Today’s rugby news as sport rocked by death of Scotland international and coach in tragic accident
Here are the newest rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 4.
Former Scotland scrum-half Greig Oliver dies aged 58
The recreation of rugby is in shock after the death of former Scotland scrum-half Greig Oliver at 58.
Oliver, who gained three Scotland caps, died after a paragliding accident in Cape Town, based on Munster.
He held the position of elite efficiency officer on the membership and was in South Africa together with his spouse Fiona, supporting their son Jack and the remaining of the Ireland squad who’re presently taking part in in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, when the tragic accident occurred.
Munster CEO Ian Flanagan stated on the membership’s web site: “We are all in a state of shock following Greig’s tragic passing. He was a great colleague and friend to so many and will be dearly missed across the Munster and Irish Rugby community. Greig made his presence felt each day, he was always there to provide a helping hand and was a hugely popular character with his light-hearted nature and sense of humour. He had an infectious enthusiasm for the game and was incredibly passionate about helping young players be the best they can be on and off the field. May he rest in peace.”
Irish Rugby Football Union chief government Kevin Potts stated: “On behalf of the Irish rugby community, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the Oliver family at this extremely sad time. Greig was a hugely popular member of staff and played a key role in the development of many young players during his time at Munster Rugby. Today’s news is an unspeakable tragedy and our thoughts are with Greig’s wife Fiona, children Jack and Ciara, and his many friends, family and colleagues. May he rest in peace.”
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont tweeted: “On behalf of World Rugby and the global rugby family, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Oliver family, the Ireland U20 squad and the Irish rugby community at this difficult time.”
Ireland already deliberate to mark deaths of two college students
Ireland U20s had already deliberate to put on black armbands once they face Fiji on Tuesday to honour St Michael’s College college students Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall, who’ve died on the Greek island of Ios.
Six gamers in Ireland’s U20s squad are additionally from the Dublin school of St Michael’s, and U20s boss Richie Murphy has spoken of the “devastation” felt by his squad of gamers in South Africa.
“It’s a really tough time,” said Murphy. “Obviously, we are massively devastated to hear of the passing of Max Wall and Andrew O’Donnell, two boys from St Michael’s. We have a number St Michael’s guys here in the squad, who know them well, and as a father of kids around that age and an Irishman I feel really devastated for them and we’d like to offer our condolences to the Wall and O’Donnell family.”
Wales U20s face France in pool finale
Wales U20s will full their pool marketing campaign on the World Rugby U20 Championship towards unbeaten defending champions France on Tuesday (3.30pm UK kick-off time).
A six strive, 41-19 win over Japan earned Wales 5 factors to go together with the 2 they secured in the agonising 27-26 defeat to New Zealand. The Baby Blacks had been then crushed in their second recreation by France 35-14, who opened with a 75-12 hammering of the Japanese.
To keep in the combo for a spot in the highest 4 seeds, Wales might want to decide up as many factors as potential towards the French, who beat them 67-17 in the final spherical of the U20 Six Nations earlier this 12 months. The final Welsh win over the Tricolours at U20 stage was in 2020, once they beat them 14-11 in Colwyn Bay.
Wales U20s captain Ryan Woodman stated of this 12 months’s Six Nations outcome: “We know that isn’t us as a team and we’re different from the Six Nations. We know we can really give them a good contest. It’s definitely the biggest game in most of these boys’ careers.”
As for the ultimate crew run earlier than the sport, gamers participated whereas sporting their dwelling membership jerseys. Woodman added: “It was something a little bit different for the team run, we had everyone in their home club jerseys to recognise where everyone came from. Dan Edwards was the one who led it because he loves his home club.”
Wales U20s: 15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), 14. Tom Florence (Ospreys), 13. Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), 12. Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), 11. Harri Houston (Ospreys), 10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9. Archie Hughes (Scarlets), 1. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons RFC), 2. Sam Scarfe (Dragons RFC), 3. Kian Hire (Ospreys), 4. Liam Edwards (Ospreys), 5. Jonny Green (Harlequins), 6. Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – capt), 7. Seb Driscoll (Harlequins), 8. Morgan Morse (Ospreys).
Replacements: 16. Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), 17. Josh Morse (Scarlets), 18. Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), 19. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), 20. Gwilym Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 21. Joe Westwood (Dragons RFC), 22. Harri Wiilde (Cardiff Rugby), 23. Harri Williams (Ampthill).
Wales Women U20s face USA
Wales Women U20s will face USA in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday (6.30pm native kick-off time) throughout a two-match tour of North America.
Captain Jenna De Vera, 19, skippers a squad of 28 uncapped gamers for the clashes towards USA U20s and Canada U20s, the latter on July 13. The U20s squad sees 16 gamers graduate from the Wales Women U18s set-up, whereas seven gamers who featured in this 12 months’s Celtic Challenge video games – towards Irish and Scottish opposition – are named, too.
Midfield skipper De Vera, who was chosen for Wales Women’s Six Nations squad this 12 months, stated: “It is an enormous honour and accountability to captain my nation however having had the expertise of taking part in in the Celtic Challenge video games and being with the senior squad modified my outlook on the requirements required and my outlook on rugby.
“It’s simply actually thrilling to be concerned in this and all of the gamers really feel the identical method. We have learnt a lot in the course of the camps now we have had and we simply wish to execute what now we have carried out in coaching on the pitch now.
“We know we will probably be taking part in a really bodily and athletic aspect and it’s intimidating however now we have some expertise and technical performs and hope to have an higher hand there.
‘We are all pinching ourselves that we are part of something new and will be part of something lots of girls haven’t had earlier than. We have talked about beating USA on July 4 however a very powerful factor is that we carry out, be taught from this expertise and construct from there for the longer term.”
Wales Women U20s: 15. Bethan Adkins, 14. Seren Singleton, 13. Ellie Tromans, 12. Jenna De Vera (capt), 11. Nel Metcalfe, 10. Chelsea Williams, 9. Molly Reardon, 1. Cana Williams, 2. Rosie Carr, 3. Katie Carr, 4. Alaw Pyrs, 5. Erin Jones, 6. Jess Rogers (vice-captain), 7. Lucy Issac, 8. Gwennan Hopkins.
Replacements: Molly Wakely, Chloe Thomas-Bradley, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Masie Davies, Finley Jones, Sian Jones, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Molly Powell, Carys Hughes, Kim Thurlow.
Wales U20s squad for North America tour – forwards: Alaw Pyrs (Hartpury), Cadi-Lois Davies (Lampeter), Cana Williams (Loughborough University), Chloe Thomas Bradley (Dragons Academy), Dali Hopkins (Hartpury), Erin Jones (RGC), Finley Jones (Burry Port), Gwennan Hopkins (Hartpury), Jess Rogers (Cardiff Met, vice-captain), Katie Carr (Cardiff Met), Lucy Isaac (Dragons Academy), Maisie Davies (Burry Port), Molly Wakely (Coleg Gwent), Robyn Davies (Hartpury), Rosie Carr (Cardiff Met).
Backs: Bethan Adkins (unattached), Carys Hughes (Hartpury), Chelsea Williams (Nelson), Ellie Tromans (Cardiff Uni), Jenna De Vera (Bristol University, captain), Kate Davies (Bangor University), Kim Thurlow (Bath University), Molly Anderson-Thomas (Loughborough University), Molly Mae Powell (Dragons Academy), Molly Reardon (Nelson), Nel Metcalfe (Hartpury), Seren Singleton (Cardiff Met), Sian Jones (Sale Sharks).
