Halfpenny and Thomas claim Wales starts

Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales have made two changes from the starting line-up defeated by England at Twickenham in the RBS 6 Nations opener last weekend for the visit of Scotland to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.00pm).  In the second row Osprey Jonathan Thomas reforms his regional partnership with Alun-Wyn Jones at the expense of Dragons lock Luke Charteris. In the backs Leigh Halfpenny comes in for his Blues colleague Tom James on the wing.

Gethin Jenkins has recovered from his calf injury to be named on the bench and, in one of three changes there, he joins fellow Blues players Sam Warburton, who covers the back row, and centre or wing Tom Shanklin.

“Jonathan brings over 50 caps of experience to the tight five and offers us some extra mobility around the field,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

“Leigh is a recognised right wing who offers us an extra kicking option and his return to full fitness after limited training in the run up to the England game allows his selection.

“We think we have a very strong bench with the right mix of players each able to make an impact if called upon and are pleased to be able to name Gethin although he will undergo further fitness assessments later in the week.

“Tom Shanklin returns to provide another 65-caps worth of experience as cover for the backs and Sam Warburton comes in as back row cover with JT (Jonathan Thomas) now having been nominated as a starting second row.”

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Wales injury update – Rees needs surgery

Posted on Dec 1, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales and Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees is likely to require surgery on the groin tear which saw him carried off on a stretcher against Australia at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday in the final clash of the Invesco Perpetual Series of 2009.

Ospreys wing Shane Williams, who withdrew with a hamstring injury early in the first half, will not require surgery but will be in rehabilitation for a period of four to six weeks.

Squad captain Ryan Jones should be back in training this week after a back injury forced him to watch from the sidelines at the weekend and Leigh Halfpenny has joined the Baa-Baas squad still undergoing treatment for a dead leg.

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Datgelwyd cynnydd sylweddol yn y deunydd cyfrwng Cymraeg fydd ar gael ar wefan swyddogol Undeb Rygbi Cymru

Posted on Dec 1, 2009 in Rugby News

An important boost in the amount of Welsh language content available on the official website of the WRU has been unveiled online.

More information has been uploaded entirely in Welsh so that visitors to wru.co.uk will be able to choose which language they want to read.

Many of the translated files are static or timeless information which is permanently available on the website and some news items are also appearing in both English and Welsh.

The Welsh Rugby Union is now committed to continuing to add to the volume of Welsh content available on the official website in the years ahead.

The translation project has been completed with the full backing of the Sports Council for Wales and the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

It is part of a WRU initiative to adopt an active policy which ensures that Welsh speakers can find out more about the national sport of Wales through its native language.

Anyone who now accesses the WRU website will be able to continue reading pages in English or switch to a predominantly Welsh version with an option where Welsh content is available.

The buttons marked ENG or CYM appear at the top of the left hand menu on the home page of the site.

A translation programme focusing on the static content information on the site has been underway over the past year.

The pilot programme has been extended to include much of the up-to-date breaking news for rugby fans in Wales or Welsh speakers from around the world.

Headlines, picture captions and entire documents have all been translated to ensure Welsh speakers can operate the system in their own language.

The website translation scheme is the culmination of three projects initiated through the Sports Council for Wales.

The first initiative involved creating Welsh language publications and programmes for the Junior World Championship which took place in Wales during June 2008.

The second project saw the WRU revamp the Welsh language signage around the Millennium Stadium which attracts one million visitors each year.

Now the WRU is introducing more video content to its official website and will include Welsh language reports in future.

Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, said: “We are delighted to be able to prove our commitment to the Welsh language through this exciting website initiative.

“It is vitally important for the WRU to reflect the importance of the Welsh language in the culture of a vibrant, modern Wales.

“Rugby is our national sport and we are proud to represent the whole of Wales which means we acknowledge our duty to fully respect the Welsh language.

“I want to thank the Welsh Assembly Government and the Sports Council for Wales for supporting this activity with the help and advice which has led to the completion of this phase of our policy.

“Millions of people visit our website every year so it is vitally important they get an accurate reflection of the place Welsh language has in our culture and life.”

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Rhydian to raise the roof at Millennium Stadium

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

The Welsh Rugby Union will be hitting all the right notes with fans tomorrow (Saturday, 28 November) – as Rhydian Roberts is set to perform new hit ‘O Fortuna’ before the Invesco Perpetual Autumn Series clash with Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

The classically trained X Factor finalist will raise the iconic roof with the title song from his new studio album before joining the traditional choir for a medley of Welsh rugby favourites and the national anthems.

Rhydian, who sang for the first time at the Millennium Stadium at the Grand Slam party in 2008, said: “I’m so grateful to the WRU for giving me this opportunity to fulfil a life time ambition of mine.

“The Millennium Stadium is my favourite place to sing and I’m more excited than ever before about tomorrow’s encounter between Wales and Australia. Diolch o’r galon. Cymru am byth!”

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Ryan Jones is out of Australia clash – Gethin Jenkins takes over as Captain

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Ryan Jones has withdrawn from the Wales side to take on Australia in the Invesco Perpetual Series climax at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 5.15pm).

Gethin Jenkins will captain the team and Jones is replaced at No8 by Andy Powell, who moves across the back row, with Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate promoted from the bench to the blindside to win his second cap.

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