The latest news, views and interviews from the world of Welsh rugby.
Lauren Jenkins, BBC Wales rugby reporter Gareth Griffiths and Daily Mail rugby reporter Alex Bywater discuss Steve Tandy's appointment as Wales head coach and hear from WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and performance director Dave Reddin about the recruitment process and the next steps for Welsh rugby.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Matt Lloyd explain the Welsh Rugby Union’s latest proposals for structural change as they consider halving the number of regions in Wales. The governing body says it’s entering a formal consultation with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and could reduce the number of regions to three or even two. In a statement, the WRU said the current system is failing and is unsustainable, having already confirmed it does not intend to continue equally funding four professional teams in...
Gareth Rhys Owen and former Wales internationals Gwyn Jones and James Hook react to Wales' 31-22 win against Japan as they end their 18-match losing streak. Wales held on for a first international win in 644 days as they levelled the series at 1-1 in Kobe. Fly-half Dan Edwards scored 16 of Wales' 31 points on his first start as Wales got their first win since Georgia in the 2023 World Cup.
Gareth Rhys Owen is joined by Gareth Griffiths in Japan and Lauren Jenkins in Australia as they discuss Wales’ second test against Japan and the British and Irish Lions’ final warmup match. Fly-half Dan Edwards makes his first start for Wales as interim head coach Matt Sherratt makes four changes to the team that was beaten in Kitakyushu last Saturday, while number eight Taulupe Faletau misses out through injury. Wales are looking to avoid becoming the first tier one rugby nation in history to s...
Gareth Rhys Owen is joined by former Wales internationals James Hook and Rhys Patchell to react to Wales’ 24-19 defeat to Japan in Kitakyushu as their losing run is extended to 18 games. It’s a second victory for Japan against Wales with head coach Eddie Jones also masterminding the first win in 2013. The defeat means Wales have fallen to a new low as they search for a first Test win in 21 months. Wales have slipped two places to an all-time low of 14th in the world rankings, below Japan and Sam...
Gareth Rhys Owen is joined by Lauren Jenkins from Australia and Gareth Griffiths from Japan to preview Wales' first test against Japan and the British and Irish Lions versus the Waratahs. We hear from Wales boss Matt Sherratt and Japan head coach Eddie Jones who've been speaking with the BBC ahead of Saturday's match in Kitakyushu, while Lauren brings us the latest from the Lions camp as head coach Andy Farrell calls up his son, Owen, as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly. Coverage: Watch J...
Lauren Jenkins, Gareth Rhys Owen, and former British and Irish Lions wing Alex Cuthbert look ahead to the Lions’ first match in Australia against Western Force on Saturday. From Perth, Lauren has arrived after a long flight and has been catching up with members of the squad as they prepare for the opening game.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins head into camp with the Wales Under-20's as they prepare to head to Italy for the World Championship where they will face Argentina, France and Spain in Pool B. Head coach Richard Whiffin and a host of players join the pod to chat about their hopes and expectations ahead of their opening fixture on Sunday against Argentina.
Gareth Rhys Owen, Lauren Jenkins, and Rhys Patchell head into Wales camp as they prepare for their summer tour of Japan. Fly-half Sam Costelow joins the podcast to offer insight into the team’s preparations and share what it truly means to wear the number ten jersey. After a season with Green Rockets Tokatsu, Rhys provides a special perspective on Japanese rugby and explains what Wales must do to end their 17-match losing streak.
Gareth Rhys Owen, Lauren Jenkins and BBC Rugby writer Gareth Griffiths evaluate a way forward for the professional game in Wales with the Welsh Rugby Union still in dispute with Ospreys and Scarlets over funding. WalesOnline Rugby Correspondent Steffan Thomas discusses exactly how the direction of Welsh rugby will be shaped this summer while Welsh Rugby Players Association chairman Ashton Hewitt speaks about uncertainties facing the players.
Former Wales fly-half James Hook and BBC Sport Wales rugby writer Gareth Griffiths join Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins to look back on the 2024-25 season for Wales' regions. They pick their player of the season and their breakthrough player of the season and also argue over their regional team from the campaign.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by Rhys Patchell, Ellis Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert to preview the Scarlets' URC play-off with Leinster on Saturday.
Gareth, Lauren and former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert speak to caretaker coach Matt Sherratt as he names his Wales squad for the summer's tour to Japan
Gareth and Lauren are joined by former Wales international Ellis Jenkins to discuss the potential threat of losing another regional team while Josh McLeod, fresh from arriving home from South Africa, reflects on the Scarlets making the URC play-offs
Ahead of the final weekend of the URC regular season, Lauren Jenkins is joined by Jamie Roberts, Ellis Jenkins and Lou Reed to discuss the Welsh chances of making the play-offs and preview Wales' summer tour of Japan.
Gareth and Lauren are joined by former Wales internationals James Hook and Alex Cuthbert to reflect on the Welsh regions results in the United Rugby Championship ahead of the final weekend of fixtures, and discuss the latest dispute between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies and Richard Hibbard to discuss Andy Farrell's British & Irish Lions squad announcement for this summer's tour to Australia.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins are joined by BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English and former Ireland international Bernard Jackman to pick a British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer. Ahead of next Thursday's official announcement, the four select a squad of 37 players consisting of 21 forwards and 16 backs... but how many Welshmen will make the cut?
Gareth and Lauren are joined by former Wales international James Hook and broadcaster Laura-Jane Jones to look back at a weekend of both highs and lows for Welsh rugby. Cardiff, Scarlets and Ospreys are still in the chase for the URC play-offs after impressive wins - but Sean Lynn's Wales women's side suffered another heavy defeat in the Six Nations and they take the wooden spoon once again.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins head to the Principality Stadium for a sit down with new Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Dave Reddin and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney. Reddin speaks about his vision for the game in Wales and the immediate tasks he faces which includes helping to appoint a permanent head coach for the Wales men's team to replace Warren Gatland.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by Claire Thomas, Alex Cuthbert and Jonathan Davies as they look ahead to Wales' final match against Italy in the Women's Six Nations, and preview this weekend's URC round 16 fixtures.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by Alex Cuthbert and Siwan Lillicrap to discuss Steve Tandy as the current Scotland defence coach emerges as the Welsh Rugby Union's target for the vacant Wales head coach position. They also review Wales' 40-14 defeat to Ireland in round four of the Women's Six Nations and a high-scoring Judgement Day with wins for Cardiff and Scarlets.
Lauren Jenkins, Ellis Jenkins and Jonathan Davies are joined by the recently retired Ollie Griffiths to reflect on his career, discuss his health issues that led to him giving up the game at 29. The team also preview a busy weekend of action as Judgement Day looms for the four Welsh sides and Wales face Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by Alex Cuthbert and Phillippa Tuttiett to reflect of defeats for Ospreys against Lyon in Europe and for Wales against France in the Women's Six Nations.
WRU top dogs Abi Tierney and Richard Collier-Keywood sit down with Gareth Rhys Owen to reveal their vision for the future of Welsh rugby. Up to 20 jobs could go as the Union implements a restructure aimed at saving £5m a year to make the professional game in Wales financially stable. Tierney also reveals they are close to appointing a new Director of Rugby and have already spoken to potential candidates to be their next men's head coach.
Lauren Jenkins, Scott Baldwin, Ellis Jenkins & Richie Rees reflect on another busy week in Welsh rugby, including the news that the Welsh Rugby Union has taken control of Cardiff Rugby.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins react to the breaking news that Cardiff Rugby are set to go into administration with the Welsh Rugby Union in line to take over the capital city side. BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas as well as former Chief Executive of Sport Wales and longtime Cardiff fan Dr Huw Jones discuss the ramifications for the world-famous club.
Gareth, Lauren and former Wales internationals Alex Cuthbert and Phillippa Tuttiett reflect on the European Rugby weekend and look ahead to Wales' trip to France in the Women's Six Nations.
Lauren Jenkins is joined by three former Wales internationals Richie Rees, Alex Cuthbert and Jonathan Davies to preview a weekend of knockout European rugby, and recall memorable experiences of competing in Europe.
Gareth Rhys Owen and Lauren Jenkins are joined by former Wales captains Ellis Jenkins and Siwan Lillicrap to reflect on Wales’ 67-12 defeat to England and the weekend’s URC games. Sean Lynn's side conceded 11 tries against the Women's Six Nations holders in front of a record crowd of over 21,000 fans. Elsewhere, Scarlets came back from 17-0 down to beat west Wales rivals Ospreys, Cardiff conceded a late penalty to lose away to Benetton and Dragons suffered another defeat after losing to Edinburg...
