All times are Bahamian.

Four Welsh coaches are being linked with the vacant position of coach of Canada.


Sean Holley of the Ospreys, Justin Burnell, of the Cardiff Premiership side, and Dragons’ duo Dai Rees and Leigh Jones are all on the shortlist to be the new boss of the Canucks.


Canada, who were in the same World Cup Pool B as Wales, sacked their coach Ric Suggitt at the end of the tournament.


Geraint John, the former Blues and Wales backs coach, is now Director of Rugby in Canada.


Wales on Sunday understands John was back in Wales at the beginning of the month and sounded out a number of candidates about the role.


He is understood to have had informal talks with all four about the vacancy.


John, who left the Blues for his new role in North America two years ago, is offering a four-year contract to include the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.


Holley, the assistant coach at the reigning Magners League champions, the Ospreys, is highly regarded in Welsh and English rugby circles. He has two years left on his contract at the Liberty Stadium.


Holley has always been seen as a future head coach at regional level and a future Wales skills coach.


Burnell, who is coach of the Blue and Blacks in the Welsh Premiership, is another candidate.


Jones and Rees are both part of Paul Turner’s backroom team at the Dragons. They both have a year left on their contracts at Rodney Parade and both are highly regarded by the WRU hierarchy.


Rees quit his role as Wales Sevens coach on Friday, claiming he wanted to concentrate on his career with the Dragons.

“It is with great sadness and regret that I have to step down from my national role but I have a duty to focus on my full-time coaching career,” said Rees.
“I can look back on three successful seasons with the squad and I am confident the team is now heading in the right direction with the status it deserves in Welsh rugby.”

Source: Western Mail (Wales)

The International Rugby Board ( IRB ) has announced that Wales will host the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in June 2008.


The Tournament, which will bring together the world’s best Under 20 teams, will take place between 6 - 22 June and will incorporate an exciting regional format.


Swansea’s Liberty Stadium, Cardiff’s Arms Park, Newport’s Rodney Parade and Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground will be the host venues for each of the four pools giving widespread coverage within the Principality.

Swansea's Liberty Stadium

Click here to view the full IRB Junior World Championship schedule

“The IRB is delighted that Wales will host the first IRB Junior World Championship for Under 20 teams next year. There are few countries to rival the rugby heritage of Wales and the prospect of a new international tournament coming to Wales next year will, I am sure, generate a great deal of excitement and interest within the Principality and the wider rugby community,” said IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar.
“We are also delighted so see that the WRU are committed to delivering what promises to be a memorable Tournament. In particular, the inception of a regional format will ensure that all Rugby fans in Wales will have the opportunity to see the future stars of the Game in action,”

added Dr Millar.

Read more »

Canada's women's rugby team defeated Wales 25-3 on Friday to wrap up its two-match United Kingdom tour.


Sara Ulmer of Regina scored a try to help Canada build a 10-3 halftime lead. After a long run from Mandy Marchak of Winnipeg, Ulmer picked up the ball from the ruck and went over unscathed from 18 metres. Megan Mutrie of Calgary added the conversion and a 20-metre penalty to give Canada the edge at the break.


Heather Moyse of Summerside, P.E.I., - who's also a national team bobsledder - Mutrie and Julia Sugawara of Surrey, B.C., added tries in the second half.

"We talked about ways to win under pressure, so we have prepared for that," said coach Quentin Fyffe. "But really it is up to the girls and they showed good team spirit to hold them off the line the way they did."

Fyffe is 4-0 as Canada's coach in his first season at the helm. The No. 4-ranked Canadians opened their tour last weekend with a 45-3 rout of Scotland in Glasgow.


Notes: Katie Murray of Edmonton, Canada's No. 8, went down with a leg injury late in the first half, and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.


Source: The Canadian Press