As rugby fans count down to Rugby World Cup France 2023, Emirates has taken to the skies with its passion for the game emblazoned on one of its flagship A380 aircraft, A6-EOE.
Over the years Emirates has rolled out a series of eye-catching limited edition livery designs to the delight of sports fans and plane spotters around the world. This latest Rugby World Cup 2023 decal, designed in-house, was inspired by the fast-running lines of the backs, evident in the delicate lines that run seamlessly through the new livery.
Returning for the 4th time consecutive Rugby World Cup as Worldwide Partner, Emirates has long been at the heart of local and international rugby, cheering on teams and enriching the experience of rugby fans across the globe.
The airline has been a tournament sponsor of Rugby World Cup since 2007, and in 2011, became a Worldwide Partner when the host nation, New Zealand, won the tournament. That year, Emirates unveiled its first ever Rugby World Cup livery on an A380, A6-EDN, which operated over 40 flights to cities including France (finalist in 2011), Australia (semi-finalist), as well as other rugby nations like the US and Hong Kong.
In 2015, Emirates once again celebrated its love for rugby with its A380 A6-EDA dressed in the Rugby World Cup livery as it ferried passengers across the world, including to England, the host nation, and 21 other destinations, including Brisbane, New York JFK, Manchester, and Sydney.
Emirates continued the tradition in 2019, designing a new livery for Rugby World Cup hosted by Japan. Its A380 A6-EEU visited Tokyo Narita nine times and Kansai International Airport four times, in addition to cities across the US, Europe, and Asia, and New Zealand, even though the Webb Ellis Cup finally went to South Africa in the clash with England. The decal was also seen in LA, New York, Melbourne, and Bombay.
As the Official Airline of Rugby World Cup France 2023 and Australia 2027, Its investment in the sport as a Worldwide Partner will help support rugby’s development in both emerging and established markets, while fans will be able to watch every moment from two unforgettable Rugby World Cups live and on-demand from their flight seats, I like the sound of that.
A rare 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit large parts of western France on Friday evening, with the seismology bureau calling it “very strong” amid reports of damage to buildings. Ecology transition minister Christophe Béchu said it was “one of the strongest quakes registered on the mainland.”
The national network for seismic surveillance recorded the quake at 5.3 while the French Central Seismological Bureau (BCSF) put it at 5.8. The last earthquakes of similar strength in France struck in the early 2000s.
Last night the Tectonic plates in Saint Denis were smashed like happy hour in a Greek restaurant, as Skelton, Meafou, Antonio and company knocked the living daylights out of each other in a brutal pulsating affair.
The collisions were off the Richter scale in the steamy sultry airless Stade de France.
Alldritt ran and ran like Forest gump on steroids, if Life is like a box of chocolates than poor Grégory has gone from the coffee creams in Dublin to the montellimar nougat, the hard chewy one that everyone leaves in the box, in Paris.
The Top 14 season that never ends, finally ended in sticky steamy twenty-five degree Parisian darkness when Toulouse lifted the Bouclier de Brennus, the trophy the size and shape of a front door, as they were crowned the 2023 Top 14 champions.
Guest of Honour, President Macron has seen a lot of yellow shirts in Paris lately but this time it was a group with Top 14 title aspirations rather than pension reforms that were the focus of attention.
Santiago Chocobares took advantage of a Jonathan Dante knock-on, and outpaced the La Rochelle defence to score the game’s opening try in the 23rd minute. Ramos converted, and Toulouse lead 13-3.
Antoine Hastoy added a penalty for La Rochelle, after failing with two kickable ones, before a Francois Cros’ knock-on five metres from his own line led to the scrum from which scrum half Tawera Kerr-Barlow sniped like a giant mole to touchdown, Hastoy landed the simple conversion to make it 13-13 at the break.
Uini Atonio barrelled over five minutes into the second half, following Pierre Bourgarit’s searing break and it looked like La Rochelle were in control with an 20-13 lead.
Ramos kicked three penalties to give Toulouse a 22-20 lead before Hastoy replied with two of his own to put La Rochelle in front 26-22.
With time running out Ntamack kicked a penalty to the corner aiming for the 5 metre mark he sliced his kick over the dead ball line, the colour drained visibly from his face, it was surely game over for Toulouse.
But we should have known better, the Ntmack family don’t do “game over” and with 77.42 on the clock he took a delicious pass from Dupont to ghost past Seuteni and Leyds before sprinting 50 metres to touch down behind the posts. Ramos’ conversion made it 29-26 to give Toulouse their 22nd Bouclier de Brennus, and their third since 2019.
Back in the Toulouse changing room President Macron downed a bottle of beer in one to the applause of the Stade Toulsain players and staff. Maybe pension reforms could take on a similar negotiation platform, but for now it was only the yellow shirts drenched in sweat and tears sat exhausted and stunned that mattered, and it was the boys from the Pink City that found all of the sudden that the night air was beautifully cool and sweet.
With the Top 14 Final in Paris on Saturday between La Rochelle and Toulouse, here is an excerpt from one of the chapters in my book The Bleus Brothers.
In the early morning summer sunshine in Neilly-Sur-Seine, Café du Marche is just waking up and following its regular routine. The backboard menus are getting their first taste of chalk while I am getting my much needed first taste of coffee. But today is no ordinary day. This evening 14 miles up the road, one of the most wonderful annual rugby occasions will take place.
A Top 14 Final is a rugby and cultural event like no other. It is Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest all rolled into one.
From early morning the TGVs roll into Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse with their colourful human cargo disembarking and immediately heading for a station espresso with the speed and footwork of Serge Blanco.
The day of the final is an extremely long one with kick off at 9 p.m. Wherever you go in the French capital on that particular June Saturday, there are lines of families in team shirts sitting out in geometric lines of tables as far as the eye can see soaking up the sun’s rays amid the wafting aroma of steak frites.
The glass carafes of red, white and rosé glisten in the sun. This is as much a part of final day as the match itself, and just as grueling, with cheese and coffee and, maybe even a brandy to get through before setting off for Stade de France with a heavy stomach and a much lighter wallet.
If you have never been to Paris for the final, I would recommend you add it to your bucket list.
It’s not just the fans who add the colour and joie de vivre to the French rugby season’s climax. The finals of 1987 and 1990 were memorable for more than just the rugby thanks to Racing 92, the Parisian outfit, and their famous fly-half Franck Mesnel who is my selection to wear the number 10 shirt in this exclusive French XV.
Franck agonized over choice of career and had to make a difficult decision to become either a pilot or an architect. He eventually decided on the latter.
Mesnel was the ringleader of a group of eccentric Racing players who got together when they decided to mock their own image as capital city fancy dans who were known collectively as Le Show-Bizz.
“We always kept our values of respect and rugby values, but we had that impertinence” says Mesnel.
Le Show-Bizz painted their boots gold, wore fake bald heads, ran out in blazers and blackened their faces.
“These acts were a motivation for us, and each time we did one of these jokes we knew we had to back it up.”
Racing lost to Toulon 15-12 in the 1987 French Championship final. They wore pink bow ties for the first time but three years later they went to another level when they faced a hard-nosed down-to-earth and tough Agen team in the season finale at Parc des Princes.
Racing won 22-12 after extra time but the match is best remembered for the incredible sight of Mesnel and his Le Show-Bizz colleagues quaffing champagne on the pitch during the half-time team talk.
“One of our wingers who was injured told us he would come on at half-time with the champagne” says Mesnel. “It was real champagne on a silver salver. I just remember seeing the faces of Pierre Berbizier and the Agen team looking at us in amazement, but it did us good since we won the second half.”
President François Mitterrand left that final with a gift from French international Jean Baptiste Lafond in the form of a pink bow tie which the full back presented to him before kick-off.
Le Show-Bizz became such a phenomenon and attracted so much attention that Franck Mesnel, Eric Blanc and Lafond released a record, a single entitled “Quand tu marques un essai” (“When you score a try.”)
Barcelona does not instantly conjure up images of Rugby. In a football mad city the sporting names that roll off the tongue are those connected to the round ball game.
Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Ronaldinho, the list of greats is endless, a team that ruled Europe and despite its Catalan quest for independence helped Spain rule the football world a few years back.
Famous Spanish actor Javier Bardem once said “Playing rugby in Spain is like being a bullfighter in Japan.” even so there is a growing interest in the sport in this part of the world.
Futbol Club Barcelona Rugby currently play in División de Honor, the premier level of Spanish rugby union. The club plays home games at the Ciutat Esportiva Municipal Vall d’Hebrón-Teixonera.
The La Vall d’Hebron Area was an area designated for urban planning 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Situated in the northern part of Barcelona at the foot of the Serra de Collserola mountain range, it was restructured for the 1992 Olympics to become a large recreational area. Cycling, tennis, archery and volleyball completions were held there along with the demonstration sport of Basque pelota.
The club was formed on September 21, 1924 and has had a long and successful history, having won 19 national titles and 19 regional competitions.
Before the Spanish Civil War, the club won the championship of Spain on three occasions and the championship of Catalonia seven times. During the 1940s and 1950s FCB was one of the strongest rugby clubs in Spain, winning a further 10 Spanish championships.
This season Barça Rugbi were eliminated in the quarter final División de Honor, play-offs losing away to Santboiana beaten by a last minute try (38-31). The result ended a great season for the Catalans,achieving a fifth place finish winning seven of their twelve league matches.
The match at Baldiri Aleu saw Santbioana lead 24-17 at half time with a Barcelona try in the first move of the second half bringing the scores level at 24-24. With the match all square at 31-31 and only seconds remaining Oriol Pujol’s try secured victory for the home side.
One of Barcelona’s most notable players was Andriy Kovalenco born in Kyiv in Ukraine. He played for three National Teams, the Soviet Union, Ukraine then after becoming a Spanish citizen, for Spain.
Gaining 37 caps he became one of the highest scoring players for Spain during his international career, from 1998 to 2006, with 2 tries, 11 conversions, 49 penalties and 1 drop goal, for an aggregate of 220 points.
Kovalenco played in two matches at the 1999 Rugby World Cup scoring all of Spain’s points in the 27-15 defeat to Uruguay, landing five penalties.
Football will always be the lifeblood of Barcelona but there is a little corner of this beautiful city where the oval ball game is doing very nicely thank you.
England versus Wales is one of the great rivalries in world sport.
Dudley Wood, formerly secretary of the Rugby Football Union, summed things up perfectly. “The relationship between the English and the Welsh is based on trust and understanding. They don’t trust us, and we don’t understand them”.
Whatever the sport, there is something extra special about meetings with our near neighbours.
Wales and England first faced each other in a Rugby League international on 20 April 1908, at Athletic Park, Tonypandy. Wales were victorious that day winning 35-8 in front of a 12,000 crowd.
The Steroephonics hit the nail on the head with their 1999 composition “As long as we beat the English we don’t care”.
The bragging rights of a victory against the old enemy cannot be underestimated, especially if you happen to be Welsh and living in England.
Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United is one of the great English sporting arenas but it is no stranger to the occasional Welshman.
The legendary football club has been graced by many wonderful Welshmen, although usually with a different shaped ball.
Mark Hughes, Mickey Thomas, Ron and Wyn Davies, and more recently Tom Lawrence, have all been feted by the Stretford End.
Watching Ryan Giggs sprinting up and down the left wing was the norm in these parts, however on this particular Saturday it was the turn of another Welsh speedster, Anthony Sullivan. the St Helens flying machine, was an equally glorious sight to behold when in full flight.
Incidently Ryan’s father, Danny Wilson, played 4 times for Wales rugby league team between 1981 and 1984. Danny was a stand off who played for Widnes, Barrow, Swinton, Springfield Borough and Runcorn after moving up north from Cardiff.
Old Trafford is no stranger to rugby It has played host to both codes of rugby football, although league is played there with greater regularity than union. The Super League grand final has been played at Old Trafford every year since the introduction of the playoff system in 1998, and is set to continue to do so until 2020, the first rugby league match to be played at Old Trafford was held during the 1924–25 season, when a Lancashire representative side hosted the New Zealand national team, with Manchester United receiving 20 per cent of the gate receipts.
The first league match to be held at Old Trafford came in November 1958, with Salford playing against Leeds under floodlights in front of 8,000 spectators.
The first rugby league Test match played at Old Trafford came in 1986, when Australia beat Great Britain 38–16 in front of 50,583 spectators in the first test of the 1986 Kangaroo tour.
The 1989 World Club Challenge was played at Old Trafford on 4 October 1989, with 30,768 spectators watching Widnes beat the Canberra Raiders 30–18.
Old Trafford also hosted the second Great Britain vs Australia Ashes tests on both the 1990 and 1994Kangaroo Tours. The stadium also hosted the semi-final between England and Wales at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup; England won 25–10 in front of 30,042 fans. The final rugby league international played at Old Trafford in the 1990s saw Great Britain record their only win over Australia at the ground in 1997 in the second test of the Super League Test series in front of 40,324 fans.
When the Rugby League World Cup was hosted by Great Britain, Ireland and France in 2000, Old Trafford was chosen as the venue for the final; the match was contested by Australia and New Zealand, and resulted in a 40–12 win for Australia, watched by 44,329 spectators.
Old Trafford was also chosen to host the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final.
The game, played on 30 November, was won by Australia 34–2 over defending champions New Zealand, and attracted a crowd of 74,468, a world record for a rugby league international.
During the game, Australia winger Brett Morris suffered a heavy crash into the advertising boards at the Stretford End, emphasising questions raised pre-match over the safety of Old Trafford as a rugby league venue, in particular the short in-goal areas and the slope around the perimeter.
Old Trafford hosted its first rugby union international in 1997, when New Zealand defeated England 25–8. A second match was played at Old Trafford on 6 June 2009, when England beat Argentina 37–15 The stadium was one of 12 confirmed venues set to host matches of the 2015 Rugby World Cup; however, in April 2013 United pulled out of the contract over concerns about pitch quality and not wanting to compromise their relationship with the 13-man code.
Instead of travelling up to Manchester for week leading up to the 1995 Rugby League World Cup semi final, the Welsh boys were having so much fun they decided to stay in Cardiff.
With only a five day turnaround following the brutal match with Western Samoa Wales were already at a distinct disadvantage.
England their opponents had an extra rest day following a much less demanding pool match against South Africa who they beat convincingly 46-0 in Leeds.
The one thing Wales and Manchester have in common is rain, and in plentiful quantities but on this particular day the rain gods took a day off, maybe they were in front of the television watching an eagerly awaited match, as the day broke to blue skies and brilliant sunshine
A sea of red was already making its way the 200 miles or so from South Wales. From early morning the Sandbach motorway services were laden with pasty clutching Welsh fans heading back to their cars and buses before heading off to Old Trafford. An estimated
William Blake’s poem Jerusalem refers to the north of England and the industrial revolution and I’m not sure if those immortal lyrics “dark satanic mills” refer to Big Jim but I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
Wales made just one change from the team that defeated Western Samoa in Swansea. centre Scott Gibbs recovered from a knee injury, so John Devereux switched to the wing, Adrian Hadley missed out on a squad place as a result.
Wales
1 Iestyn Harris (Warrington)
2 John Devereux (Widnes)
3 Allan Bateman (Warrington)
4 Scott Gibbs (St Helens)
5 Anthony Sullivan (St Helens)
6 Jonathan Davies (Warrington) (Captain)
7 Kevin Ellis (Warrington)
8 Kelvin Skerrett (Wigan)
9 Martin Hall (Wigan)
10 David Young (Salford)
11 Paul Moriarty (Halifax)
12 Scott Quinnell (Wigan)
13 Richie Eyres (Leeds)
14 Mark Jones (Warrington)
15 Kieron Cunningham (St Helens)
16 Rowland Phillips (Workington Town)
England reached the semi finals after beating Australia (20-16), Fiji (46-0) and South Africa (46-0).
Sean Edwards was still unavailable with a knee infection, but Bobbie Goulding had proved to be a highly effective replacement.
Gary Connoly was still recovering from pneumonia, evn so, Phil Larder’s side looked a tough proposition.
England
1 Kris Radlinski (Wigan)
2 Jason Robinson (Wigan)
3 Nick Pinkey (Keighley Cougars)
4 Paul Newlove (Bradford Bulls)
5 Martin Offiah (Wigan)
6 Tony Smith (Castleford)
7 Bobbie Goulding (St Helens)
8 Karl Harrison (Halifax)
9 Lee Jackson (Sheffield Eagles)
10 Andy Platt (Auckland Warriors/Widnes)
11 Denis Betts (Captain) (Auckland Warriors)
12 Phil Clarke (Sydney City Roosters)
13 Andy Farrell (Wigan)
14 Mick Cassidy (Wigan)
15 Simon Haughton (Wigan)
16 Dean Sampson (Castleford)
England went close early on through Phil Clarke and captain Denis Betts, but it was Wales who struck the first blow in the 16th minute when Jonathan Davies landed a penalty following a Phil Clarke high tackle, Wales led 2-0, soon after Kelvin Skerrett was penalised at play the ball and Andy Farrell’s kick levelled the scores at 2-2.
Phil Clarke’s break and Andy Farrell’s pass set Paul Newlove on a bursting run through a couple of tacklers, Newlove touched down to score a try that set England on their way and eased the nerves. Farrell missed the conversion but England led 6-2.
Jiffy landed his second penalty of the match to reduce England’s lead to 6-4, but just before half time two quick scores by England changed the course of the game.
Bobbie Goulding dropped a goal on 39 minutes, and almost immediately Denis Betts scored a try, once again the conversion went wide, but England went into half time leading 11-4.
Wales start to the second half coudn’t have been much worse, Paul Moriarty was sin binned 2 minutes after the restart and the Dragons were really up against it.
Goulding cross kicked and Martin Offiah gathered unmarked to score, an almost identical score 15 minutes later with Goulding and Offiah giving a repeat performance, stretched England’s lead to 19-4.
Despite being under the cosh, the spirit that Wales had shown throughout 1995 would not be quashed, and with his first touch after coming off the bench, Rowland Phillips scored a try to give Wales and their choral legions something to shout about.
Phillips was tackled just short of the England line by Paul Newlove, spotting he had no marker he got up played the ball himself and dived over. Jonathan Davies converted and Wales were back in the match trailing 19-10.
The men in red gave it the kitchen sink in the last quarter. Kevin Ellis went close, and on 76 minutes Anthony Sullivan rounded Jason Robinson only to be denied a certain try by a wonderful tackle from England full back Kris Radlinski.
Phil Clarke’s try set up by man of the match Bobbie Goulding was the final nail in the Welsh coffin, England were victorious 25-10, and booked their date in the final seven days later where they would face Australia, at Wembley.
As the final whistle blew captain Jonathan Davies sank to his knees in tears, it was his final game of rugby league.
“I’ve never experienced such a form of camaraderie and team spirit than this squad”
John Devereux had given everything, as always. “Western Samoa had taken so much out of us, and with just a five day turn around we coudn’t back it up physically”
Wales packed their bags and head and headed home.
Clive Griffiths echoed Dev’s sentiments, “We had just played one of the toughest games of rugby ever, and for those boys to back it up a few days later was a big ask. If we’d had a bit more rest and the bounce of the ball it could have been very different.
Thousand of Welsh fans bought tickets for the final, following the win over Western Samoa in the hope and expectation of a wonderful day out at Wembley at the Rugby League World Cup Final, sadly a week later it was England who ran out under the twin towers to face Australia in the final.
Jiffy had played his last game of rugy league.
“We played hard, we worked hard, we had mutual respect for eachother which created the right culture. Also we didn’t have many injuries, we were European Champions going into the tournament and we knew were were a good side. Moriarty, Young, Jones, Skerrett, Gibbs and Devereux could mix it with anyone. football or fighting they could match anyone”.
if the stereophonics had been around I’m sure they would have been tempted to write alternative lyrics “As long as somebody beats the English we don’t care”.
The following day Australia beat New Zealand in a pulsating semi final. The scores were level 20-20 after normal time.
Matthew Ridge missed an injury time conversion that would have won the game for the Kiwi’s but his kick went just wide.
In extra time two tries for the Kangaroos by Hill and Fitler won the game for Australia.
For the record Australia beat England, 16-8 in the Wembley final in front of 66,540 spectators.
Wales success in the tournament was reflected in the fact that two of the squad were selected for the team of the tournament, flying wing Anthony Sullivan and teenage rugby sensation Iestyn Harris
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The Halifax Centenary Rugby League Cup Team Of The Tournament
In Wales we are famous for our lack of vowels, to the visitor or the untrained eye road, village, and town signs can have a strange and unfamiliar look.
Whilst vowels may be a rare commodity in the land of my fathers, and mothers, one thing we do love with a passion are initials.
There are a few chosen ones who through their greatness are permitted to dispense with their full monikers and be universally referred to by their initials.
Being a Williams can give you a huge advantage in this department, as JPR and the late great JJ would testify.
Now there is a new kid on the block his greatness has never been in doubt but the “Initial Identity” has gradually seeped into existence.
This time it’s not a Williams but a Jones. Now this inevitable event has also come about because there are many who tie themselves up in knots trying to work out where the fine line between his first and surname ends.
I am of course referring to Alun Wyn Jones. Some call him Alun, others call him Alun Wyn the very brave call him Al, but unlike Paul Simon it was more case of you can’t call me Al not unless you know me very well.
Then there was the dilemma for those on the other side of the border as to whether his surname Wyn Jones or Jones ? But all this is a mere sideshow, whatever you called him he is, was, and ever shall be one of the true Welsh greats, a greatness that extended globally.
He terrified me at pressers so what he did to opposition players I can only begin to imagine, he terrified you with the power of silence he was a man of action rather than words which ironically belied his eloquence and intelligence.
He was our lighthouse a shining beacon to cling to when the Welsh rugby seas were rough however bad things got on and off the field you felt AWJ had a metaphorical arm around your shoulder, you knew things would turn out okay.
Photo courtesy Barbarians FC.
Yesterday AWJ made his final appearance at Twickenham captaining the Barbarians against a World XV.
A match won by the Barbarians 48-42 which featured 14 tries
His stats and achievements have been listed elsewhere, but my words are from the heart as someone who was just a fan when he started his international career in 2006, and then a journalist sat in the press box at Stade de France when he made his final appearance against France in the 2016 Guinness Six Nations.
Welsh rugby goodbyes are never easy and my life has been full of them from Barry in 1972, Gareth and Gerald in 1978 to Ieuan, Shane and Sam in latter years, saying goodbye to AWJ in the Twickenham sunshine was equally emotional.
AWJ has appeared superhuman in his longevity and his rapid recovery from major injuries, two missed conversions in front of the posts at the end of the match showed us that maybe he is human after all, but I’m not convinced. Diolch Alun Wyn.
When you get an invite from Fabien Galthié that includes a buffet and a glass of wine with the local Mayor it is a wise move to accept.
The French coach’s appreciation of his nation’s rugby terroire has been instrumental in the current love affair between the national team and its people, it has not always been this way, but France will very definitely not be short of public love and support during their upcoming Rugby World Cup campaign.
The small village of Montgesty in the south of France is situated in the department of Lot in the Midi-Pyréneés with a population of under 300 people. It is also where Fabien Galthié grew up.
Last Tuesday the French management team welcomed us with open arms, even Shaun Edwards appeared hospitable although his smile is probably more scary than the familiar frown that inhabits his granite visage.
For the previous few days the management team had ensconced themselves in the peace and tranquility of Montgesty
The group consisted of:
Fabien Galthié, Coach
Raphaël Ibañez, Manager
Laurent Labit, Attack Coach
William Servat, Forwards Coach
Shaun Edwards, Defence Coach
Karim Ghezal, Assistant Forwards Coach
Thibault Giroud, Director of Performance
Nicolas Buffa, Head of Analysis
Bruno Boussagnol, Medical
On home soil Galthie was his usual cool charming self: “This is a time when we are preparing for our preparations. The programming of the preparation has now been done. The selection times, the work, the places, the friendly matches that will bring us slowly to September 8, everything is in place. We have the complete vision of the three months of preparation”
“With regard to squad selection we consider everyone, the injured, those returning from injury and there are still many matches to play, the European finals, the final phase of the Top 14. We will unveil our first list of 42 players on June 21. But, before that, on the Sunday following the play offs ( June 4), when ten Top 14 teams are eliminated, we will convene a first group of 23 players in Marcoussis for four days of preparation with the France under 20 team”.
“From Tuesday, we will restart our selection cycle with a ranking by position from one to six, or from one to seven. This will make a total of about one hundred players, all of whom will be informed that they are able to participate in the World Cup. There may be injuries, players called up at various stages so the windows are open which could be beneficial to long-term absentees such as Anthony Jelonch or Arthur Vincent and allow them to join the group when they are ready.
Given the long season that the players are in the process of completing, ending with the Top 14 final, full preparations will not begin until July 2 in Monaco to allow the players a two week break.
Galthie is very keen on creating a balance. Preparations and the World Cup tournament itself will extend to 17 weeks of living together, for the initial 42 man squad and the final 33 for the tournament itself.
During the three week training camp in Capbreton, they have chosen a site in a Seignosse holiday village where the party will stay in bungalows to break things up and avoid the drudgery of hotel life.
France have four warm up matches prior to their opening RWC match against New Zealand. They face Scotland twice, at Murrayfield on 5th August, and again in Saint-Etienne on 12 August. They then entertain Fiji in Nantes on 19 August.
The final 33 man Rugby World squad is announced on 21 August, before the final warm up game against Australia at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday August 27.
After that final warm up game France will take up residence at Rueil-Malmaison in the Hauts-de-Seine for the duration of RWC 2023.
A peaceful glass of Cahors behind the village church was a rare moment of tranquility for a group that have only one aim, to lift the Rugby World Cup in Paris on Saturday 28 October. Should that happen I would imagine a few more quiet glasses of Cahors will be consumed followed by many more noisy ones.
“I’m going home to Swansea town, the day is nearly dawning, I’m going home to that seaport sound, one lovely seatown morning”. John Davies.
There have been many great nights in Welsh sporting history. Somehow dark nights, combined with floodlights, add an extra dimension to the drama played out on our fields of dreams.
Take Lille, for example, in 2016 when Chris Coleman’s team beat Belguim 3-1 to reach the semi finals, yes the semi finals of the Euros, that was a night we will never forget.
Newbridge boxer Joe Calzaghe at the MEN Arena in Manchester 2006, defeating Jeff Lacey to become the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, or Colin Jackson’s finest hour in Stuttgart, 1993, when he won World Championship gold, and set a world record time for the 110 metres hurdles of 12.91 seconds.
Sunday October 15 1995 was another one of those magical nights that has gone down in Welsh sporting folklore, and it all happened in Dylan Thomas’ Swansea “An “ugly lovely town, crawling, sprawling by the side of a long and splendid curving shore”, or as described by character Terry Walsh in the 1997 cult Welsh film Twin Town, directed by Kevin Allen,“A pretty shitty city”.
Wales is a pretty tribal environment, and those folk who hail from Swansea are often referred to as “Jacks”.
There are several theories as to how this nickname arose, but the most commonly agreed version is the connection with a certain black retriever born in 1930 called Swansea Jack.
He lived in the North Dock area of Swansea, and would always respond to cries for help from the water.
His first rescue came in June 1931, when he saved a 12 year old boy, and a few weeks later, in front of a crowd of people, Jack rescued a swimmer from the docks. His photograph appeared in the local paper and the local council awarded him a silver collar.
Numerous awards followed including ‘Bravest Dog of the Year’ and the canine Victoria Cross. Legend has it that Jack saved 27 people in his lifetime. Sadly, in 1937, he died after eating rat poison.
His statue stands on the Promenade near St.Helen’s Rugby Ground. In 2000, Swansea Jack was named ‘Dog of the Century’ by NewFound Friends of Bristol who train domestic dogs in aquatic rescue techniques.
Swansea was made a city fairly late in life on 3 July 1969.
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales to celebrate his investiture year, made the announcement that the Swansea was to become a city.
It was the second Welsh town to be granted city status although it had to wait until 15 December before it formally received its letters patent from the Queen. On that day the Prince of Wales made a return journey to the new city to grant the charter to the people and the civil dignitaries of Swansea at the Brangwyn Hall.
Between 19 February and 21 February 1941 Swansea was reduced to rubble during what became known as the “Swansea Blitz”.
About 35,000 incendiaries and 800 high explosive bombs were dropped by the German Lufftwaffe during the raids and the raging fires could be seen from the other side of the Bristol Channel in Devon.
A total of 230 people were killed and 397 were injured. Swansea was selected by the Germans as a legitimate strategic target due to its importance as a port and the destruction of the docks and the nearby oil refinery was key to Nazi German war efforts as part of their strategic bombing campaign aimed at crippling coal export and demoralising civilians and emergency services.
Amazing Swansea Town’s football ground, the Vetch Field was undamaged by the blitz, there were rumours long circulated that the Vetch was used as a central point to which the authorities carried the bodies of those killed in the bombing, although this has never officially been confirmed.
The Vetch Field smelt of Welsh sport, it had an aroma that reeked of sweat, deep heat and down to earth toil and guts, it was South Wales working class chic in every crash barrier and urinal.
On Sunday 15 October 1995 it had this stuff oozing out of its pores.
Wales v Western Samoa was one of the most gladiatorial, bone jarring rugby occasions I have ever witnessed.
For the uninitiated The Vetch was the home of Swansea Football Club.
Opened in 1912, it hosted the Wales Rugby League team for the first time in 1981, when Wales defeated Papua New Guinea 46-0 in front of 11,422 spectators.
Wales scored 13 tries that day through Phil Ford (3), Jonathan Davies (2), Anthony Sullivan (2), Rob Ackerman, David Bishop, Kevin Ellis, Jonathan Griffiths and Adrian Hadley.
The Vetch also had an artistic side, hosting a Stevie Wonder concert in 1984, and in 1985 Carl Douglas performed his one hit wonder “Kung Fu Fighting”, a very suitable theme tune for the match against Western Samoa.
On this particular Sunday afternoon the pubs in the Sandfield area around the Vetch Field were awash with excitement.
Western Street had three pubs in the opening 100 metres of its parish.
The Clarence and The Garibaldi the traditional pre match watering holes were jam packed ahead of the 6pm kick off.
The Sandfield residents were stood on chairs and ladders, their properties offered a good view of the ground for those with a head for heights and a good sense of balance.
The manner in which Western Samoa had destroyed France in the opening pool game, gave Wales much cause for concern, their sheer physicality looked ominous.
Many hundreds were locked out of the ground, and kick off had to be delayed to allow the capacity 15,385 crowd to enter.
This was a match everyone had been looking forward since the draw was made. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind as to exactly what time of game this was going to be, and it didn’t disappoint.
Welsh language television channel, S4C, showed the game live, and attracted the stations largest ever audience figure.
Wales coach, Clive Griffiths, brought in an Irish sports psychologist, during the lead up to the game to provide motivational talks for the players, whatever he told them seemed to do the trick.
Scott Gibbs, who had played in Wales rugby union defeat to Western Samoa in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, pulled out with a knee injury an hour before kick off.
As a result John Devereux switched to the centre, with Adrian Hadley coming in on the wing
Scott Quinnell was also called up to make his international debut.
For Wales captain Jonathan Davies, the occasion was made extra special as his young son Scott was the Welsh mascot.
Oh those two little words, Western Samoa, for Welsh rugby fans they are the stuff of nightmares. In the Rugby Union World Cup of 1991, they came to Cardiff Arms Park and produced one of the greatest shocks ever recorded in the history of the game, when they beat Wales.
This team hoped that lightning wasn’t about to strike twice, although on this occasion the South Sea Islanders were no minnows, they had already captured the imagination, and they had Schuster and Tuigamala in the side, they really fancied their chances against Wales .
In the lead up to the game, Wales prop Dai Young spoke to the press.
“There is no doubt Western Samoa have some great individual players, what nobody knows is how well they will perform as a team, but with the obvious talent they have, it is safe to assime they will provide very tough opposition”.
The Wales Team To Face Western Samoa
1 Iestyn Harris (Warrington)
2 Anthony Sullivan (St Helens)
3 Allan Bateman (Warrington)
4 John Devereux (Widnes)
5 Adrian Hadley (Widnes)
6 Jonathan Davies (Warrington) (Captain)
7 Kevin Ellis (Warrington)
8 Kelvin Skerrett (Wigan)
9 Martin Hall (Wigan)
10 Dai Young (Salford)
11 Paul Moriarty (Widnes)
12 Scott Quinnell (Wigan)
13 Richie Eyres (Warrington)
14 Neil Cowie (Wigan)
15 Kieron Cunningham (St Helens)
16 Rowland Phillips (Workington)
17 Paul Atcheson (Oldham)
Western Samoa’s team came with a government health warning, with ex union converts John Schuster and Va’aiga Tuigamala,, in the back line, they were a very serious threat. Coach Graham Lowe was a wily customer who possessed one of the shrewdest brains in Rugby League, he had been at the helm with Brisbane Norths, the New Zealand international side as well as Wigan and the Queensland state of origin team.
He picked his strongest side to face Wales, perhaps the one surprise was Apollo Perelini on the bench.
Nine of their World Cup squad were former international union players.
When Wigan’s Tuigamala announced his intention to play rugby league for Western Samoa along with Schuster, Esene Faimalo, Tea and Iva Ropati, Apollo Perelini , Tony Tuimavave and Sam Panapa it gave a clear indication that the South Sea Islanders were not over here just to make up the numbers.
Western Samoa
1 Paddy Tuimavave (North Harbour)
2 John Schuster (Halifax) (Captain)
3 Tea Ropati Auckland Warriors)
4 Va’aiga Tuigamala (Wigan)
5 Brian Laumatia (Cronulla)
6 Sam Panapa (Salford)
7 Willie Swann (Auckland Warriors)
8 Se’e Solomona (Auckland Warriors)
9 Willie Poching (Auckland Warriors)
10 Fa’ausu Afoa (Penrith)
11 Tony Tatpu (Auckland Warriors)
12 Via Mata’utia (St Helens)
13 Tony Tuimavave (North Harbour)
14 Mark Ella (Albi)
15 Apollo Perelini (St Helens)
16 Joe Vagana (Auckland Warriors)
17 Des Maea (Auckland Warriors_
With the delayed kick off Wales’ Mark Jones was butting walls and doors in the changing room things were reaching fever pitch, and as dusk fell the twinkling lights of Port Talbot illuminated the skyline a tribute from one steel producer to 30 players whose steel production was about to reach record levels, as they came out of the tunnel to a deafening roar, you had a feeling something very special was about to happen.
A passionate rendering of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau gave way to the Samoan war dance, the Siva Tau.
The Siva Tau declares that Samoa are ready for the war and fight fiercely, not that we needed reminding
John Devereux takes up the story. “We said we would respect the Siva Tau, and face it standing on the half way line with our arms linked”.
“I was in the middle of the line with hooker Martin Hall and when Samoa come to the end of the war dance, they start to walk towards you”.
“As they started walking towards us Martin started walking towards them, dragging me with him, we became an arrowhead with us two at the tip I ended up face to face with Inga Tuigamala”
Straight from the kick off the hits came in. Kelvin Skerrett set down a message very early on, when he took exception to a Samoan pat on the head following his knock on. Wales were awarded a penalty and it set the tone that Wales were not going to take a backward step.
Scott Quinnell was tackled inches short of the Samoan try line, Tea Ropati prevented Quinnell getting to his feet for a quick play the ball and received a yellow card for his troubles. Jonathan Davies put the resulting penalty kick wide of the posts.
The choral Welsh legions did not have to wait long for a slice of bread of heaven. With 7 minutes played, Brian Laumatia was bundled into touch on Samoa’s first tackle.
From the Welsh scrum put in Kevin Ellis sent out a glorious pass to Iestyn Harris who sidestepped majestically past Tony Tuimavave, to touch down under the sticks. Jonathan Davies converted to give Wales a 6-0 lead.
Wales were on fire, uncharacteristically, Davies missed a second penalty, and Quinnell was once again held up short of the try line.
On the 19 minute mark, and very much against the run of play, Sam Panapa gave a short pass to Bryan Laumatia who raced in for a Samoan try, Schuster’s conversion brought the scores level at 6-6.
Wales reaction was tremendous, three minutes later, following a Welsh scrum, Jiffy kicked down the right hand touchline for wing Anthony Sullivan to chase, “Sully” gathered outpaced Laumatia and raced over for a wonderful try, Jonathan Davies found his kicking boots to land the conversion and Wales in the blink of an eye were 12-6 ahead.
John Schuster clawed back two penalties for Western Samoa, and Davies added one for the home side to make the half time score Wales 14 Western Samoa 10.
Wales were even more magnificent in the second half, they took the constant cheap shots and kept their cool admirably in extenuating circumstances.
Western Samoa, on the other hand, became more and more undisciplined and the penalty count continued to rose.
Six minutes after the restart a superb Jonathan Davies drop goal extended Wales lead by a point.
The Welsh forwards were running themselves into the ground. Paul Moriarty who had been a constant target put in a huge shift and was replaced on 55 minutes by Rowland Phillips.
Kelvin Skerrett who was immense all game continued to inspire as he snarled in the faces of the opposition front row, and Scott Quinnell who hadn’t played for five weeks was a colossus, constantly driving forward, tiring out the South Sea Islanders defence.
Des Maea hit Allan Bateman with a high shot on 58 minutes, which earned him a yellow card from referee Russell Smith, it was Western Samoa’s second one of the night and proved costly as Jiffy landed the resulting penalty to extend Wales lead to 17-10.
Willie Poching had a try disallowed for Western Samoa after a blatent forward pass from Sam Panapa, before a Iestyn Harris drop goal in the 75th minute looked to have given Wales an unassailable 20-10 lead.
As the crowd sang Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, with the match in injury time, scrum half Kevin Ellis took a pass from Rowland Phillips, Ellis broke left to score in the corner. Davies conversion drifted wide as the hooter sounded, Wales were through to the Rugby League World Cup Semi Finals, they had beaten Western Samoa 22-10, and the Vetch Field went mental.
The Wales team were still on the pitch twenty minutes after the final whistle, such was the acclaim and clamour from the ecstatic crowd.
Red shirted heroes were on their knees, the battle had been brutal, a young fresh faced Iestyn Harris stared into the Swansea night looking almost mesmerised as he took in what had occurred.
” I have never experienced a more passionate occasion, the crowd must have been worth at least 10 points to us tonight. It’s going to take a remarkably good team to beat us in this World Cup”
Man of the match, Scott Quinnell had a grin as wide as the Severn, “It was one of those games where you just had to take the bull by the horns, it was one of the hardest games of rugby I’ve ever played in”.
Captain, Jonathan Davies told the assembled media, “There’s a word in Welsh called Hwyl, and it’s that spirit that keeps coming through with this squad”.
“Scott Quinnell had ice packs on almost every part of his body post match, the Swansea City apprentices who were looking after us coudn’t believe their eyes with all the blood and stiching going on”.
Adrian Hadley “It was great to back in Cardiff and all back together. The game against Western Samoa was probably the toughest game of rugby I’ve played in.
Clive Griffiths “They wanted to play a big power offloading game against us, but we met fire with fire”
The Final Group Three Table made very pleasurable reading for Wales and their ever growing legion of fans.
Even more exciting was the approaching semi final against the old enemy, England.
But perhaps the most amazing fact amidst all the celebration and anticipation was the realisation that everyone In Wales was talking Rugby League.
You could almost hear the wailing ghosts of past rugby union administrators turning in their graves.
There comes a time in every mans life, when he wakes up one morning, to discover that the passage of time has finally caught up with him.
I woke up to find my six-pack had turned into a bargain bucket, and my back had gone. (my front wasn’t too hot either !)
As the weeks went past, my gym and squash sessions were replaced with more and more outpatients appointments, and the calendar constantly filled up with dates to see yet another “ologist”
Protein shakes were replaced by blood pressure tablets, PPI inhbitors, and a ghastly fibre drink supplement, that tasted like a cross between toilet duck and polyfilla.
My sporting life had come to an end, my knees were shot to pieces, playing rugby and football were now consigned to happy memories of the past.
One of the “ologists” suggested I go to Pilates classes, to help the ever-increasing list of ailments I was collecting.
So, I booked a Pilates class !
Now when you have spent your sporting life getting the living daylights kicked out of you, to turn up at a church with my towel (purloined from a well-known hotel chain in Northern France) felt like a piece of cake.
Little did I know of the ignominy that was about to follow.
Whilst I was sweating, gasping and trembling, with the grace of a sumo wrestler, and collapsing face down into my stolen towel, two old arthritic pensioners were holding the plank position for what seemed like an eternity, and looking at me with the sort of glance you’d expect from Brian Moore at a scrum against the French.
I left my first class with my dragon’s tail tucked well and truly between my legs.
I sat at home that afternoon and googled “Pilates” I discovered that the New Zealand All Blacks did Pilates as part of their weekly training regime.
Suddenly the haunting image of being out muscled by two septuagenarian women was replaced with the image of Beauden Barrett and Kieran Read, with their mats and towels (not purloined) powering their way through “lazy angels” and the cat stretch.
All of a sudden I felt there was hope.
When the day arrived for my second class I strutted in, resisting the temptation to perform a mini Haka (the pensioners might not have appreciated the throat slitting finale) and juggling the red ball in one hand, with an insouciance that Cheslin Kolbe would have been proud of.
I “out planked” the pensioners that day, my bright red face staring them out, with grinding teeth and eyes bulging, before falling to the floor with a feeling of satisfaction, it felt like scoring the winning try against England.
I still go to Pilates classes, weekly, and although I may not have a six-pack, I do have a pelvic floor to die for.
Wales senior men’s head coach Waren Gatland has named a 54-player preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023.
Players will start to come in for training sessions with Wales on a rolling basis from 25 May, with entry into camp depending on when an individual’s club season has ended.
In addition to sessions at the National Centre of Excellence in Hensol, Wales will travel to Switzerland and Turkey in July for specialist training camps. The squad size will be reduced ahead of each trip.
Wales then have three Summer Series Test matches against England (home and away on 5 and 12 August) and South Africa (19 August at Principality Stadium) before the official 33-player squad to head to Rugby World Cup 2023 in France is named.
“It’s a great opportunity for some players that were involved in the Six Nations and some youngsters for the future to show us what they are capable of doing in the first part of the preparation.
“In the past we’ve prided ourselves on how hard we’ve worked and how fit the squad has been. So that’s the message to the players to come in and make a statement, work really hard, make the coaches sit up and take notice and get yourself in great shape physically.
“A lot of skill work needs to be done and there’s an opportunity to work on the detail you often don’t get when you go into Six Nations or Autumn campaigns when you have limited preparation time.”
Wales preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023
Forwards (31)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 20 caps) Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped) Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped) Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 42 caps) Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 21 caps) Eliott Dee (Dragons – 41 caps) Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 33 caps) Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps) Ken Owens (Scarlets – 91 caps) Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped) Will Davies-King (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped) Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 71 caps) Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 50 caps) Henry Thomas (Montpellier – uncapped) Adam Beard (Ospreys – 46 caps) Ben Carter (Dragons – 9 caps) Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 2 caps) Cory Hill (Yokohama Canon Eagles – 32 caps) Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 6 cap) Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 157 caps) Will Rowlands (Dragons – 23 caps) Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 5 caps) Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped) Taine Basham (Dragons – 11 caps) Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 100 caps) Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 68 caps) Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps) Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 9 caps) Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 9 caps) Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 93 caps) Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 37 caps)
Backs (23)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps) Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps) Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 40 caps) Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps) Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 35 caps) Dan Biggar (Toulon – 107 caps) Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps) Owen Williams (Ospreys – 7 caps) Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps) Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped) George North (Ospreys – 113 caps) Joe Roberts (Scarlets – uncapped) Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps) Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps) Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped) Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps) Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 57 caps) Rio Dyer (Dragons – 7 caps) Cai Evans (Ospreys – uncapped) Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 99 caps) Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 25 caps) Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps) Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 84 caps)
Mike Pearce Rugby 