Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast

We hear from both Wales Men and Women as they launch the new Macron team kit, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Jonathan Davies describes his return from a potentially career-threatening injury, while Ross Moriarty describes life inside the Wales team bio-bubble. Wales Women’s captain Siwan Lillicrap and second row Gwen Crabb also look ahead to resuming their Six Nations campaign.

A special focus on the Wales squad for the Autumn internationals this week on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from coach Wayne Pivac in detail about his thinking, as well as one player included – Scarlets scrum half Kieran Hardy – and one player left out – Dragons outside half Sam Davies.

We hear from Wales internationals at all four regions, as the new Guinness Pro14 season kicks off this weekend We hear from Jake Ball at the Scarlets, Owen Watkin at the Ospreys, Josh Adams at the Blues and Rhodri Williams at the Dragons about their approaches to these games and potentially the Wales internationals following.

We hear from Wales Women’s international Alecs Donovan on a range of subjects. She is preparing for the re-arranged Six Nations game against Scotland, while also helping out in a great new partnership between the WRU and School of Hard Knocks to help members of the rugby community back into work if they have lost their job because of the Coronavirus crisis. And so much more . . .

Two Welsh teams in quarter-final action in the European Challenge Cup. We find out how Wales players Gareth Davies of the Scarlets and Aaron Wainwright of the Dragons are feeling after their breaks and return to action. Dragons Director of Rugby Dean Ryan discusses the differences coaching in England and Wales, and Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney reveals an unlikely source of inspiration ahead of their trip to Toulon.

This week a special focus on disability rugby in Wales. We speak to Darren Carew, the WRU’s disability rugby co-ordinator, about the latest developments.

A chance to hear from players and a coach in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Scarlets captain Ken Owens, coach Glenn Delaney and Blues and Wales back rower Josh Navidi all talk about returning to action and lessons learned from the lockdown.

The developing return to rugby in Wales and a Welsh coach with the New Zealand champions – in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to WRU regional manager for the Dragons region Adrian Evans at training in Caerphilly, while also talking to former Wales wing Mark Jones – now working with New Zealand champions the Crusaders and provincial side Canterbury.

Getting more women into refereeing is certainly a priority for the WRU referee’s department, taking charge of men’s games is a big part of that development. This week we speak to WRU national performance referee manager Paul Adams, along with 74 times capped former Wales prop Jenny Davies, who turned to coaching after giving up playing but is now moving up through the levels as a referee.

How do you cope in lockdown as an elite athlete? We look at the regions returning to action and in particular the Scarlets, under new management, with Glenn Delaney taking over as head coach. Backs coach Dai Flanagan has also been working hard as part of the WRU’s coach development scheme, so has plenty to talk about. Also former Wales international Richard Parks on how he coped with lockdown – along with some interesting warnings.

As rugby training re-starts at clubs round Wales, one person who can talk about it on several levels is the WRU’s hub officer at Cardiff and Vale College Lauren Holloway. She’s also club coach co-ordinator and minis and juniors COVID lead at St Albans in Cardiff, as well as the club’s Under 13’s coach.

John Manders is the new man on the WRU National Council, after being voted on by the member clubs in Wales. This is a chance to hear much more from the man himself, his background, what he hopes to achieve and the remarkable project which is transforming his beloved Old Illtydians Rugby Club.

How can Welsh rugby clubs return to training, what needs to be done, what sort of rugby might they play, when might competitive rugby return in Wales – questions for WRU community director Geraint John in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast.

A chance to hear from loosehead prop Rhys Carre, part of the Wales Rugby World Cup squad before a move to Saracens. He’s come back to Wales to re-join the Blues and is getting ready for the restarted season.

Former Wales Under 20s captain Tommy Reffell was the Premiership Rugby Breakthrough Player last/this season, he’s also just committed his future to Leicester and Wales. This time last year he was playing for Wales in the World Rugby U20 Championship, part of the side which beat New Zealand. A chance to hear about returning from lockdown and his plans for the future.

Elite players in Wales have been heading back into training this week, so it’s a chance to look forward as well as back in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. There aren’t many Wales players who can describe what it’s like to beat New Zealand, but it’s just over a year since the Wales Under 20s did just that at the Junior World Championships. Their captain was Ospreys and Wales squad hooker Dewi Lake.

We speak to WRU Rugby Enterprise Manager Greg Woods this week. What does the role involve, what are the chances of alternative versions of the game leading the way out of this Coronavirus crisis and how are the teams in the Indigo Group Premiership preparing.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to do for these patients over the last couple of months.” Angharad De Smet, Ospreys and Wales. “Donning PPE to go into ICU with definitely COVID positive patients on ventilators is quite an intense area of work and can be quite terrifying.” Abbie Fleming, Cardiff Blues and Wales. We speak to two NHS workers who also happen to be Wales rugby internationals on this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast.

This week we speak to Phil Bennett on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast, whose try against Scotland in 1977 has just been voted by Welsh Rugby fans as the best Wales try ever. Quite an accolade, and an opportunity to hear about that game, more 70s memories, who is the player who might have improved even that team, and comparisons with the modern era.

A look at health and mental health through the coronavirus crisis – and the role rugby is still playing in helping, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Dragons Gateway Community coach Gareth Sullivan explains his role. We’ll also hear from Wales international back Jonah Holmes on why he decided to move to the Dragons.

A chance this week to hear at length about how the top Welsh coaches of the future are being developed. Wales once led the world in coaching development, now there is a concerted effort to get back to the top. We speak to the man running those efforts, WRU performance coach manager Dan Clements.

Two interviews this week. Treharris Pheonix Rugby Club has proved itself at the heart of the community in these difficult times, providing food in the area for those who need it. We speak to club committeeman Huw Evans and club steward Pip Gwynne. Also London Welsh are one of the great names of the game, with a star studded history. But after the professional outfit went bust, the amateur side is rising back up through the ranks under director of rugby Cai Griffiths, the former Ospreys and Wales age grade prop. We hear his story.

How are Welsh rugby clubs coping in the Coronavirus crisis, what should they be doing now and what should they be doing next? This week’s Welsh rugby union podcast is a chance to hear from WRU National Club Development Manager Chris Munro. How are Welsh clubs faring, what’s the advice for what to do next, is this a chance to re-set the way clubs are run for the better – eventually. Plenty of questions, some interesting and informative answers.

A chance to hear at length from Wales national performance referee manager Paul Adams on this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. So what effect is this lockdown having on referees, some were due to be travelling the world this summer from international series to the Olympics. What effect will it have on current referees – and the future development. Plenty of questions for the WRU refereeing department to be looking at.

A chance to hear at length from Wales national coach Wayne Pivac on this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. So what are the Wales players up to during the lockdown, how many have had the symptoms of coronavirus, how will it feel to return to the Principality Stadium after it’s been turned into a hospital at the moment, what about the postponement of the Scotland game, how can rugby use this time to come out stronger – and how long do the players need to be back in training before they could start playing internationals again. A chance to hear the answers to plenty of questions.

Raising money for health charities, while looking after the elite end of the game – we hear at length from WRU performance director Ryan Jones in this week’s Welsh rugby Union Podcast. This weekend he’s attempting his biggest challenge yet. How his own playing career helped prepare him, what effect is the current lock down having on the elite end of the game and how does he look back on this season’s Six Nations for men and women. A chance to hear from one of the top men in Welsh rugby.

How are the players coping in the lock down, does it actually help Wales Women to close the gap on professional opponents? And why do the values of rugby help those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This week we talk to Wales Women’s outside half Elinor Snowsill, with some fascinating thoughts about the rugby side and how rugby helps disadvantaged children.

How will the current lockdown period affect the future development of top Wales rugby players? In this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast we talk in depth with Gareth Williams, head coach of Wales Under 20s and also Transitional Players in their early 20s. The World Rugby Under 20 championship, which was due to be held in Northern Italy, has been cancelled this summer. So that means a very different development profile for many of the best young players in Wales.

How is the Welsh rugby community coping and how will it survive going forward – let’s find out more in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. A chance this week to hear at length from the WRU’s community director Geraint John, someone at the heart of decisions affecting every rugby club in Wales in these tough times.

A different Welsh Rugby Union podcast for different times. This week it’s a chance to hear at length from WRU national exiles officer Gareth Davies – about all the players, men and women, outside Wales who end up pulling on the red jersey at some level, or just taking part in Exiles events to re-connect. There’s plenty that most people won’t know about this long-running programme.

We will concentrate on the rugby in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Wales Under 20s finished their Six Nations campaign, we hear from coach Gareth Williams, captain Jac Morgan and centre Bradley Roderick. Ollie Phillips. the head of Wales Women’s Sevens, talks about his role, while we also get the chance to find out more about Wales prop Cerys Hale.

Wales U20 trio Jac Morgan, Ellis Bevan and Ioan Lloyd are determined to finish the Six Nations campaign with a win against Scotland at Stadiwm Zip World

The Welsh Rugby Union Podcast celebrates Alun Wyn Jones joining All Black Richie McCaw on a world record 148 international appearances this week. We hear from Wales coach Wayne Pivac, debutante WillGriff John and the returning Cory Hill. With Wales Womens’ Six Nations campaign over for now, we speak to captain Siwan Lillicrap, coach Gareth Wyatt and outside half Robyn Wilkins. In the buoyant Wales U20 camp, we hear more from captain Jac Morgan along with Ioan Lloyd and Ellis Bevan.

England v Wales week in this edition of the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear the thinking of coach Wayne Pivac, as well as players Josh Navidi, Rob Evans and Dillon Lewis, while Sam Warburton discusses his return to the Wales camp and Twickenham. Wales Women pair Siwan Lillicrap and Georgia Evans help launch Rookie Rugby with some interesting revelations. We also hear from wales U20s, coach Gareth Williams and players Ben Warren, Aneurin Owen and Jac Morgan.

Ben Warren, Jac Morgan and Aneurin Owen look ahead to Friday's showdown against England in the U20 Six Nations clash to be held at Kingsholm Stadium

The latest news from the Wales camps in the Six Nations, including the Olympics and beating the world champions, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear the news from Wales attack coach Stephen Jones, while former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards talks about returning with France. We speak to all three Wales women in the Team GB Olympics Sevens initial training squad, Jaz Joyce, Hannah Jones and Keira Bevan, while Wales Women’s captain Siwan Lillicrap reflects on the defeat to France. We also speak to coaches and players from Wales U20s after they beat world champions France.

Wales teams looking to bounce back and compensation for storm damage in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from Wales coach Wayne Pivac and forwards Justin Tipuric and Wyn Jones. We hear from Wales Women coach Geraint Lewis and forwards Siwan Lillicrap and Gwen Crabb. We also speak to Wales U20s pair Jac Morgan and Ben Carter.

We hear the latest from the Wales camp in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Skills coach Neil Jenkins and scrum half Gareth Davies look ahead to France, while Justin Tipuric and Dillon Lewis look back at events in Ireland. Wales Women’s Robyn Wilkins explains more about her life outside the Wales team and we also have a special report on Walking Rugby.

A stormy weekend predicted in Ireland as we look ahead to the men’s women’s and 20s games on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Hear why Wales centre Nick Tomkins has earned the nickname ‘Neil,’ plus what it was like seeing his English Father in a Wales jersey. We also speak to Wayne Pivac, Hadleigh Parkes and Wyn Jones. Wales Women coach Chris Horsman and captain Siwan Lillicrap look ahead, while returning flanker Manon Johnes talks about an exciting year which will see her going up to Oxford University. At Under 20s level, we speak to Gareth Williams, Jac Morgan and Sam Costelow.

The 2020 Six NATIONS is about to get under way – keep listening to the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast for the best previews on all the internationals this weekend. We hear from Wayne Pivac, Stephen Jones, George North, Josh Adams and Dillon Lewis on the Italy game at the Principality Stadium. Coach Chris Horsman and captain Siwan Lillicrap preview the Women’s game, while coach Gareth Williams, captain Jac Morgan and outside half Sam Costelow look ahead to the U20s.

Welsh Rugby Union Podcast 05, 2020. by Welsh Rugby Union

Wales trio Aneurin Owen, Jac Morgan and Sam Costelow look ahead to the U20 Six Nations.

Six Nations launch week on the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Wales captains Alun Wyn Jones and Siwan Lillicrap, plus Wales coach Byron Hayward and Neil Jenkins. WRU chairman Gareth Davies pays tribute to chief executive Martyn Phillips, who’s announced his departure in the summer, plus Adam Jones is joining the full-time roster of Welsh referees and Coleg Gwent rugby director Matthew Jones discusses winning the National Schools and Colleges League.

A chance to hear in depth from the announcements of the men’s and women’s Wales squad announcements, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from Wayne Pivac on his selection, while on the Women’s side we hear from coach Chris Horsman, captain Siwan Lillicrap and new Sevens coach Ollie Phillips. Finally we catch up with Cardiff Blues back rower Nick Williams after he was reduced to tears by a special visit by his Mum from New Zealand.

We focus on the European Challenge Cup and Wales Six Nations squad hopefuls in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from Dillon Lewis, Hallam Amos, John Mulvihill, Ceri Jones, Matthew Screech, Aaron Shingler and Brad Mooar.

We hear from the men’s and ladies’ captains of Wales in this New Year Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Alun Wyn Jones and Siwan Lillicrap look forward, also hear the stories from Paige Randall and Natalia John on the women’s side, Cory Hill and Jarrod Evans from the men’s. Plus a special feature on Walking Rugby.

A Merry Derbies Christmas from the Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from all four regions, including Brad Mooer on why Santa is a Scarlet, as well as Ebbw Vale coach Greg Woods on his side’s Indigo Group Premiership battle.

We hear from all four regions ahead of the Christmas derby season in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Jake Ball, Dean Ryan, Justin Tipuric, Matt Sherratt, John Mulvihill and James Ratti.

Some personal stories which are a little different on this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We hear from Wales Women’s prop Amy Evans on international retirement, her favourite moments and on reaching the top while dealing with diabetes. Wales back rower Ellis Jenkins on returning from injury, Wales U19s coach Gareth Williams on their win over Scotland. And Cambridge University will have two Welsh captains for the first time in the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Matches, Fiona Shuttleworth on playing with her twin sister, Stephen Leonard on combining rugby with trying to find a cure for cancer.

We reflect on the double header against the Barbarians, hearing from all the main people involved. Wales coach and captain Wayne Pivac and Justin Tipuric give their throughts, while we also hear from Barbarians coaching duo Warren Gatland and Robin McBryde on their, Principality Stadium return. Wales Women captain Siwan Lillicrap and coach Chris Horsman look back at their game, along with Barbarians wing Dyddgu Howell and assistant coach Rachel Taylor.