Shingler tied to Wales not Scots
Former Scarlet Steven Shingler is ruled ineligible for Scotland after losing his IRB appeal and is tied to Wales.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales squad shows intent: Deans
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says Wales’ strong training squad is a sign of their "intent" to take the next step and claim a Tri Nations scalp.
FOXSPORTS.com.au | Rugby Union
Wales recall for in-form Biggar
Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar earns a Wales squad recall ahead of the June tour to Australia and clash against the Barbarians.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Brumbies to face off against Wales
The Brumbies will play Wales in a mid-week match in June, adding a traditional flavour to the Red Dragons’ Australian tour.
FOXSPORTS.com.au | Rugby Union
Wales coach Edwards joins Exiles
Shaun Edwards is to join London Irish as the club’s defence coach, but will continue his work with Wales.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Howley to lead Wales in Australia
Wales coach Warren Gatland will not travel to Australia for this summer’s three-Test tour, with Rob Howley taking temporary charge.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Rugby: Wales to meet France
Wales are to play a mid-season international against France.
ESPNSTAR.com
McBryde with Wales until World Cup
Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde has signed a new contract to remain with the Six Nations champions until the 2015 World Cup.
Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News
Wales endorse Gatland Lions bid
The Welsh Rugby Union will let Warren Gatland miss next year’s Six Nations if he is chosen as British and Irish Lions coach in 2013.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales win Grand Slam after tense battle with France in Cardiff
Wales beat France 16-9 to claim the 2012 Six Nations title, and their third Grand Slam in seven years. Wing Alex Cuthbert scored the only try of the game, while Leigh Halfpenny kicked 11 points.
Elsewhere, Scotland picked up the Wooden Spoon as they lost 13-6 to Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. Scotland coach Andy Robinson will more than likely face the chop after having lost five from five.
At Twickenham, England gave Ireland a bit of a St Patricks Day hiding as they beat them 30-9, more than likely securing intermim coach Stuart Lancaster’s position.
We’ll get clips and highlights over the best bits from the Six Nations, Super Rugby, and everywhere else, over the next few days.
Congratulations to Wales on a deserved win. What are your thoughts on the day’s results?
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Wales 16-9 France
Wales clinch a third Grand Slam in eight years as they edge past France 16-9 at a delirious Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales want to win it for Davies
Wales backs coach Robert Howley says Mervyn Davies’ death has motivated them for Saturday’s Grand Slam tilt.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales still on course for Grand Slam following victory over Italy
Wales are still on track for a Six Nations title following a comfortable 24-3 win over determined Italy at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. If they beat France next weekend, they will pick up their third Grand Slam in eight years.
It was a slow first half as Italy frustrated the hosts, who went into the break at just six points up at 9-3, following penalties exchanged by Leigh Halfpenny and Mirco Bergamasco.
Two tries followed in the second period, one by Jamie Roberts as he split the defence to run 50 meters untouched, and the other a later effort from winger, and Man of the Match, Alex Cuthbert.
Halfpenny was yellow carded for taking out Sergio Parisse in the air, although it looked as though it may have been a harsh call. Welsh coach Warren Gatland felt that his side didn’t get the rub of the green throughout, criticising referee George Clancy’s handling of the breakdown.
“I thought there was a lot of intent by us but it was a bit frustrating because the flow of the game was not there. We were not allowed to get quick ball and the breakdown was a bit of a mess. We will take the win but if a team has that much possession and territory and loses the penalty count 13-12 you have got to be frustrated about that.
“We werenât allowed to get the momentum going. Itâs probably just about trying to get the message through to referees, letâs be positive to the team that is trying to play positively and letâs reward them for that. I donât think everything has to be 100 per cent to the letter of the law because there is so much interpretation.
“Thatâs why I am personally pretty frustrated because it was difficult for us,” Gatland added.
Italy coach Jaques Brunel, who took over from Nick Mallett, was positive despite the loss. He was pleased with his team’s defensive effort against a ‘very powerful Welsh side’.
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Warburton boosts Wales Slam bid
Captain Sam Warburton overcomes his knee injury in time to lead Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations Grand Slam match against France.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales lead race for top player
Wales dominate the shortlist for Six Nations player of the championship with four players, while no England players are nominated.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales must improve – Priestland
Fly-half Rhys Priestland says Wales will have to improve to have any chance of securing the Grand Slam against France.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales 24-3 Italy
Wales score two tries in a hard-earned 24-3 victory over Italy in Cardiff to stay on course for a third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales relish Grand Slam pressure
Warren Gatland admits he would “hate to see the reaction in Wales” if his Grand Slam chasers lose to Italy.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales without captain Warburton
A knee injury rules out Wales captain Sam Warburton from Saturday’s RBS Six Nations game against Italy in Cardiff.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Charteris returns to Wales squad
Lock Luke Charteris is added to the Wales squad as the Grand Slam-chasers prepare to face Italy in Cardiff on Saturday.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
The big hits, try savers, and collisions from England vs Wales
England and Wales’ Six Nations encounter at Twickenham on Saturday was one of the more intense games of the weekend. With the Triple Crown at stake, and of course bragging rights, neither side gave an inch. Here’s a look at some of the rough stuff.
The biggest hit of the game was probably winger George North’s tackle on new England flyhalf Owen Farrell. It was an awesome sequence, as young Farrell showed he can produce bits of magic out of nowhere, before North said hang on, we can’t have that, and flattened him.
It was included in the highlights of the match so that’s why you haven’t seen it on here sooner. Rather than feature it on it’s own, it makes sense to show all the good stuff together, including a few big charges from another young beast, England center Manu Tuilagi.
Tuilagi, alongside tackling machine Brad Barritt, gave them good go-forward ball as he bumped defenders out of the way and actually came close to scoring on one occasion, had it not been for an incredible tackle from Welsh captain Sam Warburton.
That’s in the video too, as well as a few other collisions, charges, and tackles, including Leigh Halfpenny’s excellent trysaver on David Strettle at the end. While it didn’t look technically perfect, he put his body on the line, coming off worse for wear but saving the day for his side.
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Song: Geraldine by Glasvegas
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Wales claim the Triple Crown with nail biting win over England
Wales can now aim for the Grand Slam after picking up the Triple Crown when beating England 19-12 in an intense Six Nations game at Twickenham yesterday. The match went down to the final play, when David Strettle was held up over the line.Â
Leigh Halfpenny made a courageous tackle on Strettle as England looked to get into a position from which they would kick to draw the game. Halfpenny put his body on the line, seemingly knocking himself out in the process, before Jon Davies and George North held up the Saracens winger.
Strettle has since insisted that he felt the ball touch the ground, despite television match official Iain Ramage having numerous looks at the incident and finding the footage inconclusive.
“I felt the ball touch the floor,” said Strettle. “If it is inconclusive you have to go with the attacking team. When they showed it on the big screen it looked like it went down as well,” he added, before saying that he felt the touch judge was in the best position to adjudicate on the decision.
“The strange thing for me was that I was hoping the touch judge might have seen it because our physio was standing right next to him and he says it was grounded. I can’t understand why we have not gone back for that penalty,” he added, referring to the advantage played by ref Steve Walsh.
A few minutes earlier Welsh replacement center Scott Williams ripped the ball from England lock Courtney Lawes and sped away for what turned out to be the decisive try.
“We knew it would be the toughest game, and it was tough. We are over the moon to get the Triple Crown here,” said captain Sam Warburton, who led from the front as always.
Wales face Italy next, then a meeting with France which could be their Grand Slam decider.
In your opinion, was the decision at the end correct?
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Howley hails ‘special’ Wales team
A special future awaits Wales’ Grand Slam-chasers, says assistant coach Robert Howley.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
England 12-19 Wales
A late try from Scott Williams sees Wales edge England 19-12 in a dramatic finale to win the Triple Crown at Twickenham.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales targeting England novices
Defence coach Shaun Edwards admits Wales will target England’s inexperience in Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
England’s Tuilagi to face Wales
Centre Manu Tuilagi returns to the England team to face Wales on Saturday as interim head coach Stuart Lancaster makes four changes.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Jones and Warburton in for Wales
Alun Wyn Jones, skipper Sam Warburton and Ken Owens are the three changes for Wales Saturday’s Triple Crown bid against England at Twickenham.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Wales looking strong after solid win over Scotland
Scotland picked up two yellow cards as they lost 27-13 to Wales in their Six Nations meeting on Sunday. It was another game of missed chances for the Scots, and the Welsh are now in a strong position as they head into their next game, against England.
In two week’s time Wales will head to Twickenham to take on the old enemy in a game that may well set them on the path for the Grand Slam. The’ve had a good run of form and have scored six tries in their two games so far, building up the hype at home.
“Iâm sure the nation is going to get revved up again and weâll be the only sane ones left here. Itâs hard to escape sometimes when youâre walking around Tesco but youâve just got to keep your feet on the ground,” prop Adam Jones told Wales Online.
“Weâve got something to play for now and going to Twickenham to try and win a Triple Crown is an exciting prospect. Obviously they can still win one as well so itâs going to be an exciting game.”
As for Scotland, at 27-6 down they had a try disallowed from the impressive young Stuart Hogg after it was ruled to have been knocked on. A few minutes later they did score, and built some nice phases in the last twenty minutes of the game.
Recently retired Dan Parks says that there is plenty to build on, particularly at flyhalf.
“Jacko (Ruaridh Jackson) is an excellent open-field runner and he has great skills and his kicking game has come on leaps and bounds. Greig (Laidlaw) brings something slightly different. Judging on his showing against Wales, he can be very crafty. He can score points which is vital.
“And Duncan (Weir) is similar to myself. He has a great kicking game and also accumulates points. The future for Scotland 10s is very bright and the future for Scotland is bright,” he said.
You can view highlights of the game below
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Wales 27-13 Scotland
Leigh Halfpenny scores two tries in a 22-point haul as Wales beat Scotland 27-13 to go top of the Six Nations table.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
Jones warning to triumphant Wales
Ryan Jones warns Wales “not to rest on their laurels” after their opening 23-21 Six Nations win over Ireland.
BBC Sport – Rugby Union
