Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast

The Welsh Rugby Union sends condolences to the Royal family following the death of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. She and the Royal family have a longstanding link with the WRU and the Stadium. The Queen was the Royal Patron of the WRU until handing over that role to her grandson Prince William, now of course the new Prince of Wales. We also reflect on the rugby action getting back underway, speaking to Wales Women, Wales prop Dillon Lewis and Aberavon coach Jason Hyatt.

We hear about the player pathway in action in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast, with Ospreys centre Tian Thomas-Wheeler. Swansea coach Hugh Gustafson talks about their 150th season, while we also hear from a special celebration at Pentyrch RFC.

We hear at length from the Welsh Rugby Union’s head of player development John Alder in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast.

We hear from Wales Women on tour in Canada as part of their World Cup build up, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from the Dragons in Dublin, and Cardiff, Newport and RGC in the Indigo Premiership.

As the Welsh regions go back into pre-season training, it’s a chance to hear why one of them has a new look in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Dragons RFC chairman David Buttress explains the new branding for the region, WRU community director Geraint John on the Fit, Fed, Fun campaign. While Wales women’s scrum half Keera Bevan describes their pre-season.

We hear more from inside the brave new world of professional women’s rugby in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear about a remarkable 12 months for Kelsey Jones, how Robyn Wilkins continues to balance rugby with work, and how Liliana Podpadec came through the Talent ID system.

We hear at length from Wales Women’s captain Siwan Lillicrap and prop Cerys Hale in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast.

We speak to Wales Women’s Player of the Year Alisha Butchers in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. And ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games, we’ll hear from WRU head of Sevens Richie Pugh about his role.

Wales teams finish in South Africa with their heads held high, and prepare to start at the Commonwealth Games, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Coach Wayne Pivac and captain Dan Biggar assess the tour to South Africa, while Luke Treharne and Sam Cross look forward to the Commonwealth Games Sevens.

Wales create history in South Africa, we look forward to the deciding Test in this week's Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from Wales U20s at the end of their Summer Series and the Wales Women camp as their World Cup preparations as a professional squad get underway.

Exciting times for Wales Senior Men, Wales Women and Wales U20s in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from coach Wayne Pivac and captain Dan Biggar ahead of the Second Test in South Africa, after coming so close in the first. We hear from Wales U20s after they qualify for the final of the Six Nations Summer Series, and also Wales Women as they announce more full-time contracts ahead of their World Cup.

We hear from the Wales camps in South Africa and Italy in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Wales coach Wayne Pivac and captain Dan Biggar look ahead to the First Test against the Springboks, while we also go behind the scenes with Wales U20s at the Six Nations Summer Series in Italy.

We speak to Wales coach Wayne Pivac ahead of the tour to South Africa in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from scrum half Kieran Hardy, as well as more about the changes in the coaching structure at the Dragons.

We speak to the new Wales Player of the Year Will Rowlands in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. And we’ll hear from Wales Under 20s coach Byron Hayward as he announces his squad for their Summer Series.

A chance to hear more about the future direction of the United Rugby Championship in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. What about the South African teams, should there be second teams, what about player development, salary caps, some of the questions about the future direction of the United Rugby Championship with chief executive Martin Anayi.

A new tournament for Wales U20s, and what the future competition looks like for the regions, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. We speak to Wales U20s coach Byron Hayward about the new Summer Series, plus we hear at length from United Rugby Championship chief executive Martin Anayi about all the gripes, grumbles and potential growth for the competition.

We hear from George North and Adam Beard as they prepare to tour South Africa with Wales, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Also regional coaches Toby Booth of the Ospreys and Dean Ryan of the Dragons reflect on their squads.

The Wales squad to tour South Africa was announced this week – hear the detailed explanation from coach Wayne Pivac on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We’ll also look forward to the next stage of the World Rugby Sevens series, building up to this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Last chances for Wales players to impress ahead of the squad being picked to tour South Africa this summer, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from Cardiff coach Dai Young and scrum half Lloyd Williams, along with Wales Women duo Kelsey Jones and Beth Lewis.

We hear at length from WRU head of participation Geraint John, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. He explains the progressive decision to shorten the age range for a youth rugby side in Wales from three years to two – bringing the traditional upper age limit at this level down a year from Under-19 to Under-18 We’ll also hear a reaction to the Pontypool story about not finishing all their fixtures this season.

The tenth and final Six Nations weekend of the year – and the chance for Wales Women to get their best finish for 13 years in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We’ll also hear more from Chief executive Steve Phillips, performance director Nigel Walker and head of participation Geraint John on subjects such as player development, a global season for international rugby and Friday night rugby in the Six Nations.

The return of Sioned Harries for Wales Women and we hear from three of Welsh rugby’s wise men, chief executive Steve Phillips, performance director Nigel Walker and head of participation Geraint John.

Reaction to Wales Women’s defeat to England and a clean sweep for the U18s, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Wales women coach Ioan Cunningham and Wales U18s defence coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin.

We look ahead to Wales Women v England this weekend, along with Wales Men Sevens, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from coach Ioan Cunningham, captain Siwan Lillicrap, scrum half Ffion Lewis, second row Gwen Crabb and centre Hannah Jones, along with Wales Sevens prospect Ewan Rosser.

A special focus on the Women’s Six Nations after Wales’s opening win in Dublin, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from captain Siwan Lillicrap, coach Ioan Cunningham, full back Kayleigh Powell, flanker Alisha Butchers and prop Donna Rose.

In this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast we reflect on the Men’s and U20s Six Nations and look forward to the Women’s. We speak to Wales Women Elinor Snowsill, Lisa Neumann and Kerin Lake ahead of their opening game in Ireland. Alun Wyn Jones and Dewi Lake reflect on mixed emotions after the Italy game while we find out more about Wales U20 prospect Ryan Woodman.

We hear from all three Wales camps in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Captain Dan Biggar talks about reaching a century of caps for Wales, while coach Wayne Pivac explains his selection. Wales Women’s coach Ioan Cunningham explains his squad selection for the Six Nations while captain Siwan Lillicrap reveals her great excitement ahead of the tournament. We also hear from Wales U20s captain Alex Mann.

We look ahead to Wales against France at the Principality Stadium this Friday in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Plus we hear from the Wales U20s and Wales women camps ahead of their games against France and the USA Falcons.

Wales centre Jonathan Davies reflects on the England defeat and looks ahead to facing France in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from the Wales Women’s camp a month out from their Six Nations starting and Scarlets and Wales outside half Rhys Patchell on his two years of injury struggles

Wales coach Wayne Pivac explains his selection thinking against England, we also hear from Dan Biggar and Ryan Elias in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Plus Wales U20s defence coach Craig Everett on his journey to the role, why flanker Tom Cowan chose Wales over England and the special attributes of centre Eddie James.

We start looking forward to the England game in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast, as well as hearing from Wales women and contrasting university rugby with the academies. Wales players Jac Morgan and Nick Tompkins talk about beating Scotland with England next, in the week Women’s Six Nations tickets go on sale we speak to Gwenllian Pyrs, Kayleigh Powell and Sisilia Tuipolotu, as well as a special visit to Cardiff Metropolitan.

Changes in the Wales team to face Scotland and changes at the Principality Stadium for the game, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from Wales Under 20s Joe Hawkins and Wales Women’s star Jaz Joyce.

The longest Welsh Rugby Union Podcast we have ever done, there is so much to try and pack in. Wales coach Wayne Pivac explains his selection, wing Louis Rees Zammit says he’s getting even quicker, Wales U20s, the National Exiles programme, developments for Wales Women and changes at the Principality Stadium. Welsh Qualified players based outside Wales are welcome to register with the WRU Exiles programme at www.wru.wales/exiles Various links will then take them to further information.

Looking ahead to the start of the Six Nations in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from rival captains Dan Biggar and Jonny Sexton, along with Wales coach Wayne Pivac. We also speak to Wales U20s coach Byron Hayward and Wales Women’s Hannah Jones.

A Wales Six Nations squad always whets the rugby appetite, hear all the thinking in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Coach Wayne Pivac explains the reasons behind his selections, WRU group chief executive explains the importance of crowds at the home games. We also talk to two of the professional Wales Women, scrum half Ffion Lewis and centre Lisa Neumann.

An historic and emotional day for Wales Women with 12 players receiving professional contracts – in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from WRU performance director Nigel Walker, head coach Ioan Cunningham and captain Siwan Lillicrap. We also speak to WRU head of sevens Richie Pugh about the men’s team returning to the World Series this month.

Difficult situations lead to interesting interviews in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Find out why both Cardiff’s Dai Young and Ospreys’ Toby Booth think this is the most difficult period of their lengthy coaching careers. We also speak to forwards James Botham at Cardiff, on his lucky escape from South African quarantine, and Will Griffiths of the Ospreys, on the players helping his rapid rise.

Only one regional derby this week, but plenty of talking points on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Dwayne Peel and Gareth Davies at the Scarlets, Toby Booth and Morgan Morris at the Ospreys.

One match, four human stories in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. The two teams emerging from South African quarantine face off at the Arms Park, we hear from Cardiff rugby’s Dai Young and Josh Turnbull, as well as Dwayne Peel and Johnny McNicholl from the Scarlets.

A chance to hear from inside and outside the Covid quarantine situations which hit the Scarlets and Cardiff Rugby – and see how they have been coping with adversity. We hear from Dai Flanagan and Ryan Elias at the Scarlets, Seb Davies and Theo Cabango at Cardiff. Also former Wales prop Aaron Jarvis talks about his decision to retire and go into coaching in America.

“We are not robots” says Wales and Lions wing Josh Adams, a chance to hear at length about the human side in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear from Ellis Jenkins and Theo Cabango as Cardiff prepare to take on European Champions Toulouse in the oddest of circumstances, plus Bridgend and Newport in the Indigo Group Premiership.

A chance to hear from some of the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership coaches in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. As well as the importance of the Principality Stadium to the Welsh Government and we speak to a Welsh Paralympic gold medalist.

We round up the Autumn Series internationals with Wayne Pivac, Johnny McNicholl and Aaron Wainwright, as well as Wales Women’s coach Ioan Cunningham. We also find out more about the development of wheelchair rugby in Wales and the Indigo Premiership prospects for RGC and Cardiff RFC.

Wales coach Wayne Pivac discusses his options for the Australia match in the Week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Nick Tompkins describes switching to start the Fiji game minutes before kick off, Wales Women captain Siwan Lillicrap, scrum half Keira Bevan and backs coach Richard Whiffin describe their progress and we also hear about top level wheelchair rugby coming to the Principality Stadium.

We hear from the men’s and women’s Wales camps in this week’s Welsh rugby Union Podcast. Wales coach Wayne Pivac explains his thinking while we also hear from Ellis Jenkins, Kieran Hardy and Bradley Roberts. Wales women’s coach Ioan Cunningham also explains his thinking, while we hear also from Alisha Butchers, Cerys Hale, Caitlin Lewis, Jazz Joyce and Elinor Snowsill.

A momentous and historic week for the Women’s game in Wales – hear all about it in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. We speak to WRU performance director, Wales Women captain Siwan Lillicrap and coach Ioan Cunningham about the decision to offer professional contracts to the players building up to next year’s World Cup. We also hear from Wales coach Wayne Pivac looking ahead to the South Africa game

We look ahead to Wales against the All Blacks – and back to Wales Women against the Black Ferns – in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from coach Wayne Pivac as well as key forwards Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis and Adam Beard, looking ahead to this weekend’s game against New Zealand. We also hear from coach Ioan Cunningham and captain Siwan Lillicrap after they played a training match against New Zealand Women.

Just how much is the All Blacks game worth to Welsh rugby and a chance to hear from the new Wales Women coaching team. We speak to WRU chief executive Steve Phillips, as well as Wales Women’s head coach Ioan Cunningham and attack coach Richard Whiffin.

A special focus on the Wales squad to take on the best in the world this Autumn. We speak to coach Wayne Pivac, along with players Jonny Williams, Rhys Carre and Elliot Dee.

What’s it like being called up for the Lions tour, growing up in Tonga, or helping Wales Women bounce back this Autumn, we find out in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Adam Beard about his remarkable 12 months, Sione Kalamafoni about his remarkable background, along with Siwan Lillicrap and Geraint Lewis about how Wales Women can bounce back this Autumn.