Our President Gerald Davies has followed tributes to the late JJ Williams, who passed away last week, with some carefully chosen words of his own…

News and inspiration from the WRU for November 2020.

The Wales squad’s (and former time British & Irish Lions’) strength and conditioning coach Paul ‘Bobby’ Stridgeon has produced a series of videos outlining training sessions for all ages and abilities with the help of international players Gareth Davies, Manon Johnes and Kayleigh Powell.

The Welsh Rugby Union has completed the agreements with the four Regions to onward lend the £20m loan Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) from NatWest Cymru. The WRU’s appointed banker granted final approval for CLBILS funding earlier in October and the agreements with the Regions mean this money can now be onward lent.

Clubs, teams and Female Hubs in all local authorities can return to community rugby activity upon the lifting of the firebreak lockdown in Wales on Monday 9th November…

Firstly, a huge thank you to all members who attended our Annual General Meeting last week and especially to those who submitted questions and/or contributed feedback afterwards. Driven by circumstance, it was the first time we have conducted this meeting online and, whilst not a substitute for meeting in person, I felt there were hugely positive elements to the process which we hope to continue to utilise in the future…

The latest news and updates from across the Wales Rugby Union, collected for October 2020.

The Welsh Rugby Union joined forces with Minecraft: Education Edition and Hwb, the Welsh Government’s digital platform for learning and teaching to successfully launch ‘The Club of the Future Challenge’ on Monday 5th October.  This unique competition is part of an exciting, first of its kind partnership to use rugby and the digital gaming platform – Minecraft: Education Edition to enhance learning and engagement within the classroom in line with the curriculum for Wales.

The temporary suspension of community rugby in the Swansea and Cardiff areas has been lifted with immediate effect after reviewing of the situation in conjunction with the clubs within the respective Local Authorities and more than two weeks after a local lockdown was imposed…

Head Coach Wayne Pivac announced his 38-man Autumn campaign squad last week featuring seven uncapped players.

As Members will be aware, this year’s Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the WRU will be hosted virtually on Wednesday 28 October 2020 commencing at 7:00pm and Member representatives will regrettably not be able to attend this meeting in person.

The new Macron Wales kit, to be worn for the first time against France in Paris in ten days’ time, has been unveiled simultaneously in the private changing rooms of the national team headquarters in Hensol and the Wales Women squad’s current base in Swansea University.

The WRU Group turned over £79.9m during the year ending 30 June 2020 and was able to limit retained losses to £5.3m despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The Group’s Annual Report, published last week reveals the full impact of cancelling the final round 2020 Six Nations clash with Scotland – due to the health crisis – and describes how some 78% of income is derived from staging international matches featuring the Welsh team and the commercial activities associated with it.

The latest news and updates from across the Wales Rugby Union, collected for September 2020.

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced measures to further progress the phased return of community rugby in Wales - while still taking a safety-first approach to the resumption of the grassroots game.