Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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