The new head coach is Craig Fisher (above), meaning that he now has a dual role with Wales Rugby League, as he is already the head coach of the Wales Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) side, who he coached to third place in last autumn's World Cup. Finally, the team manager is Lee Irvine (above). He was promoted from the Scarlets Academy in May 2020 to the role of forwards coach at the region. Dragons have today announced the appointment of Dai Flanagan as the club's new Head Coach. "I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," said Forshaw. Our Schedule Full Schedule 29 Apr 2023 - 00D 10H 57M KO: 07:30 AM PDT Italy Women Vs Wales Women Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Women's Six Nations, Tickets Fixtures & Teams WRU Hospitality More . Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions | Autumn Nations Series 2022 Home Autumn Nations Series 2022 Autumn Nations Series 2022 Rugby Championship superstars from New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina will make a welcome return to Cardiff for the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. Co-director of sports data company, Sporting Records Online Ltd, he also reports of Welsh international football, was a founding member of England crickets Barmy Army in 1994 and has published both a book and charity magazine about rugby league in Wales. Read about our approach to external linking. Rugby semi-finals in 2019 and 2022, with a Super Rugby AU . Shaun has obviously got a lot of experience coaching PRO14 and international rugby with Russia, so he adds a massive amount of experience but its also about giving opportunities to up and coming coaches. "We are delighted that both Jonathan and Neil will stay on and be a part of Warren's new team," WRU CEO Steve Phillips said. Wales only scored three Dan Biggar penalties in the 13-9 defeat against France, which was the first time in the Six Nations since 2009 the home side had not scored a try in a match in Cardiff. We are committed to building a world-class women's programme. He has made available through the UK national charity Sports Chaplaincy UK. The ex-Premier League footballer and Bristol Rovers manager sits down for a candid chat, Louis Theroux chats to Gabriel Gatehouse about the Capitol riots, QAnon and conspiracy theories, Dr Bob Nicholson examines the seven men who attempted to kill Queen Victoria, Steve Coogan chats to Nihal Arthanayake about British humour and cancel culture. The centre has been used by the Wales squad this weekend for their first training camp since the announcement of the autumn squad. Richard Kelly returns to the fold as set-piece coach, having been involved previously when Gareth Williams was head coach of the U20s. Im very happy with the coaching group we have now got, said Hayward. A country which made my family and I so welcome, when we first arrived there 15 years ago, and all the time we were there.. Here's a look at Pivac's coaching team in full, with a few familiar faces taking on exciting, new roles, too. Thurs 10 March Wales U20 v France U20 Parc Eirias 8pm Wales Rugby League have announced this coaching staff for the 2023 Wales Students side, which is being resurrected for the first time since the Covid pandemic, ahead of Wales hosting the Four Nations on June 10-17 this year. His coaching staff will consist of former Pumas, including two former captains, Sergio Stuart reports. I want to get these lads defending with real energy and I want them to be excited about their defensive work. We must prepare to the best of our ability in the time available. The New Zealander spent 15 years in his native homeland working as a police officer, dealing with . Previously, he held positions as head of rugby, head of sport and director of sport at some of the countrys best independent schools. Former Ireland head coach Schmidt joined Ian Foster's staff in June 2022 but will not be kept on when Foster steps down at the end of the 8 September - 28 October World Cup in France. Forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys and skills and kicking coach Neil Jenkins will continue their roles under Gatland while attack coach Stephen Jones and . "I spoke to him on the phone and I can't wait to start working with him and getting to know him personally too. While winning his 100th international cap last summer, the Scarlets and Wales veteran injured his knee during that 68-12 win over Canada and is still in recovery from it. Professionally, he was recently the head of disability at Wakefield Trinity and now works as a development officer at Rochdale Hornets, which hell continue alongside his WRL roles. 1995 European Rugby League Championship. A keen supporter of rugby league in general, Mark also volunteers for Crusaders first-team and travels around the world watching Wales senior international team, reporting for Forty20 Magazine on the Papua New Guinea v Wales World Cup match in Port Moresby in 2017. Warren Gatland previously coached Wales between 2007 and 2019. That tally is in stark contrast to the record 20 tries scored in last year's competition by Wayne Pivac's Six Nations-winning side. A late reshuffle saw him join Gareth Williams' coaching staff for the tournament after Dai Flanagan pulled out to fully prepare for his promotion to Scarlets attack coach. Former England fly-half King, 47, was previously part of the backroom team under Rob Howley, who had been tipped to return as attack coach. WRU Staff. Assistant Coach - Skills. Without the right nutrition, something inside a player's control could impact optimum performance in a big game.". Wales have crossed only five times in four games ahead Saturday's tournament finale against Italy in Cardiff. News. Read about our approach to external linking. Hopefully, I can help him out in that area with my past experiences and he is doing a great job in fairness. Gatland handed contract through to 2027 World Cup, We have acted in very best interests of national team. 21/06/2022. With 25 games in charge of Wales so far, that's over half of the side's history, Stephen has coached Wales to five Celtic Cup trophy wins. "I am immensely proud to be part of the Wales coaching team again," added King. Both are popular with the squad and will ensure theres not a complete break with the past. Wales assistant coach Stephen Jones admits he would like to have seen his side score more tries in the 2022 Six Nations. Jenkins, who remains Wales' record points scorer, was first appointed as a skills and kicking coach under Steve Hansen in 2004 and worked with Gatland throughout his first tenure from 2007 to 2019. Paul Bobby Stridgeon joined the WRU ahead of the 2015 RWC as Consultant Head of Physical Performance. The trio bring with them a wealth of experience on the coaching front. Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said Hill "has the technical and tactical knowledge and coaching ability to deliver key scrum and line-out detail". "This is probably one of the only jobs that I would have left Sale for but I know that I'm leaving a club that's going in the right direction. Following a successful career with Cardiff and Bath, he has put together a formidable coaching CV, having joined Wales. Scarlets can confirm their new coaching team with Richard Kelly promoted to Forwards coach from the Academy and former All Blacks prop Ben Franks appointed as scrum coach. I want to establish environments where my players and staff can all feel comfortable, learn from each other and perform honestly. Out of medicine, hes interested in Endurance sports including cycling and triathlon (anything with mountains), crossfit, food and cooking mainly European and Asian. Cheika will have the support of Argentine captains's from past Rugby World Cups and Rugby Championships. "The nature of that game was always going to be different," added Jones. He is currently academy skills coach with Cardiff Rugby and is in his first year as forwards/skills coach with Cardiff RFC. Dragons academy coach Shaun Connor, who coached Russias backline at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will take charge of the breakdown while there is a return to the set-up for Richard Kelly, who previously worked under Wayne Pivacs assistant Gareth Williams with the age-grade side. He will double up as a second attack coach alongside Stephen Jones, with Pivac believing the more specialist coaches the better. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. It's such a brutal part of the game. Burgess (above), 34, played community rugby league for Crosfields ARLFC in Warrington. Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has named a training squad of 42 players for this weekend's camp. When he left the job, after a 40-17 defeat against New Zealand in the third-place playoff at the 2019 tournament, he spoke about how he hoped the team would continue to build on what we have achieved and said the opportunity for the next group is to come in and improve on what we have created. Finally, Steve Jones (not to be confused with the head coach), is the sports chaplain for Wales Wheelchair at the Rugby League World Cup. Wallabies squad for 2023 (age, team, Tests played) Allan Alaalatoa (29, ACT Brumbies, 64 Tests) Ben Donaldson (23, NSW Waratahs, 2 Tests) Pone Fa'amausili (26, Melbourne Rebels, 3 Tests) Josh Flook (21, Queensland Reds, uncapped) Lalakai Foketi (28, NSW Waratahs, 5 Tests) Nick Frost (23, ACT Brumbies, 9 Tests) Flanagan joins the Men of Gwent ahead of the 2022/2023 season from Scarlets, where he has worked as Backs Coach since 2019. England enjoyed another Grand Slam, beating France in a scintillating finale in front of a . Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online from 13:45 GMT; listen on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru; text commentary on BBC Sport website and app. "As a coach, you always everyone available for selection, but through bumps and bruises, sometimes your hand gets forced.". Ultimately, at elite level sport now, what goes on behind the scenes is pretty incredible. He has since been one of the main driving forces in the North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair RL schools programme which has seen him help deliver the sport to local North Wales schools. "It's exciting to work with the calibre of players we have in this group and with the programme being full-time around the squad and contracted players, we can make a big impact. The coaching team were initially set to take charge of the autumn internationals while the WRU searched for a new head coach. Its not just the players. Wales' coaching staff is made up of Wayne Pivac, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Humphreys, Byron Hayward, Sam Warburton and Neil Jenkins, Get the latest Welsh Rugby news analysis and interviews. The skills he learned have gone on to serve him well in his 20 years as a rugby coach, offering him a bracing philosophy on the pressures of the Wales job, too. Connor, who was the first Osprey back to make 100 appearances for the region before making 29 appearances for Newport Gwent Dragons, was Academy Skills Coach between 2014-18 with the Gwent region. South Africa rugby union player Sbu Nkosi reported missing by Blue Bulls, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "There are some talented players in Wales, so I am really excited by this new opportunity and can't wait to get stuck in.". Living in Wales since 1970, his sporting background was in football, playing for a number of local teams before completing his UEFA coaching and playing licenses and officiating on some high profile European games. Head Coach. Last updated on 12 January 202312 January 2023.From the section Welsh Rugby. "I thoroughly enjoyed my previous time working with the squad. He has also coached at community level for Hindley ARLFC in Wigan, where he won the Rugby Football Leagues Community Coach of the Year award in 2018. Outside of work, she enjoys keeping fit. France beat Wales to keep slim 6N hopes alive . Wales name Alex King and Mike Forshaw in Warren Gatland's coaching staff 12 January 2023 Welsh Rugby Alex King was Wales' stand-in backs coach when they finished fifth in the 2017 Six. Sale have conceded only 26 tries in the Gallagher Premiership this season, the lowest of any side in the division. Pivac has retained the services of both kicking coach Neil Jenkins and fitness coach Paul Stridgeon, something of a masterstroke. Former amateur boxer Hayward was already familiar with the setup having taken charge of the age grade side between 2013 and 2014. Fax: 029 2082 2474, 2023 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union, Statistical Data Opta. McArdle (above), 34, turned out for Conwy Celts last season after recently moving back to Wales from Western Australia. His new assistant coaches are Jonathan Burgess and David McArdle. Wales won 13 matches out of 34 under Pivac, a run that ended with recent home defeats against Georgia and Australia in the autumn series. I know Rich has coached at the Scarlets but hes still relatively young at 34, young in terms of coaching and experience but he has a wealth of knowledge, particularly at the set-piece which is what he is doing with us, and especially the lineout area which was his forte when he played so he brings a lot of experience from a playing perspective. King will return to the attack coach role he held. Despite that, recent results have led to them dropping to ninth in the world rankings. The 59-year-old has opted to keep forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys and kicking coach Neil Jenkins in his coaching staff. Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones reach Wales milestones, Alun Wyn Jones contracted until 2023 World Cup. He acted as head coach at Welsh Premiership side Carmarthen Quins for two seasons and headed up the coaching team with Scarlets A in the Celtic Cup. The Welsh Rugby . Head coach Warren Gatland has appointed Alex King and Mike Forshaw to replace Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins in Wales' backroom staff. Kelly will take on the role of set-piece coach having been part of the Scarlets coaching system since 2015, while Cardiff pathway coach Craig Everett is confirmed as defence coach. Byron Hayward is relishing the opportunity to shape the next generation of Welsh talent having gone back to the future ahead of the men's Six Nations U20 Championship 2022. "They both have plenty of experience as players and coaches, which will be hugely important to the development of the squad through the Six Nations and beyond. He then moved over to rugby union and coached at Rhyl in their junior section and at Bangor University. A former outside half who played in the Welsh Premiership for Cardiff . The newly-confirmed coaching team could also have contracted players to manage in the near future with WRU chief executive Steve Phillips saying the move us under discussion. in 2007, where he moved into coaching before, Watch the brand-new series of the gripping drama Happy Valley on BBC iPlayer. 1995 Rugby League World Cup - Semi-Finalists. He started playing Wheelchair Rugby League in 2013 for North Wales Crusaders and is the only player to have played in games number 1, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 for the team. With Pivac coming in as new head honcho, many expected that the presence of Stephen Jones would see the scales tip in the favour of attack, but Hayward insists that isn't the case. "There is so much contact and the collisions are high-speed. King and Forshaw join Jonathan Humphreys and Neil Jenkins, who are retained from Wayne Pivac's set-up. Just two weeks after it was confirmed that current South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber will join Leinster after the Rugby World Cup this year, four members of his backroom staff have renewed their contracts until 2027. Richard Whiffin will become attack coach as part of Glenn Delaney's team. The 42-year old has previously also been involved in the coaching set-ups with North Wales Origin and Wales Dragonhearts. Forshaw arrives from Sale and will replace defence coach Jenkins. "It's a special club and I'm excited to see what this group can achieve this season and beyond.". Wales have named Mike Hill as their new women's assistant coach and Adam Thomas as a part-time skills coach. He continues in the club and community game, having been Celtic Crusaders official photographer for four years and South Wales Scorpions for seven. 29 December 2022 Welsh Rugby Gethin Jenkins and Stephen Jones played in Wales' Grand Slam-winning side in 2005 Wales coaches Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins are to leave their roles. I just thought it might be a bit of a jolly and go on a couple of recees here and there, but I have learned quickly there is far more than that. Earlier this year, he told WalesOnline of his role: "My area is breakdown attack, breakdown defence both sides of the ball. She has worked with Leeds Rhinos since 2020 across the women, scholarship and academy teams. 27 April 2023 Rugby Union Dave Walder worked at Newcastle in a variety of coaching roles before succeeding Dean Richards as Falcons' director of rugby in 2022 Bristol Bears have appointed. "The Welsh Rugby Union has set out to create the best-supported programme in world rugby which is hugely exciting," he said. Fri 25 Feb England U20 v Wales U20 Castle Park 7pm Jenkins also brings continuity from the regime of Gatland, as does fitness chief Stridgeon. The former fly-half, who played key roles in Wales Grand Slams of 2005 and 2008, is Wales' attack coach. Wales have confirmed the coaching staff for the forthcoming U20s Six Nations campaign. The former fly half also spent time working with the Dragons senior squad before going to the Rugby World Cup with Russia as their backline coach. Hes also an independent match day doctor for Premiership Rugby. Ross Moriarty (Dragons) Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys) Kieran Hardy (Scarlets) Bradley Roberts (Ulster Rugby) They will rejoin Wales camp Sunday 30 January to continue preparations for the first round Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland (5 Feb, KO 2.15pm live on ITV and S4C). If we nail our environment and processes, theres no reason why we cant go all the way in this years Four Nations tournament.. "We have played some good minutes in certain games, but are yet to have a complete performance," said Jones. Wales have confirmed the make-up of their coaching staff led by Byron Hayward for the Under-20 Six Nations. Craig Everett in terms of coaching would be considered inexperienced but he is coming in to do defence which is a massive role. Evans elected new Vice-Chair. It will include a purpose-built gym, medical centre and team rooms and is adjacent to Cardiff Arms Park, which will be their training and playing home for the season. Wales Rugby League are pleased to confirm their coaching and backroom staff for the forthcoming Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. Wayne Pivac is Wales' head coach, succeeding Gatland last year after the Rugby World Cup. "It is a very exciting time for women's rugby in Wales with the magnificent performance and result last Saturday building on the progress made on and off the field over the last six months," the union's performance director added. Jared Wright 29 Dec 2022 1:17 PM. Hill was senior academy coach at Bath and also headed up Bath University's rugby programme. Assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids, and scrum coach Daan Human have all signed new deals with the world . "We are playing against a side we have a huge amount of respect for - our selection reflects that - and there are a lot of opportunities for players to show their quality. Last summer, he travelled to Argentina to work with the Wales under-20s side at the World Rugby U20 Championship - where Wales pulled off a victory over New Zealand. Before moving to Australia, he played rugby union at Llandrillo College where he studied his BTEC in Sport Development and Fitness then at Cardiff Met where he achieved his BSc in Sport and Physical Education. For me its not just about being technically and tactically sound, its also about being good people as well and fitting in with the environment we want to create so from that perspective Im really happy., Wales U20 fixtures 4 min read. "Having our first match this championship at home will be very special and I'm looking forward to getting back out at Principality Stadium in front of the best fans in rugby.". With over 30 years experience as a sportswriter, he first wrote about Welsh rugby league in 2002 with local club Cardiff Demons before being asked to fill in for the then media manager Swansea-based Gareth Jones a year later. But they will now remain in post for next year's tournament in New Zealand. Im really happy in what he is doing, hes got the characteristics you need as a coach, a very high work ethic and a real desire to improve the players. Meanwhile, Wales have added Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams to the Six Nations squad as cover for the injured Tomos Williams who suffered a head injury against France. Three years and one month since his last match in charge, Warren Gatland has returned to his old job as the head coach of Wales. Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. Argentina Head Coach Michael Cheika will take charge of Los Pumas for the first time in the 2022 July Internationals.