welsh…

I am surprised England sacked Eddie Jones because he has a brilliant record at World Cups and it is only nine months away. He reached the final with Australia in 2003, won it with the Springboks in 2007, did incredible things with Japan in 2015 and was runner-up with England in 2019. He is a big tournament guy and I don't remember many coaches…

There are soap operas that have been around for a long time and have fewer plot lines than international rugby coaching right now. There hasn't been a prime-time comeback like Warren Gatland's return as Wales coach since EastEnders' Dirty Den returned to Walford in 2003. The most contentious Australian relationship since Kylie It is also ironic…

England are considering RFU director of performance Conor O'Shea as an interim coaching option with Warren Gatland also in the frame as Eddie Jones' future looks increasingly uncertain. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, alongside O'Shea, is holding a review into the performance of their current head coach Jones after England's worst year in terms…

Here are the latest rugby evening headlines for Thursday, February 3, after a busy day of Six Nations team announcements. England have demanded clarity over the ruck law ahead of the Six Nations kicking off this weekend. Eddie Jones' men take on Scotland in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield and World Rugby have revealed they have been asked for…

Wales lock Rowlands, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with Bath, and Flanagan expects other teams to be interested. "At the moment, we don't know our budget. We can't speak to players," said Flanagan. "If one player is out of contract, another 20 are in the same boat." Rowlands, who joined Dragons from Wasps in…

While England's failures this month have been well documented, the other home nations experienced a range of fortunes during the Autumn Nations Series. In the rugby world rankings, European pair Ireland and France have maintained their hold at the summit while New Zealand have jumped South Africa for third. Beyond that, Wales have plummeted from…

Rob Howley has emerged as a shock contender to join Warren Gatland as part of Wales' Rugby World Cup coaching ticket should they decide to get rid of Wayne Pivac. A sub-committee of the main Welsh Rugby Union board met last week to discuss potential options to succeed Pivac after the New Zealander finished the year with a shocking three wins from…

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…

Ken Owens looks set to make a Wales return on Saturday after an 11-month injury battle that severely tested his mental and physical strength. The 35-year-old Scarlets hooker has not represented his country since a Six Nations Grand Slam clash against France early last year. A nerve issue in his back, which he suffered during Wales training two days…

The 2022 Six Nations looms in four weeks time. Six storylines are apparent. Five are about the rugby. Take your pick. Parity is the new rarity Five of the teams are capable of winning the tournament. Three (France, England, and Ireland) seem able to win a Grand Slam. Whilst France is the clear favourite of the bookmakers, courtesy of a dream draw…

The 2023 Six Nations Rugby Championship will be the 24th edition of the annual rugby union competition. It will be held from 4 February to 18 March, and will be contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Although the tournament will not take place until February and March, bookmakers are already…

The new season is nearly upon us and it's a big year for Welsh rugby. There's the second year of the United Rugby Championship, the usual autumn internationals and Six Nations fixtures, the small matter of a World Cup in France around the corner - and then the general turmoil that surrounds the Welsh game from week to week. With all that in mind,…

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, September 8. Former Wales international Tom Shanklin says the Welsh regions are overpaying "average" players. Speaking on the Flats and Shanks podcast, where co-host David Flatman questioned why a team like Cardiff cannot compete with a playing budget of around £6.5 million a year, Shanklin said he…