WRU: Rugby News, September 2020
CATCHING UP WITH WALES AND BLUES SPEEDSTER JOSH ADAMS
Wales wing Josh Adams scored his seventh try in eight games for Cardiff Blues as they ended their regular season with victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
Adams – the top try scorer at the 2019 Rugby World Cup where Wales finished fourth – joined the Blues from English side Worcester Warriors for the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
He suffered an ankle injury which required surgery in the Six Nations earlier this year but is now back fit with the new rugby season already around the corner.
Here Adams talks through rugby’s return from lockdown, getting back on the pitch again, and what’s to come in the rest of 2020: https://www.wru.wales/2020/09/josh-adams-qa/
REGIONS LEARN EUROPEAN FATE
Wales’ four regions have learned their European fate for the 2020/21 season.
The Scarlets and Dragons will play in the Heineken Champions Cup with Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys featuring in the Challenge Cup.
The EPCR Board has unanimously agreed new Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournament formats will be introduced for the upcoming campaign.
Find out more here:
https://www.wru.wales/2020/09/regions-learn-european-fate-for-2020-21/
SEVENS UPDATE
The Wales men’s sevens programme has ceased to operate in its current format for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
The global nature of the pandemic and its financial implications – including the disruption of the World Rugby Sevens Series – has rendered the programme unsustainable in the current climate.
“It’s an extremely regrettable situation we find ourselves in, and one that is being felt across the world inside and outside the context of sport,” said WRU Performance Director Ryan Jones. “I’ve seen first-hand how much the sevens players and staff have put their heart and soul into the programme, which has made reaching this outcome all the more difficult.
“Unfortunately, while we have seen the return of regional rugby in its current restricted form, it’s unlikely the sevens programme would be preparing for any top-level competition until at least April of next year. The realities of a reduced funding situation have made this impossible for us to sustain.”
More here: https://www.wru.wales/2020/08/update-wales-mens-sevens-programme/
JONES’ COACHING CRUSADE CONT…
As far as smacks in the face go, coaching the Crusaders to Super Rugby Aotearoa title glory has hit Mark Jones front on with the full force of a Tyson fury uppercut. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The former Wales speedster has had little time to celebrate the Crusaders’ success, as he is now plotting further success with Canterbury’s quest to claim the Mitre10 Cup which is contested by New Zealand’s top provincial sides.
“It’s been a great 12 months coming off the back of the World Cup with Phil [Davies] and Namibia, that was an awesome opportunity and obviously we came across the All Blacks. That was a great experience and then to jump straight out of that into Super Rugby with Rugby Aotearoa has been terrific, I haven’t really had time to absorb it much if I’m honest but it has been really enjoyable. Prior to that I was up at RGC so it’s been a good couple of years in fairness,” says Jones in an understated tone.
More here: https://www.wru.wales/2020/08/jones-continues-his-coaching-crusade/
RHIANON STEPS UP
The women in Welsh rugby continue to break new ground with London Welsh’ Rhianon Williams becoming the latest leading light as she has become the first female Chair in the 42 year history of the Exiles’ Supporters’ Club.
Described by outgoing chairman Haydn Parry as the “outstanding candidate” to take over from him, she has been one of only two women on the Supporters’ Club committee in recent years.
“I’m excited, proud and I must admit to having slight trepidation as I try to continue to build on the advances that Haydn has brought to the club during his five years as Chairman,” said Williams.
More here: https://community.wru.wales/2020/09/01/rhianon-step-up-to-lead-exiles-supporters-club/
VIDEO: CAERPHILLY BACK WHERE THEY BELONG
Caerphilly and the Chargers Female Hub are thrilled to be back training, especially now that they can include some touch rugby within their training sessions.
They are making sure the new hygiene measures and protocols are strictly adhered to in order to help keep the Return to Community Rugby plan on track.
Watch here: https://community.wru.wales/video/caerphilly-thrilled-to-be-back-training/
SEVENS ACE JOINS STEELMEN
Wales Sevens star Dafydd Smith will be returning to the 15-a-side game next season after signing a contract to play in the Indigo Group Premiership with Ebbw Vale.
The 21-year-old centre made his Wales Sevens debut in Hong Kong in 2018 while he was in the Cardiff Blues Academy. He also played for Wales U20 during his Academy days.
Born in Penarth, he learned his rugby at Cardiff & Vale College and went on to play in nine tournaments with Wales on the World Sevens Series. He also played 11 times for Cardiff RFC over three seasons and had experience playing in the Cardiff Blues Premiership Select XV.
https://community.wru.wales/2020/09/01/sevens-ace-smith-joins-steelmen/