Wales vs Italy

Cymru v Yr Eidal 

Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness 2024 

Guinness Six Nations Championship 2024 

CYMRU YR EIDAL 

WALES ITALY 

Stadiwm Principality Stadium 

16.03.2024 | KO 14:15 

Rhaglen Swyddogol 

Official Programme £6

ATEBWCH YR ALWAD 

ANSWER THE CALL 

ON VODAFONE’S RELIABLE, 

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Y TIMAU 

The Line-ups 

Teams are subject to change 

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024 | DYDD SADWRN 16 MAWRTH 2024 

MATCH OFFICIALS 

REFEREE: MATHIEU RAYNAL (FFR) AR1: CHRIS BUSBY (IRFU) AR2: MORNÉ FERREIRA (RSA) TMO: JOY NEVILLE (IRFU) 

T C P D 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENTS 

CAMERON WINNETT 

FULLBACK/CEFNWR 

JOSH ADAMS 

WING/ASGELLWR 

GEORGE NORTH 

CENTRE/CANOLWR 

NICK TOMPKINS 


RIO DYER 

WING/ASGELLWR 

SAM COSTELOW 

OUTSIDE HALF/MASWR 

TOMOS WILLIAMS 

SCRUM HALF/MEWNWR 

GARETH THOMAS 

PROP/Y RHENG FLAEN 

ELLIOT DEE 

HOOKER/BACHWR 

DILLON LEWIS 


DAFYDD JENKINS 

[C] 

LOCK/YR AIL RENG 

ADAM BEARD 


ALEX MANN 

FLANKER/BLAENASGELLWR 

TOMMY REFFELL 


AARON WAINWRIGHT 

NO.8/WYTHWR 

16 EVAN LLOYD 

17 KEMSLEY MATHIAS 

18 HARRI O’CONNOR 

19 WILL ROWLANDS 

20 MACKENZIE MARTIN 

21 KEIRAN HARDY 

22 IOAN LLOYD 

23 MASON GRADY 

T C P D 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENTS 

LOREZNO PANI 


LOUIS LYNAGH 

WING/ASGELLWR 

JUAN IGNACIO BREX 


TOMMASO MENONCELLO 


MONTY IOANE 

WING/ASGELLWR 

PAOLO GARBISI 

OUTSIDE HALF/MASWR 

STEPHEN VARNEY 


DANILO FISCHETTI 


GIACOMO NICOTERA 

HOOKER/BACHWR 

SIMONE FERRARI 


NICCOLÒ CANNONE 


FEDERRICO RUZZA 


SEBASTIAN NEGRI 


MICHELE LAMARO 

[C] 


LORENZO CANNONE 

NO.8/WYTHWR 

16 GIANMARCO LUCCHESI 

17 MIRCO SPAGNOLO 

18 GIOSUE ZILOCCHI 

19 ANDREA ZAMBONIN 

20 ROSS VINTCENT 

21 MANUEL ZULIANI 

22 MARTIN PAGE-RELO 

23 LEONARDO MARIN 

GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024 | WALES V ITALY | CYMRU V YR EIDAL 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION 3

EIN 23/24 

CRYS 

BUY ONLINE STORE.WRU.CO.UK 

& OFFICIAL WELSH RUGBY STORE


CROESO 

There was a time when everyone 

looked forward to playing Italy, as 

it could often be looked upon as a 

likely win, however hard fought. Those 

days are now long gone for everyone! 

The improvement made by the Italians 

hasn’t come about by chance. It is the result 

of a focus on the development of their 

age grade players, and on driving up the 

numbers of youngsters playing the game. 

At U18 level, Italy have won two of the 

last four games played against us, and 

three of the last four against us at U20. As 

we are in the process of formulating a new 

strategy for the game in Wales, we know 

there are lessons to be learned here. 

At senior level, who can forget the last 

minute try and conversion Italy created 

to beat us in Cardiff two years ago, or 

Roedd yna amser pan oedd pawb yn 

edrych ymlaen at chwarae’r Eidal 

gan bod sicrhau buddugoliaeth 

bryd hynny’n eithaf tebygol. Mae’r 

Azzurri wastad wedi brwydro i’r eithaf 

ond bellach maen nhw wedi adeiladu’n 

gryf ar y sylfaen hwnnw – ac mae’r 

dyddiau o ddisgwyl buddugoliaeth 

yn eu herbyn wedi hen ddiflannu. 

Mae’r Eidalwyr wedi gosod pwyslais 

anferth ar ddatblygu eu chwarewyr iau 

dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf – gan hefyd 

ddenu mwy o bobl ifanc i chwarae’r 

gamp. Tipyn o lwyddiant mewn gwlad 

sydd wedi mopio gyda phêl-droed. 

Mae eu tîm o dan 18 wedi curo Cymru 

ddwywaith yn ystod eu pedair gêm 

ddiwethaf a thair o’r pedair gornest 

ddiweddaraf o dan 20 yn ogystal. 

Ry’n ni y broses o greu strategaeth 

newydd i’n gêm yma yng Nghymru 

– ac mae gwersi amlwg i’w dysgu. 

Wrth edrych ymlaen yn benodol at ein 

gêm y prynhawn yma – pwy all anghofio 

cais Yr Eidal yn eiliadau’r ‘Amen’ ddwy 

flynedd yn ôl? Er mai dim ond Yr Alban 

the terrible bad luck which recently 

denied them a win against France. 

They then went on to beat Scotland at 

home in front of a packed house and 

will arrive today brimful of confidence. 

On the home front, our young side 

is finding out that gaining experience 

in the goldfish bowl of the Guinness Six 

Nations can sometimes be gruelling. 

After a really promising first half against 

France, a strong finish from the visitors 

in the second proved too much for us. 

Good luck today boys, you have given 

your all in every game so far. Let’s hope 

we can get that deserved win today. 

Terry Cobner 

TERRY COBNER 

WRU PRESIDENT 

y maen nhw wedi eu curo hyd yma’n y 

Bencampwriaeth eleni – fe ddylent fod 

wedi cael mwy o lwyddiant hefyd – yn 

enwedig felly yn Ffrainc – wrth i’r postyn eu 

hamddifadu o fuddugoliaeth hanesyddol. 

Maen nhw wedi perfformio’n gyson 

dda yn y Chwe Gwlad eleni – ac fe 

fyddan nhw’n llawn hyder wrth edrych 

ymlaen at gêm fawr heddiw. 

O’n safbwynt ni – mae’r canlyniadau 

diweddar wedi bod yn rhai heriol i’n tîm 

ifanc – a hynny o dan chwyddwydr y byd 

rygbi – ond bydd y profiad diweddar 

yma’n hynod werthfawr wrth i’r garfan 

ddatblygu. Dangoswyd gwir addewid 

yn ystod yr hanner cyntaf yn erbyn 

Ffrainc – ond fe brofodd pŵer Les Bleus 

yn ormod i ni yn ystod y chwarter olaf. 

Pob lwc heddiw bois. All neb fyth 

amau eich angerdd. Gobeithio y daw’r 

fuddugoliaeth haeddiannol honno heddiw. 

Terry Cobner 

TERRY COBNER 

LLYWYDD UNDEB RYGBI CYMRU 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 5


ORDER OF EVENTS 

WALES V ITALY 

GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024 

NATIONAL ANTHEMS 

6 


Fratelli d’Italia, 

L’Italia s’è desta, 

Dell’elmo di Scipio 

S’è cinta la testa. 

Dov’è la Vittoria? 

Le porga la chioma, 

Ché schiava di Roma 

Iddio la creò. 

Stringiamci a coorte, 

Siam pronti alla morte. 

Siam pronti alla morte, 

L’Italia chiamò. 

Stringiamci a coorte, 

Siam pronti alla morte. 

Siam pronti alla morte, 

L’Italia chiamò! 

MUSIC 

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau, 

yn annwyl i mi, 

Gwlad beirdd a 

chantorion, 

enwogion o fri; 

Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, 

gwlad garwyr tra mad, 

Tros ryddid collasant 

eu gwaed 

Gwlad, gwlad, 

Pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad, 

Tra mor yn fur 

I’r bur hoff bau, 

O bydded i’r hen 

iaith barhau 

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CHOIRS: 

Côr Meibion Trelawnyd, Côr Meibion Dowlais 

BAND: Regimental Band Corps of Drums of the 

Royal Welsh 

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: 

Dr Haydn James 

ANNOUNCERS: 

Rhys ap William, Iestyn Garlick, Geraint Hardy 

DJ’S: Kay Russant 

HALFTIME MUSIC: 

The Welsh Tenors - Aled Wyn Davies and Trystan 

Llŷr Griffiths performing the song “Working Man” 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION 

TODAY’S MASCOT 









aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 





Holly James 

Age: 14 

School: Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi 

Favourite Welsh Player: 

Alun Wyn Jones and 

Tomos Williams 

How do you feel about being the 

official match day mascot? 

I am really looking forward 

to an exciting day at the 

Principality Stadium. 




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Patron 

HRH The Prince of Wales 

President 

Terry Cobner 

WRU Board 

Richard Collier-Keywood, 

Amanda Bennett, Claire 

Donovan, Chris Jones, 

John Manders, Jennifer 

Mathias, Jamie Roberts, 

Alison Thorne, Abi Tierney, 

Malcolm Wall, Colin Wilks, 

Andrew Williams 

WRU Council 

Gwyn Bowden, Anthony 

Buchanan, Robert 

Butcher, Sue Butler, Colin 

Charvis, Jeff Davies, Claire 

Donovan, Kerry Frey, Chris 

Jones, Kevin Lewis, John 

Manders, Lloyd Morgan, 

Steve Owen, Bryn Parker, 

Delyth Summons, Alun 

Roberts, Phil Thomas, Roy 

Wilkinson, Colin Wilks 

Millennium Stadium plc 

Board 

Rhodri Lewis, Paul 

Orders, Sameer Rahman, 

Councillor Huw Thomas, 

Nigel Walker, Mark 

Williams 

Executive board 

Abi Tierney 

Group Chief Executive 

Huw Bevan 

Interim Performance 

Director 

Geraint John 

Community Director 

Rhodri Lewis 

Commercial and Legal 

Director 

Dan Mills 

Interim Group Finance 

Director 

Lydia Stirling 

People Director 

Nigel Walker 

Executive Director of 

Rugby 

Mark Williams 

Stadium Manager 

IN YOUR MATCHDAY 

PROGRAMME 

3 TODAY’S TEAMS 

5 TERRY COBNER 

8 SCENESETTER 

16 ABI TIERNEY 

20 GEORGE NORTH 

29 THE BIG PICTURE 

30 JOE ROBERTS 

35 WALES 

COACHES & SQUAD 

47 ITALY 

COACHES & SQUAD 

56 LOUIS LYNAGH 

64 WALES WOMEN 

WRU Content Editor: Graeme Gillespie // WRU Commercial and Marketing Editor: Lauren 

Wathey // Contributors: Rob Cole, Graeme Gillespie // Cover Design: Gavin Johnson // 

Design: Zahra Ginieres Ridge // Photography: Huw Evans Agency, Getty Images, Alamy, 

Inpho // This programme was produced for the Welsh Rugby Union by Ignition Sports 

Media www.ignitionsportsmedia.com 

68 WALES U18 

70 FLASHBACK 

72 LEWIS JONES 

79 DAN 18 CYMRU 

82 FROZEN IN TIME 

85 TODAY’S REFEREE 

87 #RTP24 

90 INDIGO PREMIERSHIP 

93 MERCHED CYMRU 

97 STADIUM 

REGULATIONS & MAP 

98 COMING NEXT... 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 7

LESITA ALES 

ALYW ALES 

LYWA ALES 

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FRANC 

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FRANC 

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FRANC 

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scenesetter 

VERSUS 

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, ALTHOUGH NOT FOR QUITE 

A WHILE. IN 2007, IT CAME DOWN TO THE LAST GAME AT 

HOME AGAINST ENGLAND TO STAVE OFF THE WOODEN 

SPOON. GO BACK TO 2003 AND IT WASN’T SO GOOD. A 

TRIP TO STADE DE FRANCE IN ROUND 5 ENDED IN A 33-5 

DEFEAT AND A FIRST SIX NATIONS WHITEWASH. 

WORDS: ROB COLE 

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/WELSHRUGBYUNION 9



The maths’ surrounding today’s game is critical. After 

their win over Scotland in Rome last weekend, fifthplaced 

Italy moved onto seven points, four ahead 

of Wales in sixth. It means that if the Italians avoid 

defeat they will remain above Wales. In fact, even if Italy 

lose, they can still hold position in the basement battle. 

Their superior points 

difference of -37 to Wales’ -48 

means it could come down 

to more than simply winning 

the game. Wales will avoid the 

dreaded Wooden Spoon if: 

They beat Italy with a 

bonus-point and deny 

Italy a bonus-point 

They beat Italy by more 

than five points and both 

sides pick up a bonus-point 

They beat Italy by more than 

seven points and neither 

side earns a bonus-point 

The bookies have made 

Italy slight favourites to 

finish above Wales and 

make it three games in a 

row without defeat in the 

tournament for the first 

time following their draw 

in France and magnificent 

win over Scotland at Stadio 

Olimpico. Nobody is shying 

away from the importance of 

the game, and the result, as 

Wales attempt to avoid a first 

Wooden Spoon in 21 years. 

“We’ve had to fight for our 

lives in the first four games 

and there is definitely not 

a lack of commitment and 

fight from the boys. We’ve 

got be better this week,” said 

Wales lock Adam Beard. 

“It was an unbelievable win for 

Italy against Scotland. They 

are probably going to be on a 

massive high coming to the 

Principality Stadium, so we 

know we have got be right 

on our game to get a victory. 

“If we’re being totally honest, 

five years or so ago you might 

10 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


have thought the game 

against Italy might be an 

easy game or an easy win. 

That is definitely not the case 

now. Over the last few years, 

whenever I’ve played against 

them it has been a tough Test 

match every single time. 

“They bring physicality, 

game-management, and 

structure. It’s never a loose 

game from them anymore 

- and they have got exciting 

players. They’ve got a very 

good team on paper, and 

they are putting in some 

good performances. 

“You could say they are 

favourites because we’ve had 

four losses. But we’re going to 

be hungry in what is a mustwin 

game and willing to go 

to the well for 80 minutes. 

“We’ve got to deal with 

the pressure, there are no 

ifs or buts now. We’ve got 

to deal with it, and we’ve 

got to deal with it pretty 

quickly. Hopefully, when it 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 11


comes to it, we’ll be right 

on point and get the win. 

“We’re learning, we’re hungry 

to learn and hungry to get 

better - and we know we’ve 

got to be better next week.” 

It is a different type of 

pressure for a Welsh team 

that won a Grand Slam in 

2019, took the title again in 

2021 and reached the quarterfinals 

of the World Cup only 

five months ago. Cometh the 

hour, cometh the heroes! 

With only two wins in their 

last 15 Six Nations matches, 

Warren Gatland’s side are due 

a break or two as they seek to 

build a new team to replace 

the giants of the past. A look 

back at the side that played in 

the final round of the 2023 Six 

Nations against France shows 

how dramatic a turn around 

there has been in personnel. 

No fewer than nine of that 

matchday 23 were out of 

the reckoning for this year’s 

tournament. Louis Rees- 

Zammit headed to American 

Football, Dan Biggar, Rhys 

Webb, Alun Wyn Jones and 

Justin Tipuric all retired, Ken 

Owens and Talupe Faletau 

have been injured and Tomas 

Francis has been unavailable 

for the Championship 

while playing in France. 

Add in the fact that Liam 

Williams is unavailable 

while playing in France, 

Gareth Anscombe has been 

injured, as have Dewi Lake, 

Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree 

and Christ Tshiunza, then 

it is little wonder there is 

such a major rebuilding 

process being undertaken. 

Welsh fans have been used 

to judging Gatland’s success 

by his team’s performances 

in securing Six Nations titles 

– four to date – and at the 

World Cup – four successive 

quarter-finals and two 

Bronze Finals. Today is about 

preparing a side to save face. 

“It’s a massive game for us 

but we’ve got to be excited 

- we’ve got to embrace the 

challenge. You can’t hide 

away from it. I’ve never done 

that and you can’t go into 

your shell,” said Gatland. 

“There’s going to be a lot 

of external pressure and 

expectation, international 

rugby is always about that. 

We’ve got to embrace it, 

front up and make sure 

we work hard to deliver a 

performance at home. 

“There were lots of parts 

of the French game that 

were reasonably good. We 

were in front at 65 minutes 

but, unfortunately, we 

probably capitulated a little 

bit in the last 15 minutes. 

“We can’t hide away from how 

important it is for us to win 

today, you can’t not talk about 

it. In the dressing room after 

the French game we said we 

need to be better, especially 

in the big moments.” 

The equation for the Italians 

is a bit simpler. They just 

need to keep on doing what 

they’ve been doing and 

new head coach Gonzalo 

Quesada could be celebrating 

a brilliant campaign. J 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 13

ALL THE TASTE, 

NONE OF THE 

ALCOHOL 

TRY GUINNESS 0.0 

AVAILABLE AT GUINNESS BARS AT 

PRINCIPALITY TODAY

WALES 

v ITALY 

WELCOME. BENVENUTO. CROESO… 

It is a pleasure to welcome you all here today for the fifth and final round 

in Rugby’s Greatest Championship. 

Last year, Wales overcame a hard-working and resolute Italy team at the Stadio 

Olimpico in Rome. The visitors took their chances in the first half with handling 

errors costing Italy at crucial times as Wales went in with a 22-3 half time lead. 

Italy piled on the pressure throughout the second half and set up a tense finish 

for the Welsh, who defended gallantly to earn a bonus point 29-17 victory over 

the Azzurri. The two teams have not met since their clash in the Guinness Men’s 

Six Nations last March and Italy will be eager to set the record straight today! 

We eagerly anticipate another electrifying round of the GUINNESS MEN’S SIX 

NATIONS filled with outstanding rugby, breath taking tries, and edge-of-the-seat 

finishes. Whether you’re cheering from the stands, at your local pub, or from the 

comfort of your home, we encourage you to uphold the grand rugby tradition of 

raising a pint of the black stuff to the triumphant team and remember to always 

drink responsibly. 

The 2024 GUINNESS MEN’S SIX NATIONS Championship will be fondly 

remembered amongst fans for providing memorable experiences, top-class 

rugby, stunning tries and nail-biting finishes. Some of the best players in the 

world take to the field today and we look forward to an exciting encounter 

between two great rugby nations. Remember, the Guinness Six Nations isn’t 

over! With 400 minutes of nail-biting action still to come for each Union, the 

GUINNESS WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS begins on the 23rd of March. For more 

information visit www.sixnationsrugby.com/w6n. 

Stephen O’Kelly 

Guinness Global Brand Director 

SCAN 

HERE TO 

LISTEN



16 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


WRU GROUP CEO 

ABI 

TIERNEY 

IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS WE WILL HAVE A 

NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGY FOR RUGBY IN WALES. 

We are working collaboratively 

with colleagues, supporters, 

partners and sponsors who 

all have vital contributions to 

make as we build our future. 

In fact, everyone with a link to or 

vested interested in our game, 

everyone with a view or opinion 

should be and will be listened to. 

I can’t emphasise enough the 

need for a collaborative approach. 

We need to get this right and 

we need to come up with a 

strategy that everyone can buy 

into and get behind. It needs 

to be meaningful, direct and 

capture the imagination and 

passion of our Rugby nation. 

I am having fantastic 

conversations with people 

about how they’re feeling 

about things, what’s worrying 

them, what isn’t working. 

It is giving everyone a chance 

to be really open and honest 

and I am heartened by the 

positivity I have experienced 

in the process so far. 

When you have a mountain to 

climb, I always talk about the 

next best step to take. However, 

when building a strategy it is 

equally important to keep a 

firm eye on the summit and 

where we want to get to. I don’t 

have all the answers myself and 

we are lucky that there is no 

shortage of good ideas in Welsh 

Rugby and a commitment to 

make a positive difference to 

the communities we serve. 

I’m inspired by the work we 

have done so far and I can’t 

wait to share it with all of 

you at the end of June. 

A warm welcome to Italy and the 

best of luck to both teams today. 

A Welsh win would be a 

wonderful way to end this 

Championship. When so much 

obvious progress has been made 

on the pitch it feels like this is 

no less than our hardworking 

players and coaches deserve! 

Yours in rugby, 

Abi Tierney 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 17

Decisions, decisions...



NO 

REGRETS 

THERE WAS A HINT OF A TEAR OR TWO, PLENTY OF 

EMOTION, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND CERTAINLY 

NO REGRETS AS GEORGE NORTH EXPLAINED HIS 

INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT THIS WEEK. 


What shone through was the 

desire he has always had 

to play for his country, his 

determination to honour 

the jersey and his love for the people 

he has worked for the past 14 years in 

the elite international environment. 

‘How do you want to be remembered 

after this weekend’ he was asked at a very 

emotional press conference on Wednesday? 

“I hope people will think of me as a Test 

animal, someone who would never give in, 

would give everything, and left nothing out 

there. Half decent would be nice,” he said. 

Half decent? He has been, and still is, the full 

package, a player the likes of who Welsh rugby 

had never previously seen before he exploded 

onto the Test arena as a mere 18-year-old 

just fresh out of Llandovery College. 

At 6ft 4in tall, and those days weighing 

in at just over 17st, he was Wales answer 

to Jonah Lomu. Lomu scored 37 tries in 

73 games for New Zealand, while North 

has 47 in 120 for Wales – and two more in 

three Test for the British & Irish Lions. 

He has been a phenomenon in Welsh rugby, 

a player the like of which we’d love to see 

again! Will there ever be another? Perhaps not 

like George, who has switched from being a 

world class wing into an equally good centre. 

When he played in tandem with Shane 

Williams it was like the little and large 

show on the wings for Wales in the nine 

games they played together. Whatever the 

difference in size, they were both deadly. 

As he prepares for his final curtain call in 

that coveted Welsh jersey, North has claimed 

Williams’ Welsh Six Nations record for his 

own, notching 23 tries compared to 22 – and 

he still has a game to go. As the scorer of 

the first Welsh hat-trick in the tournament, 

against Italy in Rome in 2015, he also has 

one last shot at equalling or bettering Brian 

O’Driscoll’s tournament high of 26 tries. 

“I’ll have to get back to you on that 

one,” was his response to a question 

asking if he could produce one final, 

record-breaking performance. 

Whereas Williams finished with 58 tries 

in his 87 Welsh appearances, North will 

come into today’s game with 47 from 120 

outings. So what did Williams make of his 

new partner when he first saw him? 

“We were roomies when he first came into 

the Welsh squad. I think Warren Gatland felt 

I could pass on some wisdom or experience 

to him ahead of his first cap,” said Williams. 

“I have to admit that I didn’t know much 

about him when he first joined the squad. I’d 

never played against him and I think he’d only 

made a handful of games for the Scarlets. 

“When he came to his first training session 

I though Warren had pulled in a flanker 

to help with the training. Then I saw 

20 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION



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him in action in the back line drills and I 

could immediately see he was quick, had 

great feet and was a good distributor. 

“I can remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m 

in trouble, here comes the future, the 

young guns are ready to take over’. He 

was the Wales Jonah Lomu, if you like. 

“We celebrated his first cap – two tries 

at that age on your debut against the 

Springboks was ridiculous – and I enjoyed 

pairing up with him. It just meant that 

I got all the high balls because he was 

more than a foot taller than me! 

“I was surprised when I heard the news 

about his retirement because he has 

been playing some good rugby. But there 

comes that time when you know it is 

right for you to quit on your own terms. 

“He is going to miss playing for Wales, we all 

still do, but he will have talked it through with 

Becky, his wife, and the rest of his family. As 

difficult a decision as it is to make, he will be 

able to look back on an incredible career. 

“Every kid in Wales dreams of playing for 

their country just once. To do it for the 

121st time this weekend is just incredible, 

especially when you look at his 47 tries, 

two Grand Slams, four Six Nations titles, a 

win in South Africa, four World Cups and 

two tours with the British & Irish Lions. 

“His career has been groundbreaking 

and will leave a rich legacy for those who 

follow him. While his retirement is tinged 

with sadness for so many, there is also 

an air of relief for me that my Welsh try 

record will stay intact for a while longer! 

“I just hope his teammates can respond to 

his example and produce a win against the 

Italians to ensure they end their Six Nations 

campaign on a high – and give George the 

winning send-off he so richly deserves. 

“He has achieved so much and should feel very 

proud of what he has done in a Welsh jersey.” 

North’s bombshell announcement 

came almost a week on from another 

emotional departure from Welsh rugby of 

the Wales Women’s No 8 Sioned Harries. 

Same story, same response, a heartful 

round of applause from the media to 

two great servants of the game. 

Following in the footsteps of other recent 

Welsh giants of the professional era – 

Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin 

Tipuric Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny 

– North has become the latest to call 

time on his stellar international career. 

It wasn’t a decision he took lightly and was 

made after taking advice from his world 

champion, Olympic and Commonwealth 

Games medal winning cyclist wife, Becky, 

who retired from the track in 2017. P 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 23



“It’s not been an easy decision for me, 

although it feels like the right time and it’s the 

best thing for me and my family,” he admitted. 

“I’ve been very fortunate to live a dream not 

many people get to do. And to be able to 

do it at home in front of a sold-out stadium 

with my family around me seems like the 

best way for me to start my next chapter. 

“I didn’t think this day would come - I wished 

this day would never come. It was a real head 

and heart conversation that bounced back 

“It’s about me being able to go out on my 

terms and being able to enjoy it, like I have for 

every second of the last 14 years. I’m going to 

use this week and Saturday to really take it all 

in and to live my dream again one more time.” 

North burst onto the international stage 

as a teenager when he scored two tries on 

his debut playing against Bryan Habana 

in a game against the world champion 

Springboks. Since then he has gone on to win 

two Grand Slams (2012, 2019), picked up two 

more Six Nations titles (2013, 2021), reached 

two World Cup semi-finals (2011, 2019). 

“It has always been about me being the best 

I can be for Wales and wearing the three 

feathers on my chest. I would hate to put on 

the jersey and not do it justice,” he added. 

“I’m still doing that now and it has been a hell 

of a run to get here. While there is pride in 

putting the jersey on, hopefully there is pride 

in leaving it in a better place for the next guy. 

“I’ve loved every second of it and cherished 

every second of it – the highs and the lows. 

And there have been plenty of them. 

“The people I’ve met, the friendships 

I’ve made, the coaches and teammates 

I’ve met. I couldn’t have written 

it better myself to be honest.” 

But while he would love a fairytale ending 

to his career with a win to avoid a first 

Wales whitewash in the Six Nations 

since 2003, he doesn’t want the game 

to turn into a homage to him. 

When Italy last came to Cardiff in 2022, 

they upset the party for Dan Biggar’s 

100th and Alun Wyn Jones’ 150th caps. 

“When I spoke to the squad, I said let’s 

not get weird, I asked them for nothing 

to change from what we always do. We 

go toe-to-toe and work as hard as we can 

to get better each day,” said North. 

“It’s a must-win game and the focus should 

never be on one individual. We’ve got 

to keep doing what’s worked well for us 

and we’ve got to deliver the 80-minute 

performance we know we’re capable of. 

Since scoring twice on his debut, North has 

gone on to score 47 times for Wales and twice 

for the Lions. Try number 50 in a win over 

Italy would surely be the perfect send-off. Y 

24 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


NORTH’S TOP TEN ICONIC MOMENTS 

1. 

2010 

TWO TRIES 

ON DEBUT 

You are 18 years, 214 days 

old, and you have to play 

against Bryan Habana 

and the world champion 

Springboks. No problem! 

He scored twice, the first 

try coming in his fifth 

minute of Test rugby, and 

he remains the youngest 

Welsh try scorer on debut. 

The only downer was that 

South Africa won 29-25. 

2. 

2011 

YOUNGEST 

TRY SCORER 

AT WORLD 

CUP FINALS 

Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth 

was the venue for Wales’ second 

pool match at the 2011 World 

Cup, the first of four tournaments 

at which George played. Wales 

had narrowly lost to South Africa 

in their opening game before 

exploding into try scoring action 

against Namibia. He scored twice 

in five minutes in the second half 

at the age of 19 years, 166 days. 

3. 

2012 

VICTORY IN 

DUBLIN TO SET- 

UP A GRAND 

SLAM MARCH 

Ireland hadn’t been beaten in 

the first game of the Six Nations 

for eight years, but they were 

finally beaten 23-21 at the Aviva 

Stadium thanks to two moments 

of second half magic from 

George. A tap-down from Justin 

Tipuric at the tail of a line-out 

saw him launched off his wing, 

evade two tacklers before a 

wonderful offload out of the back 

of his hand sent Jonathan Davies 

haring in for his second try. He 

then took four Irish players over 

the line with him in the 75th 

minute to claim a third Welsh try. 

4. 

2013 

NICE ONE SON! 

It remains one of the unspoken 

topics in the North household, 

but who could ever forget the 

sight of George’s dad, David, 

running onto the pitch at Stade 

de France to congratulate him 

on scoring in the corner to help 

end an eight-match losing streak 

and spark a march to another 

Six Nations title. George didn’t 

even notice his dad, but the 

Gendarmes did and escorted him 

out of the ground. Just to prove 

you can’t stop a North in Paris 

he quickly got back to his seat to 

rejoin his very disgruntled wife! 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 25

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5. 

2013 

TRY ON LIONS 

TEST DEBUT 

Has George scored a better 

try than the one on his Lions 

Test debut in Brisbane? He 

fielded a kick ahead on his 

10-metre line and slalomed 

and side-stepped his way to 

the left corner, leaving four 

Wallabies trailing in his wake. His 

60-metre special earned a vital 

23-21 victory for the tourists. 

6. 

2013 

ISRAEL FOLAU 

GETS A PIGGY- 

BACK RIDE 

The strength and power of 

George was amply demonstrated 

in Melbourne in the second 

Test in the 2013 Lions series. He 

had the ball, was challenged by 

Israel Folau, lifted him off the 

ground and onto his back and 

then carried him for a full five 

metres. It is one of the mostviewed 

rugby clips on You Tube. 

7. 

2013 

ANOTHER TRY 

AS LIONS WIN 

FIRST SERIES 

IN 16 YEARS 

With the 2013 series in Australia 

all-square, it came down to the 

decider in Sydney to determine 

a winner. The Wallabies reduced 

the deficit to three points 

at the start of the second 

half before North scored in 

the corner to set-up a merry 

romp to a 41-16 triumph. 

8. 

2015 

FIRST WELSH 

HAT-TRICK IN 

SIX NATIONS 

He hadn’t scored for four games 

and the Italians felt the full force 

of frustration as he scored three 

tries in 10 minutes in the second 

half as Wales won 62-20 in Rome. 

It was the first of only two try 

hat-tricks by Welsh players in 

the tournament – and the first 

in the Championship since 

1969, when Maurice Richards 

scored four against England. 

9. 

2019 

TWO MORE 

TRIES IN PARIS 

If you want to win a Grand 

Slam you have to win your 

opening game. It didn’t look 

like that when the French took 

a 16-0 interval lead into their 

dressing room. But cometh 

the hour, cometh big George. 

His two second half tries we 

at the heart of a magnificent 

revival that created the pathway 

to his second Grand Slam 

10. 

2023 

A RECORD 

BREAKING 

SCORE AT STADE 

DE FRANCE 

Shane Williams held the Welsh 

Six Nations try scoring record 

at 22. George matched that 

in 2021 with a try against Italy 

and then moved to 23, three 

behind Briain O’Driscoll’s 

tournament high of 26, with a 

try in a defeat in Paris in 2023. 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 27


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28 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


THE 

BIG 

PICTURE 

10.03.24 | WALES V FRANCE 

GUINNESS 6 NATIONS 

Elliot Dee of Wales walks out 

for his 50th cap 

>>> 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 29

A 



30 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


AIMING 

[ JOE ROBERTS ] 

HIGH 

Joe Roberts is the latest Welsh international 

off the production line at Coleg Sir Gar – and is 

aiming to match the achievements of many of 

those who have gone before him. 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 31



When he won his second cap 

against France last weekend he 

was joined on the pitch by other 

Sir Gar alumni, Gareth Davies 

and Gareth Thomas, and would 

have lined up alongside another 

had Ryan Elias not been forced 

to pull out through injury. 

He also had Josh Adams outside 

him, although he might still 

not be speaking to him after he 

ignored an overlap and backed 

himself to score. Instead of a 

walk-in try No 22 at Test level 

for Adams it became the first 

of what Roberts hopes will be 

many more of his own for Wales. 

“Josh did give me a bit of a look! 

There was a bit of white line fever 

but I backed myself to get it 

down and I was happy to get my 

first try,” said Roberts, who misses 

today’s game as George North 

returns to make his 121st and final 

Welsh cap at outside centre. 

“I think I did okay against France. 

There were some errors but 

hopefully I can build on that 

in the future when I get a bit 

more confidence in the jersey 

and a bit more experience. 

“It was certainly a lesson for 

the future, playing against 

a team of stars like that. It 

is the speed of things that 

is the biggest difference. 

“I can remember watching Gael 

Fickou, my opposite number, 

playing for France when I was 

growing up. He’s been around 

a long time, hasn’t he? 

“Playing against players of 

that calibre is how you build. 

When I watch the game back 

I’ll compare his game with my 

game and see what I can pick up. 

“I didn’t try to swap jerseys 

with him at the end because 

I wanted to keep my own.” 

His shirt from his first home 

game for Wales will now go 

alongside the one he kept 

from his debut in the World 

Cup warm-up clash with 

England at Twickenham. If 

his outside break that paved 

the way for a try for Tomos 

Wiliams in that game showed 

his potential, his try against 

the France firmly underlined 

what the 23-year-old is capable 

of producing in the future. 

Born in Swansea, and raised in 

Burry Port, Roberts followed 

in the footsteps of a host of 

international players when 

he went to Sir Gar. Under 

the expert tuition of director 

of rugby Euros Evans, there 

have been many professional 

players and internationals 

nurtured at the college. 

Their Welsh international list 

for the past 24 years includes 

Adam Jones, Adam Warren, Rob 

McCusker, Lou Reed, Gavin Evans, 

Scott Williams, Gareth Davies, 

Kirby Myhill, Josh Adams, Samson 

Lee, Aled Davies, Ryan Elias, Sam 

Parry, Gareth Thomas, Kieran 

Hardy and Jac Morgan. There are 

also two Scottish caps in Luke 

Hamilton and Javan Sebastian. 

Not a bad return for the college 

and a vital pipeline of talent 

for Welsh teams at every 

level. And don’t forget about 

the 13 Wales Sevens caps! 

32 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


“It was 

certainly a 

lesson for 

the future, 

playing 

against a 

team of stars 

like that. It is 

the speed of 

things that 

is the biggest 

difference” 

To read this article in 

Welsh scan the QR code 

“Last weekend we had 14 

players involved with Wales 

U18, U20 and the senior side. 

We feel that is something to 

be proud of,” said Evans. 

“It proves the system is working, 

although it could always be 

better with more support, greater 

trust and a bit more alignment. 

Joe is proof that hard work pays 

off and all the coaching team at 

the college have been pleased 

to see him start producing at 

the Scarlets and now for Wales. 

“When he joined us at 16, he 

wasn’t an academy kid. Neither 

was his centre partner, Eddie 

James. Now they are both 

playing together professionally 

at the Scarlets and could 

soon link up for Wales. 

“What made the difference 

for Joe was being in the right 

rugby environment, getting 

the proper support and advice 

and then working hard. He has 

always been a player who loves 

to exploit space and threatens 

defences, and now he has the 

confidence in his game to carry 

that off at the very highest level. 

“What our programme provides, 

along with those at the 15 other 

elite schools and colleges playing 

in the WSC Rugby conferences, 

is a proper pathway for players 

to follow as they bid for regional 

and national representation 

at U18 level. Many players who 

come to us haven’t been a part of 

regional academies or been first 

choice at U16 Dewar Shield level. 

“Joe and Jac Morgan are classic 

examples of what can be 

achieved by being part of the 

right rugby setting. We operate 

at a level of Welsh rugby where 

the net has to be cast as wide 

as possible to ensure nobody 

with potential gets missed. 

“We may be the base of the 

rugby pyramid, but the 16 teams 

in the WSC Rugby tournament 

provide the bedrock. Our aim is 

to produce professional players 

and give them opportunities to 

play at the top end of the game. 

“I think we punch way above our 

weight in what we produce.” 

There were five Sir Gar players 

in the Wales World Cup squad 

in the first half of the season. 

It possibly would have been 

six had Roberts been fit. 

But now he is centre stage 

for club and country and the 

new poster boy for the most 

successful higher education 

establishment in Wales. Y 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 33

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TÎM RHEOLI CYMRU 

MANAGEMENT 

WALES 

Warren Gatland 

Head Coach/ Prif 

Hyfforddwr 

Mike Forshaw 

Defence Coach/ Hyfforddwr 

Amddiffyn 

Rob Howley 

Technical Coach/ Technical 

Coach 

Jonathan Humphreys 

Forwards Coach/ 

Hyfforddwr Ymlaen 

Neil Jenkins 

Skills Coach/ Hyfforddwr 

Sgiliau 

Alex King 

Attack Coach/ Hyfforddwr 

Ymosod 

Martyn Williams 

Team Manager/ Rheolwr 

y Tîm 

Rhodri Bown 

Head of Performance 

Analysis/ Pennaeth 

Dadansoddi Perfformiad 

Chris Berry, Marc Kinnaird, 

Todd Taylor 

Analysts/ Dadansoddwyr 

Huw Bennett 

Head of Physical 

Performance/ Pennaeth 

Perfformiad Corfforol 

John Ashby 

Robin Sowden-Taylor 

Assistant S&C Coaches/ 

Îs-hyfforddwyr Cryfder a 

Chyflwr 

Ryan Chambers 

Head of Sports Science/ 

Pennaeth Gwyddoniaeth 

Chwaraeon 

Chris Edwards 

Nutritionist/ Arbenigwr 

Maeth 

Prav Mathema 

Head of Medical/ Pennaeth 

Gwasanaethau Meddygol 

John Miles, Ben Stirling 

Senior Physiotherapists/ 

Prif Physiotherapyddion 

Geoff Davies 

National Team 

Doctor/ Meddyg y Tîm 

Cenedlaethol 

Susie Gill 

Alice Mackenzie Dean 

Chloe Montgomery 

Soft Tissue specialists/ 

Arbenigwr Meinwe Meddal 

Darren Joy 

Team Kit & Logistics 

Coordinator/ Cydlynydd Cit 

a Logisteg 

Verity Williams 

Communications Manager/ 

Rheolwr Cyfathrebu 

Caroline Morgan 

PA to National squad/ 

Swyddog Gweinyddol y 

Garfan 

Andre Moore 

Team Chef/ Cogydd y Tîm 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 35

KEIRON 

ASSIRATTI 

30.06.1997 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

118KG/183CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

WATTSTOWN 

SCHOOL: 

PORTH COUNTY 

TEST CAPS: 6 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

ADAM 

BEARD 

07.01.1996 


OSPREYS 

121KG/203CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

BIRCHGROVE 

SCHOOL: 

BIRCHGROVE 

TEST CAPS: 55 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

SEB 

DAVIES 

17.05.1996 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

116KG/198CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PENTYRCH 

SCHOOL: 

MELIN GRUFFYD 

TEST CAPS: 17 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

COREY 

DOMACHOWSKI 

19.09.1996 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

124KG/183CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

GILFACH GOCH 

SCHOOL: 

TONYREFAIL 

COMPREHENSIVE 

TEST CAPS: 10 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 


TAINE 

BASHAM 

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waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 



leswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 

02.11.1999 

BACK ROW/ RHENG ÔL 

DRAGONS RFC 

100KG/181CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

TALYWAIN 

SCHOOL: 

PENTWYN 

TEST CAPS: 17 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 15 

LEON 

BROWN 

26.10.1996 


DRAGONS RFC 

130KG/188CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

ST JOSEPH’S 

SCHOOL: 

ST JOSEPH’S 

TEST CAPS: 24 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

ELLIOT 

DEE 

07.03.1994 

HOOKER/BACHWR 

DRAGONS RFC 

105KG/184CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

NEWBRIDGE 

SCHOOL: 

NEWBRIDGE 

COMPREHENSIVE 

TEST CAPS: 50 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 10 

RYAN 

ELIAS 

07.01.1995 

HOOKER/BACHWR 

SCARLETS 

115KG/188CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

CARMARTHEN ATHLETIC 

SCHOOL: YSGOL GYFUN 

BRO MYRDDIN 

TEST CAPS: 41 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 20 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 37

DILLON 

LEWIS 

04.01.1996 


HARLEQUINS 

124KG/185CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PONTY PRIDD 

SCHOOL: 

YSGOL GYFUN 

GARTH OLWG 

TEST CAPS: 56 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 5 

ALEX 

MANN 

06.01.2002 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

102KG/192CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

ABERDARE 

SCHOOL: 

ST JOHN’S 

ABERDARE 

TEST CAPS: 3 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 10 

KEMSLEY 

MATHIAS 

29.07.1999 


SCARLETS 

122KG/185CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

NARBERTH 

SCHOOL: 

SIR THOMAS PICTON 

TEST CAPS: 1 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 


DAFYDD 

JENKINS 

05.12.2002 


EXETER CHIEFS 

121KG/201CM 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 

eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 

aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 

aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 

eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 


waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 







swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 











aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 









waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 






































































FIRST CLUB: 

PORTHCAWL 

SCHOOL: 

PORTHCAWL COMP 

TEST CAPS: 16 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

EVAN 

LLOYD 

28.12.2001 

HOOKER/BACHWR 

CARDIFF RUGBY 

112KG/185CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PENARTH 

SCHOOL: 

STANWELL 

TEST CAPS: 1 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

MACKENZIE 

MARTIN 

26.10.2003 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

117KG/196CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

LLANDAFF 

SCHOOL: 

MARY IMMACULATE 

TEST CAPS: 2 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

TOMMY 

REFFELL 

27.04.1999 

FLANKER/ 

BLAENASGELLWR 

LEICESTER TIGERS 

101KG/183CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PENCOED RFC 

SCHOOL: 

PENCOED COMP 

TEST CAPS: 17 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 5 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 39

C’mon Wales! 

Admiral is proud to support Wales Rugby

WILL 

ROWLANDS 

19.09.1991 


RACING 92 

123KG/203CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

- 

SCHOOL: 

DRAGON SCHOOL 

TEST CAPS: 32 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 10 

AARON 

WAINWRIGHT 

25.09.1997 


DRAGONS RFC 

110KG/188CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

WHITEHEADS RFC 

SCHOOL: 

BASSALEG SCHOOL 

TEST CAPS: 47 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 10 
















































swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 




































GARETH 

THOMAS 

02.08.1993 

PROP/RHENG FLAEN 

OSPREYS 

120KG/188CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

NEWCASTLE EMLYN 

SCHOOL: 

YSGOL DYFFRYN TEIFI 

TEST CAPS: 29 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

TEDDY 

WILLIAMS 

18.10.2000 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

120KG/198CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

CRICC 

SCHOOL: YSGOL 

GYFUN GYMRAEG 

GLANTAF 

TEST CAPS: 2 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 41

CONCRA 

DY OFNAU 

FACE YOUR 

FEAR! 

BUY A GIFT VOUCHER 

PRYNWCH DALEB AR GYFER 

SCALETHESTADIUM.WALES

JOSH 

ADAMS 

21.04.1995 

WING/ASGELLWR 

CARDIFF RUGBY 

96KG/186CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

HENDY 

SCHOOL: 

YSGOL Y STRADE 

TEST CAPS: 58 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 105 

GARETH 

DAVIES 

18.08.1990 


SCARLETS 

85KG/178CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

NEWCASTLE EMLYN 

SCHOOL: 

DYFFRYN TEIFI 

TEST CAPS: 76 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 85 

CAI 

EVANS 

23.06.1999 


DRAGONS RFC 

91KG/185M 

FIRST CLUB: 

COWBRIDGE 

SCHOOL: 

COWBRIDGE 

TEST CAPS: 2 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 2 

KIERAN 

HARDY 

30.11.1995 


SCARLETS 

90KG/183CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PONTYBEREM 

SCHOOL: 

MAES YR YRFA 

TEST CAPS: 20 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 20 


SAM 

COSTELOW 
















































swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 
























waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 


















waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 





















waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 







waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 











eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 

aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 




leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 


eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 



swaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

eswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 



10.01.2001 

FLY HALF/MASWR 

SCARLETS 

84KG/175CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

PENCOED RFC 

SCHOOL: 

PENCOED COMP 

TEST CAPS: 11 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 33 

RIO 

DYER 

21.12.1999 

WING/ASGELLWR 

DRAGONS RFC 

90KG/187M 

FIRST CLUB: 

RISCA RFC 

SCHOOL: 

BASSALEG 

TEST CAPS: 18 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 30 

MASON 

GRADY 

29.03.2002 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

110KG/195M 

FIRST CLUB: 

BARRY RFC 

SCHOOL: 

YSGOL GYFUN BRO 

MORGANNWG 

TEST CAPS: 10 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 

IOAN 

LLOYD 

05.04.2001 

FLY HALF/MASWR 

BRISTOL BEARS 

91KG/173CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

CRICC 

SCHOOL: 

GLANTAF 

TEST CAPS: 6 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 8 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 43

THIS IS OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP 

. 

CALON CYMRU 

. 

CELEBRATE A 

WELSH 

RUGBY 

LEGEND 

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE 

MEMORABILIA 

OFFICIAL MEMBERS CAN ACCESS 365 DAYS OF EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS 

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Sign up at membership.wru.wales

GEORGE 

NORTH 

13.04.1992 


OSPREYS 

109KG/193CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

LLANGEFNI 

SCHOOL: 

BODEDERN 

TEST CAPS: 120 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 235 

OWEN 

WATKIN 

12.10.1996 


OSPREYS 

100KG/188CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

BRYNCETHIN 

SCHOOL: 

LLANGYNWYD 

TEST CAPS: 38 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 10 

CAMERON 

WINNETT 

07.01.2003 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

85KG/180CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

TREORCHY 

SCHOOL: 

CWM RHONDDA 

TEST CAPS: 4 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 0 


JOE 

ROBERTS 









waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 


aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 


leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 




waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswal 


leswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 


aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 


waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 


swaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 



swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 





leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswalesw 

swaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswales 

eswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 

leswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswa 









aleswaleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 











































waleswaleswaleswaleswaleswale 























01.07.2000 


SCARLETS 

95KG/183CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

NEW DOCK STARS & 

BURRY PORT 

SCHOOL: 

COEDCAE COMP 

TEST CAPS: 2 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 5 

NICK 

TOMPKINS 

16.02.1995 


SARACENS 

95KG/180CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

OLD ELTHAMIANS 

SCHOOL: 

ST NICHOLAS C OF E 

TEST CAPS: 35 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 20 

TOMOS 

WILLIAMS 

01.01.1995 


CARDIFF RUGBY 

83KG/178CM 

FIRST CLUB: 

TREORCHY 

SCHOOL: 

TREORCHY 

TEST CAPS: 57 

INTERNATIONAL 

POINTS: 65 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 45

Gweithleoedd Cymru. 

Gadewch i ni sortio eich ailgylchu. 

Bydd cyfraith ailgylchu yn y gweithle newydd yn 

dechrau ar 6 Ebrill. Ewch i weld sut i baratoi. 

Chwiliwch: Ailgylchu yn y Gweithle 

Workplaces of Wales. 

Let’s get your recycling sorted. 

New workplace recycling law starts on 6 April. 

Find out how to get ready. 

Search: Workplace Recycling Law Wales


MANAGEMENT 

ITALY 

GONZALO 

QUESADA 

HEAD COACH 

MANAGEMENT 

Marius Goosen 

Assistant Coach 

Alessandro Troncon 


Giampiero de Carli 


MATTEO 

CANALI 

AGE: 25 

HEIGHT: 198 CM 

WEIGHT: 123 KG 

POSITION: 

SECOND ROW 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 

INTERNATIONAL CAPS: 

DEBUTANT 

NICCOLÒ 

CANNONE 

AGE: 26 



POSITION: 

SECOND ROW 

CLUB: 

BENETTON RUGBY 


38 CAPS 

LORENZO 

CANNONE 

AGE: 23 



POSITION: 

NUMBER 8 

CLUB: 



16 CAPS 

Corrado Pilat 


ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIta- 

lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 








ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItlyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 



















ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 


ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalylyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 




ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalylyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 


ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 

PIETRO 

CECCARELLI 

AGE: 32 



POSITION: 

PROP 

CLUB: 

PERPIGNAN 


31 CAPS 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 47

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ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 















RICCARDO 

FAVRETTO 

AGE: 22 



POSITION: 

NUMBER 8 

CLUB: 



1 CAP 

EDOARDO 

IACHIZZI 

AGE: 26 



POSITION: 

SECOND ROW 

CLUB: B 

ENETTON 


6 CAPS 

ALESSANDRO 

IZEKOR 



POSITION: 

FLANKER 

CLUB: 



2 CAPS 

MARCO 

MANFREDI 

AGE: 26 



POSITION: 

HOOKER 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 
















DANILO 

FISCHETTI 

AGE: 26 



POSITION: PROP 

CLUB: ZEBRE PARMA 


37 CAPS 

MICHELE 

LAMARO 

alyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 



alyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 










ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItlyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 



ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItlyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 















ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 







3 CAPS 






alyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 


AGE: 26 



POSITION: 

FLANKER 

CLUB: 



35 CAPS 

GIANMARCO 

LUCCHESI 

AGE: 23 



POSITION: 

HOOKER 

CLUB: 



19 CAPS 

SEBASTIAN 

NEGRI 

AGE: 30 



POSITION: 

FLANKER 

CLUB: 



52 CAPS 














/WELSHRUGBYUNION 49

Upgrade to 

superior care

GIACOMO 

NICOTERA 

AGE: 28 



POSITION: 

HOOKER 

CLUB: 



20 CAPS 

LUCA 

RIZZOLI 

AGE: 22 



POSITION: 

PROP 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


DEBUTANT 

MIRCO 

SPAGNOLO 

AGE: 23 



POSITION: 

PROP 

CLUB: 



2 CAPS 

ANDREA 

ZAMBONIN 

AGE: 23 



POSITION: 

SECOND ROW 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


5 CAPS 


MATTEO 

NOCERA 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItal 






lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalylyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 










ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 

lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 


alyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 




ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 



lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyIt- 


ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly 















































AGE: 25 



POSITION: PROP 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


DEBUTANT 

FEDERICO 

RUZZA 

AGE: 30 



POSITION: 

SECOND ROW 

CLUB: 



51 CAPS 

ROSS 

VINTCENT 

AGE: 21 



POSITION: 

FLANKER 

CLUB: 

EXETER CHIEFS 


1 CAP 

GIOSUÈ 

ZILOCCHI 

AGE: 27 



POSITION: 

PROP 

CLUB: 



18 CAPS 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 51
















MANUEL 

ZULIANI 

AGE: 24 



POSITION: 

FLANKER 

CLUB: 



19 CAPS 

PIERRE 

BRUNO 

AGE: 28 


WEIGHT: 92 KG 

POSITION: 

RIGHT WING 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


15 CAPS 

ALESSANDRO 

GARBISI 

AGE: 21 


WEIGHT: 83 KG 

POSITION: 

SCRUM-HALF 

CLUB: 



8 CAPS 

SIMONE 

GESI 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 80 KG 

POSITION: 

LEFT WING 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


1 CAP 


JUAN 

IGNACIO 

BREX 

AGE: 32 


WEIGHT: 99 KG 

POSITION: 

INSIDE CENTRE 

CLUB: 



32 CAPS 

ANGE 

CAPUOZZO 

AGE: 25 


WEIGHT: 79 KG 

POSITION: 

FULL BACK 

CLUB: 

STADE TOULOUSAIN 


17 CAPS 

PAOLO 

GARBISI 

AGE: 22 


WEIGHT: 84 KG 

POSITION: 

SCRUM-HALF 

CLUB: 

MONTPELLIER 


31 CAPS 

MONTY 

IOANE 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 91 KG 

POSITION: 

LEFT WING 

CLUB: 

LYON 

ItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItal 































































27 CAPS 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 53

OFFICIAL 

SUPPLIER 

OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF TECHNICAL TRAINING EQUIPMENT

LOUIS 

LYNAGH 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 96 KG 

POSITION: 

RIGHT WING 

CLUB: 

HARLEQUINS 


DEBUTANT 

FEDERICO 

MORI 

AGE: 23 



POSITION: 

INSIDE CENTRE 

CLUB: 

BAYONNE 


15 CAPS 

MARTIN 

PAGE-RELO 

AGE: 25 


WEIGHT: 77 KG 

POSITION: 

SCRUM-HALF 

CLUB: LYON 


5 CAPS 

STEPHEN 

VARNEY 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 80 KG 

POSITION: 

SCRUM-HALF 

CLUB: 

GLOUCESTER 


26 CAPS 


TOMMASO 

MENONCELLO 







lyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalylyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItalyItaly- 




































































AGE: 22 


WEIGHT: 90 KG 

POSITION: 

INSIDE CENTRE 

CLUB: 



14 CAPS 

EDOARDO 

PADOVANNI 

AGE: 31 


WEIGHT: 95 KG 

POSITION: 

FULL BACK 

CLUB: 



44 CAPS 

LORENZO 

PANI 

AGE: 22 


WEIGHT: 96 KG 

POSITION: 

FULL BACK 

CLUB: 

ZEBRE PARMA 


7 CAPS 

MARCO 

ZANON 

AGE: 26 


WEIGHT: 97 KG 

POSITION: 

INSIDE CENTRE 

CLUB: 



16 CAPS 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 55


CHIP 

OFF THE 

OLD 


BLOCK 

Oh no, not another Lynagh! Welsh sides have 

had more than enough trouble in dealing 

with Michael Lynagh in the past, but now his 

son, Louis, is heading to Cardiff as part of the 

Italian Six Nations squad – having marked 

his debut for the Azzurri with a try in that 

spectacular win over the Scots in Round 4. 


56 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION



/WELSHRUGBYUNION 57

VS 

WALES 

ITALY


I’m excited to 

learn a new 

team culture 

and join a 

group with a 

lot of potential. 

I hope to be 

able to make 

an important 

impact, to join 

the team and 

achieve great 

things in my 

new shirt, just 

as my dad did 

in the past. 

Two sons of famous rugby 

fathers, Damien Penaud and Alex 

Roumat, played in last week’s win 

for France at Principality Stadium 

and now Dafydd Jenkins’ side 

are preparing to face up to 

another chip off the old block. 

Louis has big shoes to fill given 

his dad was part of the Australian 

side that completed a Grand 

Slam on their 1984 tour of the 

UK And Ireland, won the World 

Cup in 1991 and completed 

his 72-cap career as world 

rugby’s leading points scorer. 

But the 23-year-old Harlequins 

wing has made a great start. He 

joined the Harlequins academy 

at 14, won England honours 

at U16, U18 and U19 levels, and 

then made his Premiership 

debut against Leicester Tigers in 

October 2020. Later that season 

he scored a try in the 43–36 defeat 

of Bristol Bears in the Premiership 

semi-final, a game in which 

Quins recovered from 28 points 

down to win and the following 

week scored two late tries to 

help his club overhaul defending 

champions Exeter Chiefs 40-38 

in the final at Twickenham. 

Talk of senior international 

honours for Lynagh junior 

has always had to include 

the caveat he is qualified for 

England, where he has been 

raised from the age of four, 

Australia, the land of his father, 

and Italy, where he was born 

to an Italian mother. England 

always looked the favourite 

option, and Eddie Jones included 

him in a Six Nations training 

squad and took him to Stade 

de France for England’s final 

game of the 2022 championship 

as a travelling reserve. 

The world of international rugby 

appeared to be at his feet, but 

injuries and a slight drop off in 

form set him back. Harlequins 

dropped him earlier in the 

season, but then fortune took a 

strange twist for the fleet-footed 

wing. Quins were forced into 

a late change ahead of their 

Investec Champions Cup clash 

with Ulster at the Twickenham 

Stoop in January when Cameron 

Anderson was forced out 

through injury and replaced 

on the left wing by Will Joseph. 

That meant Lynagh came into 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 59

TRYSORWCH BOB 

EILIAD! NEVER 

MISS A MOMENT! 

Calendr Digwyddiadau Rygbi 

Cymru a Stadiwm Principality 

Welsh Rugby and Principality 

Stadium Events Calendar 

CYSYLLTWCH NAWR 

SYNC NOW


grandfather lives there with other 

family members. My father played 

a pivotal role not only in my 

rugby career, but also in my life. 

“He always wanted the best for 

me and always agreed with any 

decision I made. He told me 

that playing in Treviso will be 

the best for me and my style 

of rugby, and living in the city 

of Treviso will be beautiful. 

“My dad has watched me play 

growing up and gives me advice. 

He’s done everything you can 

do in rugby, both winning 

and decision-making, what 

to do in your career trajectory, 

so it’s been pretty handy 

having him in my corner. 

Michael Lynagh 

the matchday squad as one of 

the backline replacements. 

Within 16 minutes he was called 

onto the field when centre 

Oscar Beard limped off and 

he proceeded to tear it up in a 

man of the match performance 

that included two tries. All 

of a sudden, he was back on 

the radar and within a month 

had committed his club and 

international future to Italy. 

The first step was to sign a 

contract with his father’s old 

club Benetton Rugby, which 

kicks in next season, and then he 

was given the chance to make 

his senior international debut 

in a blue, rather than a white 

or gold, jersey in the win over 

Scotland last weekend in Rome. 

“Joining Benetton Rugby is a new 

challenge for me, which I’m very 

excited about. I’ve been living in 

England since I was four years 

old but Italy and Treviso have 

always been in my heart,” said 

Lynagh on the announcement 

of his switch next season. 

“I was born in Treviso, my mother 

was born in Treviso and my 

“I’m excited to learn a new team 

culture and join a group with a 

lot of potential. I hope to be able 

to make an important impact, 

to join the team and achieve 

great things in my new shirt, 

just as my dad did in the past. 

“It’s obviously sad to leave 

Quins because I’ve been with 

them since I was 14 and it’s 

where all my best mates are. 

But sometimes you have to 

step out of your comfort zone 

and try something different 

and hopefully it succeeds.” 

He has already matched his 

father’s achievement in scoring 

in his first international – 

Michael kicked three penalties 

in a 16-3 win over Fiji in Suva 

40 years ago – but will have to 

go some to match his record of 

winning his first seven games 

for the Wallabies and notching 

17 wins in his first 20 caps. 

Included among those 

magnificent seven opening wins 

in his international career was a 

28-9 win over Wales in Cardiff on 

the Wallabies Grand Slam tour. 

He scored a try on that occasion 

and went on to notch 58 points 

in his four clashes with Wales. 

He scored 13 points in the 

third-place play-off game at the 

inaugural World Cup in Rotorua, 

although Wales won 22-21 in the 

end, and then gained ample 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 61

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revenge in 1991. He scored 23 

points in Wales then record 63-3 

defeat in Brisbane in the summer 

before grabbing 18 points in a 

38-3 World Cup pool triumph 

in Cardiff a few months later – a 

record home defeat for Wales. 

Like father, like son? There will 

be 70,000 fans at the ground 

today hoping not! But given 

he marked his debut with a try 

at a packed Stadio Olimpico in 

Rome last weekend, Louis will 

be feeling anything is possible 

in another great European 

capital this afternoon. 

His try sent the biggest crowd 

seen at an Italian rugby 

international since 2016 wild with 

delight as it brought Italy within 

striking distance of a first win 

in 14 games against Scotland. 

An emotional Louis waved to 

his father as he was coming 

down the Olimpico steps to 

meet him post-game, with his 

mum beaming from ear to ear. 

“I am looking at them now, dad 

is almost in tears. I don’t have 

any words right now - one try 

and one win, I might retire,” he 

told ITV Sport after the game. 

“It’s an amazing thing we have 

been working towards all week. 

There was something in the air 

and I felt like we could win. 

“It has been a bit of a whirlwind 

and I didn’t really expect to 

get the call-up from Italy. But 

I’m trying to enjoy it at the 

moment, to also stay calm and 

do the best I can. Hopefully 

that means I can continue 

being in these moments. 

“My dad told me to just go out 

there and trust yourself, and to 

trust the people around you. All 

the guys since I’ve come into 

the team have been amazing. 

“I was sitting in a window seat on 

the bus driving to the ground and 

just taking it all in - it was pretty 

emotional. Nerves are a factor, 

but they were gone by kick-off.” 

“We have an amazing, talented 

group of players and the win 

It has been 

a bit of a 

whirlwind...I’m 

trying to 

enjoy it at the 

moment, to 

also stay calm 

and do the 

best I can. 

over Scotland shows when we 

can put it together, and we’re up 

for it emotionally, it’s all there. 

Saying that, it doesn’t need to be 

a perfect storm for Italy to win. 

“I feel like the group going 

forward, there is something 

amazing coming in and 

we can hopefully go into 

Wales with our heads held 

high and go for another 

win. I think we are building 

something really special.” 

Just how special we will all 

see today as they aim to 

make it three games without 

defeat after a draw in France 

and the win in Rome. Y 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 63




64 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


Shona’s back for 

new look Women’s 

Six Nations 

Championship 

THE GROWTH OF THE WOMEN’S GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP IS 

THERE FOR ALL TO SEE BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL 

PLAYERS IN EVERY NATION WILL GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN WHAT SHOULD BE THE 

MOST COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2002. 

Not only that it has the 

same sponsor as the men’s 

competition and is set to 

feature a number of new 

innovations when it kicksoff 

on Saturday, 23 March, 

when France host Ireland 

in Le Mans and Wales 

meet Scotland at Cardiff 

Arms Park. Reigning Grand 

Slam champions England 

head to Parma to meet 

Italy the following day. 

Among the Championship 

firsts, as well as a first in 

the women’s game, there 

will be a ‘Bunker System’ 

in operation to help with 

incidents of foul play. It 

means the referee can 

refer incidents for review 

when a potential red card 

is not clear and obvious. 

Also new to the 

championship will be the 

‘shot clock’, instrumented 

mouthguards and ‘named 

shirts’. The shot clock, 

which will be visible in 

stadia and on broadcast, 

will give players 60 seconds 

to take a penalty, and 90 

seconds for a conversion. 

“The range of new 

innovations being deployed 

in the 2024 Championship 

are further examples of our 

commitment to drive player 

welfare standards and to 

continue to innovate and 

improve the game for players 

and spectators alike, said 

Julie Paterson, director of 

rugby at Six Nations Rugby. 

“The Six Nations is proud 

to be at the forefront of 

these developments for our 

game. The 2024 Guinness 

Women’s Six Nations 

is set to be yet another 

enthralling championship, 

with added intensity as 

the players, coaches and 

officials involved focus on the 

importance of a competitive 

lead in to the 2025 Rugby 

World Cup in England.” 

The final standings will 

have a direct impact on 

2024 WXV Qualification 

and the pathway for Six 

Nations teams to qualify 

for 2025 Rugby World Cup. 

England and France have 

already qualified, courtesy 

of reaching the semi-finals 

of the 2022 tournament 

in New Zealand. 

For Wales, there will be 

nothing new about who is 

named to fill the No 12 jersey 

as Hannah Jones has been 

named as captain of the side 

that finished third last year. 

The bulk of the squad 

includes players who played 

in last season’s campaign 

and achieved Wales’ highest 

world ranking of sixth to 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 65


qualify for the new WXV1 

global tournament for the 

six best sides in the world. 

Among the newcomers 

named by head coach Ioan 

Cunningham is the former 

England U20 captain Jenny 

Hesketh, who qualifies to 

play for Wales through her 

Welsh mother. She is one 

of seven uncapped players 

along with Cath Richards, 

Molly Reardon, Jenni Scoble, 

Gwennan Hopkins, Mollie 

Wilkinson and Sian Jones. 

Lock Shona Wakley, who 

made her Wales debut at the 

World Cup in 2010, makes a 

return to the squad at the 

age of 32 and will be looking 

to add to the 45 caps she 

has already won for her 

country. When she won her 

first cap as a replacement 

against South Africa 14 years 

ago, she was the youngest 

member of the squad. 

She made the fist of her 33 

Six Nations appearances in 

2011, when she was named 

as the ‘Young Player of the 

Tournament’. IN the 2017 

Six Nations, when she was 

Shona Powell-Hughes, she 

scored tries from the back 

of the scrum in consecutive 

games, diving over against 

Ireland at the Arms Park 

and scoring again a week 

later in Brive against the 

French. She last played in 

the tournament in 2020. 

Cunningham has beefed 

up his forward options by 

including locks Natalia 

John and Gwen Crabb, who 

both return to add their 

experienced after missing 

out on WXV1 due to injury. 

“This was the hardest squad 

to select since the game went 

professional in 2022 and there 

was plenty of debate within 

the coaching group around 

selection,” said Cunningham. 

“This 2024 Six Nations 

campaign promises to be 

the biggest and toughest 

tournament so far but we are 

all excited to see our players 

set new standards and take 

this team to new heights. 

“The Welsh public’s support 

proved massive for the 

squad last season and a 

first stand-alone game 

against Italy in Principality 

Stadium is a mouthwatering 

end to the campaign. 

“There will be some major 

challenges for us before we 

get to that final weekend 

on Saturday, 27 April. 

We’ve named a squad 

full of proven experience 

at international level and 

added a mix of exciting 

young talent we’ve seen 

emerge at club and Wales 

U20 level, especially through 

the new expanded Celtic 

Challenge tournament. 

“The bulk of the squad 

played in WXV1 in New 

Zealand and have the 

experience of playing in a 

tournament designed for 

the best six teams in the 

world. We’ve also named 

seven uncapped players who 

have impressed for their 

clubs so far this season. 

“All of them have being 

playing regular rugby and 

deserve their opportunity to 

show what they can do in an 

international environment. 

Jenny Hesketh and Cath 

Richards have impressed 

with their performances in 

the Premiership and Molly 

Reardon, Jenni Scoble, 


Wilkinson and Sian Jones 

have done the same in 

the Celtic Challenge. 

“In welcoming back Shona 

Wakley we’ve shown that 

the door is always open 

for selection if a player’s 

performances warrant it.” Y 

WALES WOMEN’S 

GUINNESS SIX 

NATIONS SQUAD 

FORWARDS: Gwenllian 

Pyrs, Abbey Constable, Carys 

Phillips, Kelsey Jones, Molly 

Reardon, Sisilia Tuipulotu, 

Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, 

Abbie Fleming, Natalia 

John, Gwen Crabb, Bryonie 

King, Shona Wakley, 

Alisha Butchers, Georgia 

Evans, Alex Callender, Kate 

Williams, Bethan Lewis, 

Gwennan Hopkins 

BACKS: Jasmine Joyce, Nel 

Metcalfe, Jenny Hesketh, 

Courtney Keight, Kayleigh 

Powell, Cath Richards, Lisa 

Neumann, Amelia Tutt, 

Hannah Jones (captain), 

Kerin Lake, Hannah Bluck, 

Carys Cox, Lleucu George, 

Mollie Wilkinson, Niamh 

Terry, Keira Bevan, Sian 

Jones, Meg Davies. 

FIVE DEVELOPMENT 

PLAYERS INVITED TO TRAIN 

WITH THE SQUAD: 

Hanna Marshall, Seren 

Singleton, Maisie 

Davies, Cadi-Lois Davies 

and Alaw Pyrs. 

WALES WOMEN’S 

GUINNESS 

SIX NATIONS 

FIXTURES 

Saturday, 23 March 

Cardiff Arms Park | KO 16:45 

Wales v Scotland 

Saturday, 30 March 

Ashton Gate, Bristol | KO 16:45 

England v Wales 

Saturday, 13 April 

Virgin Media Park, Cork 

KO 16:45 

Ireland v Wales 

Sunday, 21 April 

Cardiff Arms Park | KO 15:15 

Wales v France 

Saturday, 27 April 

Principality Stadium | KO 12:15 

Wales v Italy 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 67



UNDER U18S 

ALL SET FOR 

SIX NATIONS 

FESTIVALS 

Wales U18s men’s and women’s side have 

been preparing well for the forthcoming 

Six Nations Festivals being staged in 

Parma and Colwyn Bay respectively. 

WORDS: GRAEME GILLESPIE 

ichie Pugh’s men’s side 

R 

go into the tournament 

in Easter having brushed 

aside Scotland and 

Ireland with convincing displays 

while Siwan Lillicrap’s side will head 

to Stadiwm CSM on the back of a 

48-10 victory against Scotland in a 

training game. 

Second half tries from Tom Bowen 

and Joseff Jones against Ireland 

at Terenure College RFC in Dublin 

last Sunday ensured the Wales U18 

men’s squad head into the U18 Six 

Nations Festival full of confidence. 

Backing up victory against Scotland 

a week earlier at Ystrad Mynach, 

Richie Pugh’s side secured a 27-19 

triumph with tenacious defence 

against a physical Irish side paving 

the way to a well-deserved victory. 

The match was delicately poised 

7-7 at the break with hooker 

Ruben Cummings crossing the 

white-wash for Wales, with fly half 

Carwyn Jones adding the extras. 

In an evenly contested affair, 

Ireland then regained the lead in 

the second half but a converted try 

by Bowen and a penalty by Jones 

edged Wales back in front 17-14. 

The lead changed hands 

again when Ireland scored an 

unconverted try but Joseff Jones’ 

converted try put Wales back in 

front before Stef Jac Jones sealed 

the win with a snap drop goal. 

“I’m really pleased for the boys 

as it was a real arm wrestle 

of a match,” said Pugh. 

“It was a scrappy first half from 

both teams from set piece but the 

second half opened up – they took 

an early lead but we found a way to 

claw ourselves back in front. The last 

10 minutes was a nailbiter where 

we managed to secure the win with 

a try and drop goal at the end. 

“We knew it would be a step up 

from last week against Scotland, 

especially with the physicality of 

the Irish teams. They are also smart 

in how they play but I thought our 

boys managed the game really well. 

UNDER-18 

MEN’S 

FESTIVAL 

FIXTURES 

MATCHDAY 1 

30.03.24 

KO 11:00 

Georgia v 

Scotland 

KO 13:15 

Italy v Portugal 

KO 15:30 

Ireland v France 

KO 17:45 


MATCHDAY 2 

03.04.24 

KO 11:00 

Wales v Portugal 

KO 13:15 

Scotland v 

England 

KO 15:30 

Georgia v France 

KO 17:45 

Italy v Ireland 

MATCHDAY 3 

07.04.24 

KO 11:00 

Portugal v Ireland 

KO 13:15 

France v Wales 

KO 15:30 

England v Georgia 

KO 17:45 

Scotland v Italy 

68 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


UNDER-18 

WOMEN’S 

FESTIVAL 

FIXTURES 

MATCHDAY 1 

29.03.24 

35min matches 

KO 12:00 

England v Ireland 

KO 13:00 

Italy v England 

KO 14:00 

Ireland v Italy 

KO 15:00 

France v Scotland 

KO 16:00 

Wales v France 

KO 17:00 

Scotland v Wales 

MATCHDAY 2 

02.04.24 

35min Matches 

KO 12:00 

Wales v Ireland 

KO 13:00 

Ireland v France 

KO 14:00 


KO 15:00 

France v Italy 

KO 16:00 

Scotland v 

England 

KO 17:00 

Italy v Scotland 

MATCHDAY 3 

06.04.24 

70min matches 

KO 12:00 

France v England 

KO 14:15 

Wales v Italy 

KO 16:30 

Scotland v Ireland 

“We’ve still got lots to work on 

around the set piece but ultimately 

our defence was strong and 

solid but the two line-breaks 

they did concede they scored 

from and that’s being a clinical 

Irish team but we kept strong 

and found a way to win.” 

In a game where defence was key, 

the Welsh back row in particular 

passed their test with flying colours. 

“Caio James was really strong in his 

first start at seven,” said Pugh. “He 

was physically strong defensively 

and turned over a lot of ball and 

likewise Deian Gwynne worked hard 

at number eight. Some really strong 

performances from those two. 

“In the backs it was a solid midfield 

defensively, while Carwyn Jones 

ran the game well at fly half, 

where he marshalled the game 

and put us in the right areas.” 

Pugh will be required to trim his 

squad down to 26 players for the 

forthcoming Six Nations Festival 

being staged in Italy during Easter 

which is being held between March 

30th – April 7 where Wales will face 

England, Portugal and France. 

“The fact the boys backed up last 

week’s performance means we’re 

not too far off from a squad point 

of view. We’ll bring in back a few 

boys for camp next week before we 

finalise the 26 to travel,” said Pugh. 

Lillicrap was delighted to see 

her young side finish strongly 

against Scotland after the 

home side took an early lead. 

“We scored four convincing 

tries on the bounce with some 

great offloading, support 

play and ball movement. 

“We kicked on to score a further 

three tries and really showed their 

strength through some physical 

dominant forward carries and 

great skills by the back line. 

“In the third section of the game 

Scotland fired back at the Welsh 

girls but the team did exceptionally 

well to hold out the determined 

Scotland side for 20 minutes 

before they eventually got over 

the line to score their second 

try of the game. A determined 

Welsh side then fought back to 

end the game on their terms 

with a try of their own.” Y 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 69



70 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


CAUGHT IN TIME 

WALES 21 – ITALY 22 

19 MARCH 2022 | PRINCIPALITY STADIUM 

REFEREE: ANDREW BRACE (IRELAND) 

HISTORY MADE AS 

EDUARDO PADOVANI AND 

PAOLO GARBISI SNATCH 

VICTORY AT THE DEATH 

Italy broke Welsh hearts and a sevenyear 

run of defeats in the Guinness Six 

Nations as they struck right at the death 

to win for the first time on Welsh soil. 

Edoardo Padovani scored in the 79th minute after 

Ange Capuozzo's brilliant break had created space 

for the wing to run in on the left flank. Paolo Garbisi 

then stepped up to add the conversion and clinch 

a one-point win with the final kick of the match. 

Garbisi and Padovani had shared five penalties prior to the 

try to keep their side in touch with Wales, who scored three 

tries via Owen Watkin, Dewi Lake and Josh Adams. Adams 

was named as the man of the match, but presented his 

medal to Capuozzo after his thrilling run set-up the victory. 

The win ensured Italy broke a losing sequence 

of 36 Six Nations games as they won for the 

first time since beating Scotland in 2015. 

WALES: 

J McNicholl (C Sheedy 61); 

L Rees-Zammit, O Watkin, 

U Halaholo (N Tompkins 47), 

J Adams; D Biggar (capt), 

G Davies (K Hardy 66); 

G Thomas (W Jones 60), 

D Lake (B Roberts 76), D Lewis 

(L Brown 41), A Beard, AW Jones 

(W Rowlands 60), S Davies 

(R Moriarty 50), J Navidi, 

T Faletau 

Scorers: T: O Watkin (28), 

D Lake (51), J Adams (69); 

C: D Biggar (28, 52, 69) 

ITALY: 

A Capuozzo; E Padovani, 

J-I Brex, L Marin (M Zanon 53), 

M Ioane; P Garbisi, C Braley 

(A Fusco 60); D Fischetti 

(C Traore 70), G Nicotera (L Bigi 

53), P Ceccarelli (F Alongi 53), 

M Fuser (N Cannone 48), 

F Ruzza, G Pettinelli 

(D Sisi 75), M Lamaro (capt), 

T Halafihi (B Steyn 64) 

Scorers: T: E Padovani (79); 

C: P Garbisi (81); P: P Garbisi 

(13, 32, 57), E Padovani (16, 34) 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 71


IN MEMORIAM 

BOTH CODES 

MOURN THE LOSS 

OF ‘GOLDEN BOY’ 

LEWIS JONES 



There aren’t many 

players who can claim 

to have won a Grand 

Slam at 18 and played for 

the British & Irish Lions in a 

Test match against the All 

Blacks at 19. But then there 

haven’t been many players as 

supremely talented as Lewis 

Jones at such a young age. 

The death of the one-time 

‘Golden Boy’ of Welsh rugby 

last week robbed both rugby 

union and rugby league 

of one of its legendary 

figures. Last night, Leeds 

Rhinos and St Helens paid 

a special tribute to him at 

their Super League match. 

That Lewis was able to 

make such a major impact 

on Welsh rugby in such a 

short space of time was 

amazing. He played for Wales 

Schools at cricket and rugby, 

started his first-class career 

at the age of 17 with Neath 

and was representing his 

country 80 days before his 

19th birthday. The first of his 

two Grand Slams with Wales 

was completed while he was 

still only 18 – the youngest 

Welsh player to complete a 

clean sweep in the Five or 

Six Nations championship. 

72 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


The fact he had disappeared 

from the 15-a-side game by 

the time he was 22 was cause 

for great disappointment for 

Welsh fans. It was nothing 

new to lose a star player to 

rugby league in that era 

and the game in Wales was 

once again left with that 

horrible feeling of ‘what if’. 

What might have happened 

had Lewis stayed in Wales? 

He could have played in 

the win over the All Blacks 

in 1953, might have been 

an even bigger star for the 

Lions in South Africa in 1955 

and even in New Zealand 

and Australia again in 1959. 

Everything he touched 

seemed to turn to gold. 

He kicked a penalty and 

conversion from full back, 

helped to set up one of the 

tries, and steered Wales to 

only their second win at 

Twickenham on his Wales 

debut against England. It was 

a nerveless display from the 

talented teenager in front 

of a record crowd of 75,000. 

When he initially turned up 

at the ground with his kit bag 

the gateman wouldn’t let 

him in because he thought 

he was a Welsh fan just 

chancing his luck trying to 

get into the match for free. 

Cliff Morgan had to vouch 

for him before he was finally 

let into the dressing rooms. 

Wales won their first Grand 

Slam since 1911 and 13 

members of the side were 

selected to tour with the 

Lions in New Zealand and 

Australia that summer. 

The only two to miss out 

were Ray Cale and Jones. 

While the main tour party left 

from Liverpool on 1 April on 

SS Ceramic, finally docking 

in Wellington 31 days later, 

Jones would become the 

first Lion to fly. He returned 

via boat after the Lions had 

won 22 and drawn one of 

their 29 games. They ended 

their adventure when they 

disembarked at Tilbury 

on 7 October, completing 

a tour that had taken six 

months and a week. How 

times have changed! 

This is the Lewis Jones story 

of how he got his call-up to 

join the Lions tour and how 

long it took him to get there: 

I was playing cricket in 

Plymouth for one of the 

Services teams when I got 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 73


a call to go to New Zealand. 

I was fielding in the covers 

when someone ran onto the 

field and said there was an 

urgent phone call or me. It 

was a Mr Haig Smith, who 

informed me that George 

Norton had broken his 

arm in New Zealand and 

that the Lions intended to 

send out a replacement. 

He asked me if I would like to 

go. I had just turned 19 and 

was only just getting over 

the disappointment of being 

one of only two players who 

had played throughout the 

Welsh Grand Slam season 

who had not been picked to 

tour. My first thought was 

about what I would tell the 

Navy because I’d be going 

on a trip that would see me 

away from the UK for the 

best part of three months. He 

assured me he could fix that. 

Within a week everything had 

been fixed for me to fly out 

to join the tour. No Lion had 

ever flown before but they 

worked out a schedule for me 

to go by air. I’d never been 

on a plane before but I had 

a journey to the other side of 

the world to look forward to. 

I went from my home in 

Swansea to London Airport 

and boarded a Boeing 

Stratocruiser. Up in went 

and, within half an hour, 

down it came again – in 

Shannon. Next stop was 

Newfoundland and then New 

York. There was a change 

of planes in New York – a 

Super Constellation aircraft 

– and on to Chicago and 

then Sa n Francisco, where 

I had to stay the night. 

That’s where I ran into a bit of 

a problem. I was only allowed 

to take £25 transit money 

with me and I’d used some of 

it in New York. When I arrived 

in San Francisco I took a taxi 

into town to find a hotel. By 

the time I got there I’d used 

all my money on the cab fare. 

I spent the night and left 

rather quickly in the morning 

without paying. I went to 

the nearest travel agency, 

explained my dilemma and 

they arranged to put me on 

the airport bus. I was glad to 

be back in the air, n another 

Super Constellation, and 

the first stop in the Pacific 

was Canton Island. It was so 

small I think the only thing 

on the island was the landing 

strip and refuelling truck. 

Honolulu was next on the 

agenda before I flew too 

Sydney – I can’t remember if 

there were any other stops in 

between. There was another 

change of plane in Sydney 

as I headed to Auckland, 

and then another change 

of aircraft to take me to 

finally meet up with the 

Lions in Gisborne. When I 

arrived after four and a half 

days of travelling, Bleddyn 

Williams was there to meet 

me. Two days later I was 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 75


Britain making fixtures my Lions in the debut 1957 

tournament against Poverty in Australia. Bay/East 

Those Coast and were Bay three of Plenty. of his 15 

appearances for the GB team. 

Jones played in 11 games, 

Memories made three of Test him teams are not and lost 

in was Wales the second - that boot, highest those 

twinkling scorer on tour feet, with that 92 grace, points. 

that He also speed notched and his a Lions timing 

of record the pass. 16 points He made in the space first 

where Test victory there in was Australia, none and 

exploited becoming gaps the first that tourist others 

failed to go through to see. Too the little modernday 

scoring of him card in Welsh with rugby, a 

was 

seen 

that’s try, two for conversions, sure, but perhaps two 

the penalties lack of and film a and drop the goal. 

passage His second of time Grand has Slam merely came 

enhanced in 1952, when his he aura played and in 

mystique. three of the His four career games. started 

at Gorseinon RFC, where 

Then came his switch to 

the clubhouse is named the 

rugby league for a then 

Lewis Jones Sports Bar. 

world record fee of £6,000 in 

Back November in the that day, same his departure year. 

to As Leeds ever, Welsh may have rugby’s earned loss 

him was rugby a world league’s record signing gain - his 

on records fee, but at Leeds it cost speak him his for 

amateur themselves. status. Between There 1952-64 were 

some he made who 385 viewed appearances him in 

a for different the club, light kicking thereafter, 1,244 

like goals the and vicar producing who refused a total 

him of 2,920 entry points. into his He church became 

to the attend first Leeds the funeral player to 

of score a distant over 1,000 relative. goals for 

the West Yorkshire club. 

Thankfully, those dark days 

are He set now a past world-record and the two 

codes points have total co-existed of 496 in 48 on 

appearances professional in level the since 1956-57 

1995. season, Whereas including Wales 36 tries, used and to 

lose was a four Challenge players from Cup winner every 

national Wembley side at to the rugby end league of 

up that until campaign. that time, He the collected tide 

has three turned. Yorkshire After League getting titles 

back and the County likes of Cup Dai Young, once. He 

Scott was also Gibbs, captain Scott of Quinnell, the first 

Paul Leeds Moriarty, team to Adrian win the Hadley, Rugby 

Richard League Championship Webster, John in 1961. 

Devereux, Kevin Ellis and 

He missed he 1954 World 

Jonathan Davies, th route 

Cup when he was calledup 

as a Naval Reserve, but 

was reversed with Anthony 

Sullivan and Iestyn Harries 

featured in all three Great 

coming to play for Wales 

Britain fixtures in the 1957 

in the 15-a-side game. 

tournament in Australia. 

But Those if only were we three had of been his 15 

able appearances to hold onto for the our GB team. 

‘Golden Boy’, Lewis Jones! 

Memories of him are not lost 

in Wales - that boot, those 

twinkling feet, that grace, 

that speed and his timing 

of the pass. He made space 

where there was none and 

exploited gaps that others 

failed to see. Too little was 

seen of him in Welsh rugby, 

that’s for sure, but perhaps 

the lack of film and the 

passage of time has merely 

enhanced his aura and 

mystique. His career started 

at Gorseinon RFC, where 

the clubhouse is named the 

Lewis Jones Sports Bar. 

Back in the day, his departure 

to Leeds may have earned 

him a world record signing 

on fee, but it cost him his 

amateur status. There were 

some who viewed him in 

a different light thereafter, 

like the vicar who refused 

him entry into his church 

to attend the funeral 

of a distant relative. 

Thankfully, those dark days 

are now past and the two 

codes have co-existed on 

a professional level since 

1995. Whereas Wales used 

to lose four players from 

every national side to 

rugby league up until that 

time, the tide has turned. 

After getting back the 

likes of Dai Young, Scott 

Gibbs, Scott Quinnell, Paul 

Moriarty, Adrian Hadley, 

Richard Webster, John 

Devereux, Kevin Ellis and 

Jonathan Davies, th route 

was reversed with Anthony 

Sullivan and Iestyn Harries 

coming to play for Wales 

in the 15-a-side game. 

But if only we had been able 

to hold onto our ‘Golden 

Boy’, Lewis Jones! J 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 77

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ydd gemau’r Merched yn 

B 

digwydd ym Mae Colwyn 

tra bydd yn rhaid i’r 

Bechgyn deithio i Parma 

yn Yr Eidal. 

Mae Bechgyn Richie Pugh wedi 

curo’r Alban ac Iwerddon dros 

yr wythnosau diwethaf wrth 

iddyn nhw edrych ymlaen at eu 

gemau nesaf dros y Pasg – tra 

bo Merched Siwan Lillicrap wedi 

curo Yr Alban o 48-10 mewn gêm 

ddatblygu dros y Sul – cyn iddyn 

nhw baratoi ar gyfer yr Ŵyl fydd yn 

cael ei chynnal yn Stadiwm CSM. 

Ceisiau ail hanner Tom Bowen 

a Joseff Jones yn Nulyn ddydd 


MERCHED A 

BECHGYN CYMRU’N 

BAROD AR GYFER 

GWYLIAU’R CHWE 

GWLAD 

Mae paratoadau timau Merched a Bechgyn o dan 

18 Cymru ar gyfer Gwyliau’r Chwe Gwlad wedi 

bod yn mynd yn dda dros yr wythnosau diwethaf. 

Sul sicrhaodd bod tîm y 

Bechgyn yn llawn hyder hefyd 

cyn iddyn nhw wynebu Lloegr, 

Portiwgal a Ffrainc yn Yr Eidal. 

Wythnos wedi iddyn nhw hawlio 

buddugoliaeth gampus dros 

Yr Alban yn Ystrad Mynach – 

fe sicrhaodd amddiffyn cryf 

ac ymosod effeithiol carfan 

Richie Pugh y fuddugoliaeth 

o 27-19 yn yr Ynys Werdd. 

‘Roedd hi’n gyfartal 7-7 ar yr 

egwyl gyda’r bachwr Ruben 

Cummings yn hawlio cais y Cymry 

– droswyd gan Carwyn Jones. 

Tarodd y tîm cartref yn ôl mewn 

gornest hynod gystadleuol 

– ond o ganlyniad i gais Tom 

Bowen a chic gosb gan Jones, 

‘roedd y Crysau Cochion ar y 

blaen o 17-14 am gyfnod byr. 

Wedi hynny aeth y Gwyddelod yn 

ôl ar y blaen unwaith yn rhagor – 

cyn i gais Joseff Jones a gôl adlam 

hwyr Stef Jac Jones gadarnhau’r 

fuddugoliaeth i’r ymwelwyr. 

Dywedodd Richie Pugh: “Rwy’n 

falch dros y bois gan ei bod hi’n 

gêm agos a chorfforol iawn. 

“Efallai bod y cyfnod cyntaf ychydig 

yn flêr o safbwynt y ddau dîm, yn 

enwedig yn y chwarae gosod – ond 

‘roedd dipyn mwy o chwarae agored 

ac atyniadol yn ystod yr ail hanner. 

“Ro’n i’n cnoi fy ewinedd yn ystod 

y deng munud olaf – ond ni aeth 

â hi gyda chais a gôl adlam hwyr. 

GEMAU 

GŴYL Y 

MERCHED 

DIWRNOD 1 

Gwener 29ain 

Mawrth 

Gemau 35mun 

12:00 

Lloegr v Iwerddon 

13:00 

Yr Eidal v Lloegr 

14:00 

Iwerddon v 

Yr Eidal 

15:00 

Ffrainc v Yr Alban 

16:00 

Cymru v Ffrainc 

17:00 

Yr Alban v Cymru 

DIWRNOD 2 

Mawrth 2il Ebrill 

Gemau 35mun 

12:00 

Cymru v Iwerddon 

13:00 

Iwerddon v 

Ffrainc 

14:00 

Lloegr v Cymru 

15:00 

Ffrainc v Yr Eidal 

16:00 

Yr Alban v Lloegr 

17:00 

Yr Eidal v Yr Alban 

DIWRNOD 3 

Sadwrn 6ed Ebrill 

Gemau 70mun 

12:00 

Ffrainc v Lloegr 

14:15 


16:30 

Yr Alban v 

Iwerddon 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 79

RUGBY LEGEND 

TOURS 2024 

Wales’ rugby legends are inviting supporters to 

exclusively share in their most memorable experiences 

at Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh Rugby. 

SAM WARBURTON 

Weds 6 Mar / Weds 13 Mar 

SIR GARETH EDWARDS 

Tues 5 Mar 

SHANE WILLIAMS 

Weds 7 Feb / Tues 12 Mar 

Legend Tours cost £145.00pp. All Legend Tours begin 

at 6.30pm and include a complimentary bar (no food), 

exclusive Q&A, photo opportunities and a signed souvenir. 

For more information please visit: 

WRU.WALES/LEGENDS 

Enquires by email to: dcox@wru.wales or phone to: 02920 822308


GEMAU 

GŴYL Y 

DYNION 

DIWRNOD 1 

Sadwrn 30ain 

Mawrth 

11:00 

Georgia v Yr Alban 

13:15 

Yr Eidal v 

Portiwgal 

15:30 

Iwerddon v 

Ffrainc 

17:45 


DIWRNOD 2 

Mercher 

3ydd Ebrill 

11:00 

Cymru v Portiwgal 

13:15 

Yr Alban v Lloegr 

15:30 

Georgia v Ffrainc 

17:45 

Yr Eidal v 

Iwerddon 

DIWRNOD 3 

Sul 7fed Ebrill 

11:00 

Portiwgal v 

Iwerddon 

13:15 

Ffrainc v Cymru 

15:30 

Lloegr v Georgia 

17:45 

Yr Alban v Yr Eidal 

“Roedden ni’n gwybod y byddai’r 

Gwyddelod yn cynnig ychydig 

mwy o her i ni na’r Albanwyr 

wythnos ynghynt – yn enwedig 

o safbwynt eu chwarae corfforol. 

Maen nhw hefyd yn glyfar wrth 

amrywio eu dull o chwarae – 

ond fe wnaeth ein bechgyn ni 

ymdopi’n dda gyda hynny. 

“Mae’n rhaid i ni wella cysondeb 

ein chwarae gosod – ond oni 

bai am ddau gamgymeriad 

amddiffynol, arweiniodd at ddau 

gais i‘r Gwyddelod – ‘roedd ein 

hamddiffyn yn gampus. Dyna 

enillodd yr ornest i ni yn y pendraw. 

“’Roedd ein rheng ôl yn ardderchog 

ac fe berfformiodd Caio James yn 

arbennig yn ei gêm gyntaf ar y lefel 

yma. ‘Roedd yn gryf wrth amddiffyn 

ac fe gipiodd y meddiant yn gyson 

– fel y gwnaeth yr wythwr Deian 

Gwynne hefyd i ddweud y gwir. 

“’Roedd ein holwyr yn gadarn 

hefyd ac fe reolodd Carwyn Jones 

bethau’n dda fel maswr gan 

osod ein chwarae ym mannau 

cywir y cae o’n safbwynt ni.” 

Bydd yn rhaid i Richie Pugh ddewis 

carfan derfynol o 26 ar gyfer yr Ŵyl 

yn Parma fydd yn cael ei chynnal 

rhwng Mawrth y 30ain ac Ebrill 

y 7fed - pan fydd Cymru’n herio 

Lloegr, Portiwgal a Ffrainc. 

Ychwanegodd Pugh: “Mae’r ffaith 

bod y bechgyn wedi chwarae’n dda 

yn ystod y ddwy gêm ddiwethaf 

wedi gwneud ambell benderfyniad 

yn haws i mi – ond fe edrychaf 

yn fanwl ar bawb wrth ymarfer 

yr wythnos hon cyn i mi wneud 

fy mhenderfyniad terfynol.” 

O safbwynt y Merched, ‘roedd Siwan 

Lillicrap wrth ei bodd gweld ei 

thîm yn gorffen yn gryf yn erbyn Yr 

Alban, wedi i’r tîm cartref fynd ar y 

blaen yn gynnar yng Nghaeredin. 

“Wedi i’r Albanwyr sgorio’n 

gynnar – fe ddangoson ni wir 

gymeriad wrth hawlio pedwar 

cais nesa’r gêm. Fe ddangoson 

ni sgilie da hefyd wrth basio’r bêl 

a chefnogi chwarae’n gilydd. 

“Fe osododd chwarae grymus 

ein pac sylfaen arbennig i ni 

symud y bêl hefyd ac fe brofodd 

y ffaith i ni sgorio cyfanswm o 

7 cais – ein bod ar y trywydd 

cywir wrth edrych ymlaen at 

yr Ŵyl ym Mae Colwyn fydd yn 

dechrau ymhen pythefnos.” Y 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 81



FROZEN IN TIME 

EILIAD MEWN AMSER 

GEORGE NORTH’S FIRST AND 

LAST SIX NATIONS TRIES 

George North made his 50th 

appearance in the Six Nations 

against England at Twickenham. 

The first of those appearances 

was against France at Stade de 

France in 2011. On his return to 

that same venue in the 2023 

championship he scored his 

23rd tournament try to overtake 

Shane Williams’ Welsh record 

of 22. Now he is only three short 

of Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time 

best of 26 tries. Will there be 

any more to savour from the 

Wales wing-cum-centre in the 

final two home games of the 

2024 campaign against France 

and Italy? Let’s hope so! 

For the record, his first Six 

Nations score came in Dublin 

on 5 February 2012 in the win 

over Ireland. That played a key 

role in securing a 23-21 victory 

to set-up a Grand Slam season. 

Wales were trailing 21-15 when he 

barged his way past three home 

players – Tommy Bowe, Gordon 

D’Arcy and Rob Kearney in the 

75th minute to make it 21-20. 

Leigh Halfpenny couldn’t nail the 

touchline conversion, but a few 

minutes later held his nerve to 

land the matchwinning penalty. 

Try No 23 came in Paris on 18 

March 2023 in a 41-28 defeat in 

Round 5. It was the first of nine 

tries in the game and made 

him Wales’ leading try scorer 

in the competition. He has 

scored in 17 games, including 

his country’s only tournament 

hat-trick against Italy in 2015, 

and when he has been on the 

scoresheet Wales have won 15 

times. A dozen of his tries have 

come at home, 11 of them away. 

GEORGE NORTH 

SIX NATIONS 

TRIES 

2012: 

IRELAND 1 AW 

2013: 

FRANCE 1 AW 

2014: 

SCOTLAND 2 HW 

FRANCE 1 HW 

2015: 

ITALY 3 AW 

2016: 

SCOTLAND 1 HW 

FRANCE 1 HW 

ENGLAND 1 AL 

ITALY 1 HW 

2017: 

ITALY 1 AW 

IRELAND 2 HW 

2018: 

ITALY 2 HW 

2019: 

FRANCE 2 AW 

2020: 

ITALY 1 HW 

2021: 

IRELAND 1 HW 

ITALY 1 AW 

2023: 

FRANCE 1 AL 

A = Away H = Home W = Won L = Lost 

2012 

82 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


CEISIAU CYNTAF A DIWEDDARAF 

GEORGE NORTH YN Y CHWE GWLAD 

Gwnaeth George North ei 50fed 

ymddangosiad ym Mhencampwriaeth 

y Chwe Gwlad yn erbyn Lloegr yn 

Twickenham. Daeth y cyntaf o’r rheiny 

yn y Stade de France yn ôl yn 2011. Pan 

ddychwelodd i’r un stadiwm yn 2023 – fe 

sgoriodd ei 23ain cais – i guro record Shane 

Williams o 22. Brian O’Driscoll sydd wedi 

sgorio’r nifer mwyaf o geisiau yn hanes y 

Bencampwriaeth ac mae angen i George 

North dirio dergwaith yn rhagor i ddod yn 

gyfartal â’r record honno. Bydd pawb sy’n 

cefnogi Cymru’n gobeithio y bydd y cawr o 

Fôn yn croesi eto yn erbyn Ffrainc a’r Eidal! 

Hawliodd George North ei gais cyntaf yn 

y Chwe Gwlad ym muddugoliaeth Cymru 

yn Nulyn ar y 5ed o Chwefror 2012. Profodd 

sgôr North yn allweddol - wrth i Gymru 

ennill o 23-21 - ac yn wir yng nghyd-destun 

cipio’r Gamp Lawn y tymor hwnnw hefyd. 

Cyn i George North dirio yn Iwerddon, 

‘roedd Cymru ar ei hôl hi o 21-15 – ond yna 

aeth heibioTommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy a 

Rob Kearney gyda dim ond 5 munud ar ôl 

i groesi’r gwyngalch. Er i Leigh Halfpenny 

fethu’r trosiad – fe gafodd gyfle hwyr iawn 

arall i sgorio gôl gosb dyngedfennol y 

prynhawn. Llwyddodd Halfpenny y tro 

hwnnw gan hawlio’r fuddugoliaeth i Gymru. 

Yn ystod y golled o 41-28 ym Mharis ar y 

18fed o Fawrth 2023 y sgoriodd George 

North ei gais diweddaraf yn y Chwe Gwlad. 

Er bod cyfanswm o 9 cais wedi eu sgorio 

yn ystod yr ornest honno – sgôr North 

olygodd ei fod yn dod yn brif sgoriwr 

Cymru yn hanes y Bencampwriaeth. 

Mae wedi croesi mewn 17 o gemau – ac 

ef yw’r unig Gymro sydd wedi hawlio tri 

chais mewn un gêm yn y Chwe Gwlad 

– a hynny’n erbyn Yr Eidal yn 2015. 

Mae Cymru wedi ennill 15 o gemau pan 

fo George North wedi sgorio cais ynddi. 

O’i gyfanswm o 23 o geisiau – mae 

dwsin ohonyn nhw wedi eu sgorio ar 

dir Cymru ac 11 ohonynt ar dir tramor. 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 83


TODAY’S REFEREE 

Last week Luke Pearce refereed 

his 50th Test match in the 

Guinness Six Nations match 

between Wales and France 

and today French official 

MATHIEU RAYNAL controls 

his 49th international. He was 

here in Cardiff for his last Six 

Nations assignment, when 

England triumphed in the 

Welsh capital last season, and 

today will be his ninth game as 

a referee in the tournament. 

The former sports teacher 

from Perpignan, played in the 

back three for Perpignan’s 

U20 side and as a scrum half 

at his local university. He then 

began refereeing with the 

Pays Catalan society, firstly 

out of curiosity and then more 

seriously. He controlled his first 

international fixture in 2009 

in Malta before he became a 

full-time professional at the 

age of 26 three years later. He 

refereed at the World Rugby 

U20 Championship in both 

2011 and 2012, taking charge 

of the third-place play-off 

between Wales and Argentina. 

His first international match 

involving a Tier 1 nation came 

in 2012 in Aberdeen, when 

Scotland faced Tonga. 

His career then took a bump, 

quite literally, 11 years ago when 

he suffered a double break of 

his leg and a broken collarbone 

in an accidental collision with 

a racing 92 player in a Top14 

match in Montpellier. It took 

him almost a year to recover. 

An assistant referee at the 

2015 World Cup 2015, he 

went on to referee two pool 

matches at the tournament 

in Japan in 2019 and followed 

that up with five games at 

the 2023 edition in France. 

He was in the middle for the 

Top 14 final in Barcelona in 2016, 

Ireland’s historic win over New 

Zealand in Chicago the same 

year and for the British & Irish 

Lions’ win over the Crusaders in 

Christchurch in 2017. A second 

Top 14 final followed in 2021 

before he went on to referee the 

third and decisive Test between 

the Lions and Springboks in 

Cape Town the following month. 

TOURNAMENTS 

AS A REFEREE 

RUGBY WORLD 

CUP: 7 

2019, 2023 

SIX NATIONS: 8 

2017, 2018, 2019, 

2020, 2021, 2022, 

2023 

BRITISH & IRISH 

LIONS: 2 

2017, 2021 

THE RUGBY 

CHAMPIONSHIP: 5 

2016, 2017, 2018, 

2022, 2023 

To read this article in 

Welsh scan the QR code 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 85



#RTP24 

THE NEXT BIG THING AT 

PRINCIPALITY STADIUM 

THE MEN’S GUINNESS SIX NATIONS MAY BE COMING TO AN END AT PRINCIPALITY 

STADIUM THIS WEEKEND BUT THE GAME AGAINST ITALY WON’T BE THE LAST BIG 

RUGBY OCCASION AT THE HOME OF WELSH RUGBY THIS SPRING. 

Next on the hallowed turf 

will be a host of aspiring 

of boys and girls, men and 

women as they battle for 

more than 30 titles in the 

‘Road to Principality 2024’. 

Welsh rugby’s biggest 

jamboree kicked off in the 

first half of the season. On 

Wednesday 6 December 

Bridgend & District Schools 

pipped Mynydd Mawr & 

Dinefwr Schools to win 

the Dewar Shield U16 for 

the first time in 18 years. 

Coleg Gwent then retained 

the Welsh Schools U18 

Girls final by once again 

defeating Llandovery College, 

while the first all-schools 

final in the WSC Rugby 

U18 Boys competition was 

won by Llandovery College 

against Ysgol Glantaf. 

Next up will be 10 incredible 

days of non-stop action 

that will showcase the true 

diversity and inclusion of 

the Welsh rugby family with 

players from the ages of 

9-40+ bidding for glory at 

the home of Welsh rugby 

between 19 March – 27 April. 

“Our ‘Road to Principality’ 

(#RTP24) events are 

among the biggest rugby 

jamborees in Europe. 

Dozens of teams, hundreds 

of players and thousands 

of fans turn Principality 

Stadium into a passionpacked 

arena that has a 

distinct community feel,” 

said Geraint John, the WRU’s 

Community Rugby director. 

“It’s a day out for the schools 

and clubs to remember, 

a never-to-be-forgotten 

experience for every player, 

male and female, that gets 

to play on the hallowed turf. 

“Principality Stadium may 

be the home of the Wales 

international team, but it was 

only built with the collective 

help of every member club 

and #RTP24 is the third 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 87

A NATURAL 

DROP OF 

WALES 

Visit PrincesGate.com


edition of a pay-back to the 

Welsh rugby community. 

“We’ve already seen our 

record try scorer, Shane 

Williams, play alongside his 

brother in the 2017 National 

Bowl Final with his home 

club Amman United, and 

welcomed a number of Welsh 

internationals who have 

played in the women’s finals. 

“And it surely won’t be long 

before players graduate from 

a schools final into a Warren 

Gatland XV. That’s what the 

‘Road to Principality’ concept 

is all about – rewarding 

clubs, enthusing players and 

motivating youngsters. 

“The results from the three 

full editions to date have 

been massively encouraging. 

The standard of rugby has 

been amazing, fans have 

turned up by the bus load 

from far flung clubs and 

schools and our unique 

‘Inclusion Day’ continues 

to offer an opportunity to 

ROAD TO PRINCIPALITY 2024 FIXTURE LIST 

TUESDAY, 19 MARCH 

WRU WELSH SCHOOLS 

GIRLS U12-U18 FINALS 

GIRLS SCHOOLS 

U12 CUP FINAL 

GIRLS SCHOOLS 

U14 CUP FINAL 

GIRLS SCHOOLS 

U16 CUP FINAL 

GIRLS SCHOOLS 

U18 CUP FINAL 

WED, 20 MARCH 

WELSH SENIOR 

SCHOOLS & 

COLLEGES RUGBY 

UNION U18 FINALS 

BOYS U18 PLATE FINAL 

BOYS U18 VASE FINAL 

BOYS U18 CUP FINAL 

THURSDAY, 21 MARCH 

WELSH SCHOOLS 

JUNIOR GROUP & 

WELSH SCHOOLS 

INTERMEDIATE FINALS 

JUNIOR GROUP U11 DC 

THOMAS BOWL FINAL 

THURSDAY, 21 MARCH 


THOMAS PLATE FINAL 


THOMAS CUP FINAL 

INTERMEDIATE GROUP 

YEAR 9 CUP FINAL 

INTERMEDIATE GROUP 

YEAR 10 CUP FINAL 

FRI, 22 MARCH 

players from all walks of 

life to get involved in the 

national sport of Wales. 

“The whole #RTP24 event is 

a massive undertaking for 

the WRU – 12 days, 33 cup 

finals and the ‘Inclusion 

Day’. If rugby is at the heart 

of the Welsh nation, then 

the ‘Road to Principality’ is 

at the core of the WRU.” 

There will be an extra special 

day of women’s rugby at the 

stadium on Saturday, 27 April 

when the Wales Women’s 

Six Nations side faces Italy. 

After that there will be the 

Women’s Bowl, Plate and Cup 

WRU INCLUSION DAY 

UMMUL GIRLS 

ACADEMY & 

PRINCIPALITY 

STADIUM TOUR 

ETHNICALLY DIVERSE 

SCHOOLS FESTIVAL 

& PS TOUR 

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL 

NEEDS SCHOOLS 

FESTIVAL & PS TOUR 

MIXED ABILITY GAME 

INTERNATIONAL 

GAY RUGBY GAME 

SAT, 23 MARCH 

WRU GIRLS U18 

HUB FINALS 

GIRLS U16 PLATE FINAL 

GIRLS U16 CUP FINAL 

GIRLS U18 PLATE FINAL 

WALES V SCOTLAND 6N 

@CARDIFF ARMS PARK 

GIRLS U18 CUP FINAL 

TUES, 26 MARCH 

MEN’S INTER 

DISTRICT FINAL 

WRU INTER DISTRICT 

CUP FINAL – 7.30PM 

FRI, 29 MARCH 

WRU BOYS U18 

CLUB FINALS 

BOYS U18 BOWL FINAL 

BOYS U18 PLATE FINAL 

BOYS U18 CUP FINAL 

SAT, 6 APRIL 

WRU MEN’S DIVISION 

5-2 CLUB FINALS 

ADMIRAL DIVISION 

5 CUP FINAL 

finals to round off the biggest 

celebration of women’s rugby 

in Wales ever witnessed. 

Among the teams who have 

already booked their ticket 

to finals day are Llandovery 

and Merthyr, in the WRUU 

Premiership Cup, Llanelli 

Wanderers and Max Boyce’s 

Glynneath in the Division 

1 Cup, Tonna and Newport 

Saracens in the Division 4 

Cup final and Dinas Powys 

and Seven Sisters in the 

Division 5 Cup final. 

Llandeilo and Cardiff Quins 

have also reached finals in 

the U18 Clubs competitions. 

SAT, 6 APRIL 


4 CUP FINAL 


3 CUP FINAL 


2 CUP FINAL 

SUN, 7 APRIL 

WRU MEN’S DIVISION 

1, CHAMPIONSHIP 

& PREMIERSHIP 

CLUB FINALS 


1 CUP FINAL 

ADMIRAL 

CHAMPIONSHIP 

CUP FINAL 

WRU PREMIERSHIP 

CUP FINAL 

SAT, 27 APRIL 

WOMEN’S 6N & 

WOMEN’S FINALS 

WALES V ITALY 6N 

WOMEN’S BOWL FINAL 

WOMEN’S PLATE FINAL 

WOMEN’S CUP FINAL 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 89


DROVERS DRIVING 

TOWARDS LEAGUE 

AND CUP DOUBLE 

THE INDIGO PREMIERSHIP ALREADY HAS ONE TEAM 

GUARANTEED A PLACE IN THE END OF SEASON PLAY-OFFS. 

The reigning champions 

Llandovery have been 

leading the way for almost 

the whole season. 


With 90 points already in the 

bag they are now shooting 

for a top two finish to ensure 

a home semi-final. One more 

win in their final four games 

will guarantee they will play at 

Church Bank in the play-offs. 

In addition, they overcame 

title rivals Ebbw Vale, the only 

team to have turned them 

over this season, in the semifinals 

of the WRU Premiership 

Cup last weekend. They will 

meet Merthyr at Principality 

Stadium on Sunday, 7 April. 

“A league and cup double is 

possible, but we just want to keep 

building on our league form,” said 

Drovers head coach Euros Evans. 

Newport are now guaranteed a 

top four finish after completing 

the double over arch-rivals Cardiff, 

while still in the hunt for the 

top four are Ebbw Vale in third, 

Cardiff, Pontypridd, Pontypool, 

Aberavon and Merthyr. It 

certainly has been one of the 

most competitive seasons on 

record ahead of the switch to a 

likely 10 team Elite Development 

Competition next season. 

The power of the Llandovery 

line-up was underlined in their 

54-26 win in the Welsh capital 

in the league, followed by their 

Euros Evans 

six try, 43-7 home win in the 

cup against The Steelmen. 

Last weekend they went to 

Pontypool Park and won 48-26. 

“Any win at the Arms Park is a 

good one, but to score eight 

tries and pick up a bonuspoint 

as well made it even 

more special,” said Llandovery 

head coach Euros Evans. 

“Cardiff were missing a few 

players and we know that if 

we meet them again in the 

play-offs they will be a different 

“A LEAGUE 

AND CUP 

DOUBLE IS 

POSSIBLE, 

BUT WE 

JUST WANT 

TO KEEP 

BUILDING 

ON OUR 

LEAGUE 

FORM” 

90 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


Ebbw Vale in action 

Ty Morris 

IMAGE COURTESY: NEWPORT 

proposition. The major focus 

for us now is ensuring we 

clinch a home tie in the semifinals 

with a top two finish.” 

Newport made it nine successive 

bonus-point wins with their 28-14 

win over Cardiff at Rodney Parade 

in their last outing. Head coach 

Ty Morris has got the consistency 

into his side’s performances 

that he has been seeking. 

With Matt O’Brien available 

more often that they had 

feared, his experience and 

range of skills has been at the 

heart of their success story. 

“We’re not going to give up on 

our target of topping the table. 

The minimum goal is a top 

two finish to get a home draw 

in the play-offs,” said Morris. 

“We’ve got some big games 

coming up against the likes of 

Ebbw Vale and Llandovery a and 

we know we have to win them.” 

Pontypool suffered a two point 

deduction and are trying to 

push back into the top four. 

# TEAM PL W D L PF PA DIFF TF TA TB LB PTS 

1 LLANDOVERY 20 19 0 1 684 307 377 94 40 14 0 90 

2 NEWPORT 19 16 0 3 637 339 298 92 40 15 1 80 

3 EBBW VALE 19 14 0 5 590 356 234 76 43 11 3 70 

4 CARDIFF RFC 19 10 1 8 517 441 76 65 52 9 3 54 

5 PONTYPRIDD 20 9 1 10 440 487 -47 52 62 6 4 48 

6 PONTYPOOL RFC* 18 10 0 8 440 431 9 52 53 4 4 46 

7 ABERAVON 19 8 0 11 446 526 -80 61 67 9 5 46 

8 MERTHYR 17 9 0 8 422 436 -14 57 58 6 2 44 

9 BRIDGEND 19 7 0 12 400 519 -119 41 63 4 5 37 

10 SWANSEA 18 5 0 13 344 502 -158 45 66 4 4 28 

11 RGC 17 5 0 12 337 466 -129 42 62 3 4 27 

12 CARMARTHEN QUINS 17 4 0 13 364 481 -117 42 63 5 4 25 

13 NEATH 18 3 0 15 282 612 -330 33 83 1 3 16 


*2 points deducted 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION 91

Scan to find out more 

The Wellington Experience The Brunch Club Sunday Lunch 

www.theparkgatehotel.wales


Menywod Cymru’n 

edrych ymlaen at 

Bencampwriaeth y Chwe 

Gwlad ar ei newydd wedd 

MAE TWF A PHROFFESIYNOLDEB CYNYDDOL PENCAMPWRIAETH CHWE GWLAD 

GUINNESS Y MENYWOD YN AMLWG I BAWB AC MAE HYNNY’N GOLYGU Y DYLEM 

DYSTIO’R GYSTADLEUAETH ORAU ERS EI SEFYDLU YN 2002. 

Mae Guinness bellach yn 

noddi Pencampwriaeth y 

Dynion a’r Menywod ac mae 

penwythnos agoriadol y 

gystadleuaeth yr wythnos 

nesaf yn tynnu dŵr i’r 

dannedd. Bydd Ffrainc 

yn croesau’r Gwyddelod i 

Le Mans, Lloegr ymweld 

â Parma a’r Albanwyr yn 

teithio i Barc yr Arfau. 

Bydd rhai datblygiadau 

arloesol yn digwydd yng 

nghystadleuaeth y Menywod 

– megis y ‘Byncar’ – fydd yn 

helpu’r tîm dyfarnu gydag 

achosion o chwarae budr. 

Gall y dyfarnwr gyfeirio 

digwyddiadau i'w hadolygu 

pan nad yw cerdyn coch 

posib yn glir ac amlwg. 

Yn ogystal bydd y ‘Cloc 

Cicio’ yn cael ei gyflwyno 

fydd yn caniatáu 60 eiliad 

i gymryd cic gosb a 90 

eiliad am drosiad. 

Dywedodd Julie 

Paterson, Cyfarwyddwr 

y Gystadleuaeth: “Mae’r 

datblygiadau hyn yn arwydd 

clir o’n hymrwymiad i 

godi ein safonau a’n hapêl 

ymhellach yn ogystal â 

gosod lles ein chwaraewyr 

wrth galon popeth 

ry’n ni’n ei wneud. 

“Bydd y Bencampwriaeth 

eleni yn arloesol ac arbennig 

ac mae’r ffaith y bydd Cwpan 

y Byd yn digwydd yn Lloegr 

y flwyddyn nesaf yn rhoi 

awch ychwanegol iddi. 

“Bydd y safleoedd terfynol 

ym Mhencampwriaeth Chwe 

Gwlad Guinness 2024 yn 

cael effaith uniongyrchol ar 

lwybr timau yng Nghwpan 

y Byd 2025. Gan eu bod 

wedi cyrraedd pedwar olaf 

y gystadleuaeth yn Seland 

Newydd yn 2022 – mae 

Lloegr a Ffrainc eisoes wedi 

sicrhau eu lle yn y rowndiau 

terfynol y flwyddyn nesaf. 

O safbwynt Cymru, mae’r 

profiadol Hannah Jones wedi 

ei henwi’n gapten unwaith 

eto ar gyfer ymgyrch eleni 

a bydd y Crysau Cochion 

yn gobeithio gwella ar eu 

camp o orffen yn drydydd 

y tymor diwethaf. 

Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r garfan 

yn cynnwys chwaraewyr a 

gymrodd ran yn ymgyrch y 

tymor diwethaf - ymgyrch 

sicrhaodd bod Cymru’n ennill 

eu lle ymhlith chwech uchaf 

detholion y byd – a lle yn y 

WXV1 o’r herwydd hefyd 

Ymhlith y newydd-ddyfodiaid 

sydd wedi eu henwi gan 

y Prif Hyfforddwr Ioan 

Cunningham mae cyngapten 

o dan 20 Lloegr 

Jenny Hesketh, sy'n gymwys 

i chwarae dros Gymru drwy 

ei mam Gymreig. Mae hi'n 

un o saith chwaraewr heb 

gap hyd yma - ynghyd 

â Cath Richards, Molly 

Reardon, Jenni Scoble, 


Wilkinson a Sian Jones. 

Mae'r clo Shona Wakley, a 

wnaeth ei hymddangosiad 

cyntaf dros Gymru yng 

Nghwpan y Byd yn 2010, 

yn dychwelyd i'r garfan yn 

32 oed a bydd hi’n edrych 

ymlaen at ychwanegu at ei 

45 cap. Pan enillodd ei chap 

cyntaf yn erbyn De Affrica 

14 mlynedd yn ôl, hi oedd 

aelod ieuengaf y garfan. 

Cafodd ei henwi’n 

'Chwaraewr Ifanc y 

Bencampwriaeth yn 

2011' ac o dan yr enw 

Shona Powell-Hughes, fe 

sgoriodd hi geisiau mewn 

gemau olynol yn ystod 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 93


ymgyrch 2017 yn erbyn 

Iwerddon yng Nghaerdydd 

ac yn erbyn y Ffrancod 

yn Brive.Chwaraeodd 

yn y gystadleuaeth 

ddiwethaf yn 2020 ond 

mae hynny ar fin newid. 

Mae gan Ioan Cunningham 

gryfder mawr ymhlith y pac – 

ac mae’r ddau ail reng Natalia 

John a Gwen Crabb yn 

dychwelyd i ychwanegu eu 

profiad wedi iddyn nhw golli’r 

WXV1 o ganlyniad i anafiadau. 

Bydd ymgyrch Cymru ym 

Mhencampwriaeth Chwe 

Gwlad Guinness 2024 yn 

dechrau wrth iddynt herio’r 

Alban ym Mharc yr Arfau, 

ddydd Sadwrn y 23ain o 

Fawrth am 4.45pm. 

Dywedodd Ioan Cunningham 

Prif Hyfforddwr Cymru; 

“Dyma’r garfan anoddaf 

i mi ei dewis ers i’r gêm 

droi’n broffesiynol yn 2022 

ac ‘roedd llawer iawn o 

drafod ymysg y tîm hyfforddi 

cyn i’r 37 o enwau gael 

eu dewis yn y pendraw. 

“Y Bencampwriaeth eleni 

fydd yr un fwyaf heriol 

erioed – ond ry’n ni’n hynod 

o gyffrous i weld rhai o’r 

chwaraewyr newydd ac 

i osod safonau newydd 

i ni’n hunain hefyd. 

“Roedd cefnogaeth cyhoedd 

Cymru’n hwb anferth i ni’r 

llynedd ac mae’r ffaith y 

byddwn yn chwarae’r Eidal 

yn Stadiwm Principality yng 

ngêm olaf ein hymgyrch – yn 

tynnu dŵr i’r dannedd. Wedi 

dweud hynny – mae heriau a 

sialensau mawr eraill yn ein 

wynebu cyn hynny wrth gwrs. 

“Ry’n ni wedi dewis 

cymysgedd o brofiad ar y 

lefel yma a thalent ifanc 

sydd wedi creu argarff 

arnom yn ystod y gemau o 

dan 20 – ac yn enwedig yn 

ystod yr Her Geltaidd - sydd 

wedi cryfhau’n sylweddol 

eleni. ‘Rwy’n edrych ymlaen 

yn fawr at weld sut argraff 

fydd y saith chwaraewr 

sydd heb ennill cap eto 

yn eu creu ar y garfan. 

“Mae’r saith ohonyn nhw 

wedi bod yn chwarae’n 

gyson yn ddiweddar ac yn 

haeddu eu cyfle. Mae Jenny 

Hesketh a Cath Richards wedi 

perfformio’n dda yn Uwch 

Gynghrair Lloegr dros eu 

clybiau, tra bo Molly Reardon, 

Jenni Scoble, Gwennan 

Hopkins, Mollie Wilkinson 

a Sian Jones wedi codi eu 

llaw yn yr Her Geltaidd. 

“Fe chwaraeodd y rhan 

fwyaf o’r garfan yn y WXV1 

mas yn Seland Newydd – ac 

‘roedd y profiad o gymryd 

rhan mewn cystadleuaeth 

oedd yn cynnwys chwe 

thîm gorau’r byd, yn 

hynod o werthfawr i ni. 

“Braf o beth yw croesawu 

Shona Wakley yn ôl i gorlan 

y garfan. Mae’r ffaith ei 

bod hi wedi ad-ennill ei 

lle – wedi cyfnod hir mas 

o’r garfan – yn brawf bod y 

drws wastad ar agor os yw 

perfformiadau chwaraewyr 

yn haeddu hynny. 

“Mae’r holl chwaraewyr, 

staff a’r tîm hyfforddi yn 

edrych ymlaen yn fawr at ein 

hymgyrch yn y Chwe Gwlad.” 

CARFAN CYMRU – 

PENCAMPWRIAETH 

CHWE GWLAD 

GUINNESS 2024 

BLAENWYR: Gwenllian Pyrs, 

Abbey Constable, Carys 

Phillips, Kelsey Jones, Molly 

Reardon, Sisilia Tuipulotu, 

Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, 

Abbie Fleming, Natalia 

John, Gwen Crabb, Bryonie 

King, Shona Wakley, 

Alisha Butchers, Georgia 

Evans, Alex Callender, Kate 

Williams, Bethan Lewis, 

Gwennan Hopkins 

OLWYR: Jasmine Joyce, Nel 

Metcalfe, Jenny Hesketh, 

Courtney Keight, Kayleigh 

Powell, Cath Richards, Lisa 

Neumann, Amelia Tutt, 

Hannah Jones (capten), 

Kerin Lake, Hannah Bluck, 

Carys Cox, Lleucu George, 

Mollie Wilkinson, Niamh 

Terry, Keira Bevan, Sian 

Jones, Meg Davies. 

MAE PUM CHWARAEWR 

DATBLYGU: Hanna 

Marshall, Seren Singleton, 

Maisie Davies, Cadi-Lois 

Davies ac Alaw Pyrs. 

GEMAU GUINNESS 

CYMRU YN Y 

CHWE GWLAD 

Dydd Sadwrn, 23 Mawrth 

Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd 

Cymru v Yr Alban 

(CG 16:45) 

Sadwrn, 30 Mawrth 

Ashton Gate, Bryste 


(CG 16:45) 

Dydd Sadwrn, 13 Ebrill 

Parc Virgin Media, Corc 

Iwerddon v Cymru 

(CG 16:45) 

Dydd Sul, 21 Ebrill 

Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd 

Cymru v Ffrainc 

(CG 15:15) 

Dydd Sadwrn, 27 Ebrill 

Stadiwm Principality 


(CG 12:15) 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 95


SEDDI STADIWM PRINCIPALITY 

STADIUM SEATING GUIDE 

EISTEDDLE’R GOGLEDD / NORTH STAND 

U37 

U38 

UN1 UN2 UN3 UN4 

U1 

U2 

U36 

M36 

U35 M35 

M37 M38 

L37 L38 

L36 

Ardal Di-alcohol 

Alcohol Free Zone 

N1 N2 N3 N4 

L39 L40 L41 L42 

M1 M2 

L1 L2 

L3 

M3 

M4 

U4 

U3 

U34 

M34 

L35 

L34 

L4 

L5 

M5 

U5 


EISTEDDLE’R GORLLEWIN / EAST STAND 

U33 

U32 

U31 

U30 

U29 

U28 

U27 

U26 

U25 

M33 

M32 

M31 

M30 

M29 

M28 

M27 

M25 

L33 

L32 

L31 

L30 

L29 

L28 

L27 

M26 L26 

L25 

U23 

M23 

L23 

U24 M24 L24 

L22 

M22 

U22 

L21 

M21 

U21 

BWYD 

/ FOOD 

L20 

M20 

U20 

L19 

M19 

U19 

STWFF 

SWYDDOGOL 

/ MERCH 

L18 

M18 

U18 

L17 

M17 

L16 

U17 

L6 M6 U6 

L7 M7 U7 

L8 M8 U8 

L9 M9 U9 

L10 M10 U10 

L11 M11 U11 

L12 M12 U12 

L13 

L14 

M13 U13 

M14 

L15 M15 U15 

M16 

EISTEDDLE’R DE / SOUTH STAND 

DI-GLWTEN 

/ GLUTEN FREE 

U16 

U14 

EISTEDDLE’R DWYRAIN / EAST STAND 

96 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION


Gwybodaeth Stadiwm/ 

Stadium Information 

FIRST AID 

First aid points can be found at each corner of 

the ground, located on levels 3, 4 and 6. 

TOILETS 

Ladies and Gents toilets on all levels. Disabled 

facilities on all levels accessed by RADAR key. 

LOST PROPERTY 

Call Principality Stadium’s lost property line on 

02920 667 943 

(on non-event days only) 

PROHIBITED ITEMS 

No entry with bottles, glasses or containers 

of any description, large bags, professional 

cameras, lasers or flash lights, selfie sticks, 

large umbrellas, pyrotechnics, sharp objects, 

glass. For the full list – principalitystadium. 

wales/information/ground-rules. Air horns and 

flag sticks are also not permitted. 

CARD PAYMENTS 

From 1 February 2020 Principality Stadium has 

been cashless. 

We accept the following payment methods: 

Maestro, Mastercard (includes debit & credit 

cards), Visa Electron, Visa Debit (includes debit 

and credit cards), Apple Pay and Android Pay 

Contactless payments are accepted. 

NO SMOKING 

Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is 

not permitted in the main bowl. Smoking is 

permitted outside the stadium but within the 

main gates. 

DISABLED FACILITIES 

Stewards will be pleased to offer assistance 

to our disabled visitors. This help includes 

providing a refreshment ordering service for 

those spectators who request it. 

ENQUIRIES 

Stewards are on hand if you have any worries 

about safety, the behaviour of other spectators 

or if you need help with ticketing or finding 

your way within the stadium. 

SEATED STADIUM 

Standing during matches or other events 

is not permitted. Spectators should remain 

seated at all times and not obstruct the view of 

others during exciting passages of play. 

ALL BAGS ARE SEARCHED 

Your waiting time will be longer if you bring a 

bag. No entry with large bags but small bags 

(no larger than 35cm x 40cm x 19cm) and hand 

bags will be permitted. 

CYMORTH CYNTAF 

Mae’r mannau Cymorth Cyntaf ym mhob cornel 

o’r Stadiwm ar lefelau 3,4 a 6. 

TOILEDAU 

Mae toiledau Dynion a Menywod i’w cael ar bob 

llawr. Er mwyn defnyddio’r toiledau anabl sydd ar 

bob llawr – mae’n rhaid defnyddio goriad RADAR. 

EIDDO COLL 

Ffoniwch llinell benodol Stadiwm Principality ar 

02920 667 943 

(ar ddyddiau pan nad oes digwyddiad yn y 

Stadiwm). 

EITEMAU WEDI EU GWAHARDD 

Ni chaniateir mynediad gyda photeli, gwydrau na 

chynhywysydd hylif o unrhyw fath arall. Nid yw 

bagiau mawr, cameráu proffesiynol, goleuadau 

sy’n fflachio, ffyn hunlun, ambarélau mawr, offer 

pyrotechneg, gwydr nac unrhywbeth miniog 

yn cael eu caniatáu yn y Stadiwm chwaith. Mae 

hynny’n wir hefyd am ffyn baneri a chyrn. 

TALIADAU CERDYN 

Ers Chwefror 2020 nid yw arian parod yn cael ei 

dderbyn yn Stadiwm Principality. Mae’r cerdiau 

canlynol yn cael eu derbyn: Maestro, Mastercard 

(debyd a chredyd), Visa Electron, Visa Debit 

(debyd a chredyd). Mae taliadau di-gyswllt Apple 

Pay & Android Pay hefyd yn dderbyniol. 

DIM YSMYGU 

Ni chaniateir ysmygu (gan gynnwys sigaréts 

trydanol) o fewn y Stadiwm. Mae modd ysmygu y 

tu allan i’r Stadiwm o fewn y prif gatiau. 

CYFLEUSTERAU ANABL 

Bydd y Stiwardiaid yn falch o gynnig cymorth 

mewn unrhyw fodd posibl i ymwelwyr anabl. 

Mae’r cymorth hwn yn cynnwys darparu 

gwasanaeth archebu lluniaeth os y gwneir cais 

amdano. 

YMHOLIADAU 

Bydd y Stiwardiaid yn gallu cynnig unrhyw 

gymorth posib am faterion diogelwch, 

ymddygiad pobl eraill a gallant gynnig cyngor 

am docynnau neu gyfarwyddiadau at eich sedd o 

fewn y Stadiwm. 

STADIWM SEDDI 

Ni chaniateir sefyll yn ystod digwyddiadau yn y 

Stadiwm. Dylai cefnogwyr eistedd trwy gydol 

digwyddiadau er mwyn caniatáu i bawb arall 

weld popeth sy’n digwydd. 

ARCHWILIO BAGIAU 

Bydd pob bag yn cael ei archwilio a bydd dod â 

bag gyda chi yn arafu eich mynediad i’r Stadiwm. 

Nid yw bagiau sy’n fwy na 35cm x 40cm x 19cm 

yn cael eu caniatáu yn Stadiwm Principality. 


/WELSHRUGBYUNION 97


COMING NEXT ... 


The men’s Guinness Six 

Nations may be coming to 

an end today but there is still 

plenty of international rugby 

action to look forward to. 

Next weekend it will be the 

turn of the women to take 

centre stage as their kick-off 

their own Championship. 

Hannah Jones’ side will mirror 

the fixtures of their male 

counterparts by kicking-off 

at home against Scotland at 

Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday. 

They then travel to Bristol’s 

Ashton Gate to meet England 

before flying to Cork to meet 

Ireland. Their final two games 

are back in the Welsh capital, 

with France coming to the 

Arms Park on Sunday, 21 

April and Italy arriving on 

Saturday, 27 April for a game 

at Principality Stadium. 

The Welsh men’s team have 

a great summer lined-up 

as they seek to continue 

their development. They 

will take on the world 

champion Springboks at 

Twickenham on Saturday, 

22 June (KO 2.00pm) before 

heading to Australia for a 

two Test, three match tour. 

They face Joe Schmidt’s 

Wallabies in Sydney on 

Saturday, 6 July at Allianz 

Park and a week later, 

Saturday, 13 July, they meet 

again in Melbourne at 

AAMI Park. Wales haven’t 

beaten Australia in their 

own backyard since 1969, 

so it is a great opportunity 

to create some history. 

The tour will end with a 

game against Queensland 

Reds Brisbane’s Suncorp 

Stadium on Friday, 19 July. 

Wales last met Queensland 

on their 1991 tour, when they 

were beaten 35-24. The only 

other meeting was in 1978, 

when Wales won 31-24. 

This summer will also see 

the Wales U20 side return 

to South Africa for the 

second year in a row to take 

part in the World Rugby 

U20 Championship. The 

12-team tournament runs 

from 29 June – 19 July and 

Wales are drawn in Pool A 

with France, New Zealand 

and newcomers Spain. 

The French have won the 

last three editions of the 

tournament, while New 

Zealand have won the most 

titles since Wales hosted the 

inaugural U20 Championship 

in 2008, with six. Spain 

qualified by winning the 

second tier World Rugby 

U20 Trophy last summer. 

Wales met both New Zealand 

and France in their Pool last 

summer, losing 27-26 and 43- 

19 respectively, before going 

on to finish sixth overall. The 

pool games will be played 

the Danie Craven Stadium 

and the Athlone Stadium, 

with the final taking place 

at Cape Town Stadium. 

On the club front, the BKT 

United Rugby Championship 

league matches will come 

to a head in Wales on 

Judgement Day at Cardiff 

City Stadium. Tickets are 

currently on sale for the 

double-header on Saturday, 

1 June for the Round 18 

matches - Scarlets v Dragons 

and Cardiff v Ospreys. 

Ticket prices have been 

frozen at 2023 prices with a 

limited number of tickets at 

£10 adults/£5 juniors being 

made available. Tickets are 

available via the Cardiff City 

Stadium ticketing site. 

The URC knock-out games 

begin on Friday, 7 June and 

the Grand Final is Saturday, 

22 June. In European 

competition, the EPCR 

Challenge Cup final is on 

Friday, 24 May (KO 20.00) 

and the Investec Champions 

Cup final is on Saturday, 25 

May (KO 14.45), with both 

games taking place at the 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

98 

/WELSHRUGBYUNION

BRING HOME 

THE PERFECT 

POUR 

SCAN HERE TO 

EXPERENCE 

GUINNESS 

NITROSURGE 

AT HOME

GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024: WALES v ITALY | CYMRU v YR EIDAL Saturday 16 March 2024 | Dydd Sadwrn 16 Mawrth 2024

Wales vs Italy

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