Principality Welsh Rugby Union Podcast

What’s it like being called up for the Lions tour, growing up in Tonga, or helping Wales Women bounce back this Autumn, we find out in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We speak to Adam Beard about his remarkable 12 months, Sione Kalamafoni about his remarkable background, along with Siwan Lillicrap and Geraint Lewis about how Wales Women can bounce back this Autumn.

We hear from the Welsh Rugby Union’s new performance director Nigel Walker on the challenges facing him on his first day in the job. We also hear from some past and potentially future Wales internationals at each of the four regions.

We hear from the star players at all four regions in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. As the new season gets underway, we talk to Willis Halaholo, Cardiff Rugby, Jonathan Davies, Scarlets, Harrison Keddie, Dragons, and Tomas Francis, Ospreys.

We hear about Welsh rugby’s oldest trophy in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast – and how it came to be returned to the WRU. We also hear about the apprentice turned rugby officer and go along to a visually impaired rugby event in Cardiff.

Some well known Welsh rugby characters involved in Abergavenny v Brynmawr in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. While at regional level we’ll hear about a potentially career ending injury, about gaining career starting qualifications and a career-boosting move.

We hear about the return to rugby across Wales at a West Wales local derby between St Clears and Laugharne. We also speak to the Welsh regions as they get ready to start pre-season friendlies.

It’s a walk down memory lane this week, 50 years after Wales launched the Golden Era of the Seventies with a Grand Slam in 1971. We speak to flanker John Taylor, one of the key players, including the comparison with this season’s Six Nations when Wales again went to Paris for the final game chasing a Grand Slam.

We hear from Wales captain Jonathan Davies looking forward to the Autumn Internationals in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also hear about the return of community rugby with a visit to a local derby in Cardiff.

A chance to focus on rugby in North Wales in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast with a new man in charge. We chat at length to the new general manager in the North Wales development region, Alun Pritchard.

We look forward to the climactic Third Test for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa with Wales hooker Ken Owens and Lions coach Warren Gatland. We also speak to former Ebbw Vale and Dragons full back Carl Meyer, who’s now based in New Orleans, about the development of rugby in America. The comparison between Ebbw Vale and New Orleans is worth listening out for!

We look at the strong Welsh influence on the British and Irish Lions, 1-0 in South Africa after a thrilling First Test victory. We hear from Wales and Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, along with former Wales coach Warren Gatland and former Ospreys coach Steve Tandy.

We hear from Welshman Gareth Baber, who will be in charge of Fiji at the Olympics Rugby Sevens, as they aim to repeat their gold medal success of last time round.

We look forward at the second Test between Wales and Argentina in Cardiff, as well as back at the Wales U20 Six Nations campaign. We hear from Wales coach Wayne Pivac, defence coach Gethin Jenkins, front rowers Elliot Dee and Gareth Thomas, along with centre Nick Tomkins. We also speak to Wales U20 coach Ioan Cunningham, as well as players Alex Mann, Efan Daniel, Christ Tshuinza and Cameron Jones.

We reflect on the win over Canada and look forward to Argentina in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Coach Wayne Pivac explains his thinking, we hear about all the players in the squad who go way back with outside half Callum Sheedy, scrum half Kieran Hardy back in the starting line-up and second row Will Rowlands on his step up in responsibility. We also hear from Wales U20s about their Six Nations campaign.

A chance to find out more about some of the players who are Welsh rugby’s future, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. Coach Wayne Pivac explains his selection against Canada and we talk to prop Dillon Lewis and wing Tom Rogers. U20s forwards coach Rhys Thomas talks about their campaign and we find out more about lock James Fender and scrum half Ethan Lloyd.

A Welsh Olympian, rugby at the heart of the community and the Under 20s player who was man of the match after 790 days without a game, in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union podcast. We speak to Jaz Joyce, heading to her second Olympics in the Rugby Sevens, hear about a community rugby scheme in Cardiff and also focus on the Wales U20s, including flanker Harri Deaves who was man of the match 790 days after his last match.

A complete Six Nations tournament in Cardiff kicks off this weekend, with Wales hosting the Under 20s Championships. We hear all about the Wales squad and from the two players who chose rugby over football. Ahead of the Wales summer internationals we hear why versatility helped Cardiff centre Ben Thomas gain his first senior Wales call-up.

We hear about the Wales squad for this summer’s internationals, including speaking to 20-year-old Ben Carter on his rapid rise. Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan gives his views and Wales coach Wayne Pivac explains his thinking.

What does rugby give you when facing the most severe conditions on the planet in one of the hardest challenges around. Former Wales Women’s player Rebecca Rowe is about to find out.

We hear at length from former Wales and Lions coach Rob Howley in this week’s Welsh Rugby Union Podcast. We also speak to another Welshman coaching abroad as Chris Hitt tells how his story took him from working with the WRU to coaching Poland.