Simon Thomas Rugby

Uncertainty reigns in Welsh rugby as new season gets underway Simon Thomas  Political turmoil is nothing new in Welsh rugby, but seldom has a new season dawned amid quite so much uncertainty and controversy. The backdrop, of course, is the proposal from the WRU ...

‘Let go of the past and imagine a different future,’ says the WRU. But at the start of the new season, Welsh rugby’s future has never looked more uncertain ✍️ Simon Thomas

“It wasn’t long ago we were talking about starting pre-season with 12 players.

We changed our training base, we have had a change of ownership, we have had 1800 caps leave the club and new staff”

It’s remarkable that Cardiff are in the fight for a play off place considering everything.

BKT URC Round 16 Review: Welsh play-off contenders enjoy perfect weekend Simon Thomas Peel proud as Scarlets down the leaders The Scarlets became just the second team to beat Leinster Rugby this season on a perfect weekend for the three Welsh play-off contenders. Dwayne Pe...

Weekends like this don’t come around too often for Welsh rugby, so let’s savour it while we can.
My thoughts on Round 16 of the URC.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

BKT URC Round 16 Preview: Cardiff host Munster in must-win game Simon Thomas Cardiff Rugby v Munster Rugby, 7.35pm, Friday James Botham says Cardiff will have to produce their best performance of the season to come out on top in their huge clash with play-off riva...

Here's my preview of this weekend's matches in the URC kicking off with the thoughts of Cardiff's James Botham about tonight's huge Arms Park showdown with play-off rivals Munster.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

BKT URC Round 15 Review: Sherratt toasts Cardiff players after Judgement Day heroics Simon Thomas Cardiff Rugby coach Matt Sherratt says his players have done themselves proud with the way they have responded to recent events off the field. In their first game since the club temporari...

Here’s my report on Judgement Day, including all the reaction from the Principality Stadium double header as Cardiff and the Scarlets come out on top, along with a round-up of the other URC matches.
The play-off battle is going down to the wire.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

BKT URC Round 15 Preview: Judgement Day looms for Welsh play-off hopefuls Simon Thomas Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby, 3pm, Saturday It will be knock-out rugby when these two Welsh play-off hopefuls lock horns in the opening game of the Judgement Day derby double header at the Pri...

Here's my look ahead to the Judgement Day double header, with the Ospreys, Cardiff and the Scarlets all vying for URC play-off spots, while the Dragons are looking to reward their loyal fans. The Welsh Shield will also be decided, so there's a lot at stake.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

Pundit Barclay makes his play-off predictions as Premier Sports sign new BKT URC deal - United Rugby Championship Premier Sports pundit John Barclay has a key guiding principle when it comes to voicing his opinions about the game.. Read the latest news on URC Rugby Tournament and keep up to date with the latest a...

It was good to catch up with former Scotland captain John Barclay to hear how he approaches the job of being a pundit.
He also gave me his URC play-off predictions.
Barclay was speaking in the wake of Premier Sports' new URC TV deal.
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/inter...

‘Don’t let the experience pass you by’ - Dewi’s Lake's Judgement Day advice Simon Thomas Dewi Lake has a simple piece of advice for any players making their Principality Stadium debuts on Judgement Day: “Just drink it in.” The Ospreys and Wales hooker has taken the field at t...

I really enjoyed listening to Dewi Lake explain just why it’s so special to play at the Principality Stadium.
Here’s my interview with the Ospreys and Wales hooker ahead of Judgement Day.
nation.cymru/sport/dont-l...

🫡 ‘Don’t let the experience pass you by.’ - Dewi’s Judgement Day advice, as told to @simonrug.bsky.social.

Read more 🔗 ospreys.info/4jrVeHy

Dewi Lake will be fresh and raring to go as he heads into the crucial clash with ninth-placed Cardiff.

“They are a class outfit with dangerous individuals.”

'I was gutted' - Blair Murray opens up on controversial Six Nations incident Blair Murray tells a little tale which shows just how much his life has changed over the past six months.

It was good to sit down with Blair Murray for a chat this week.
Here's the interval in full.
www.rugbypass.com/news/blair-m...

I have, yes!

BKT URC Round 14 Review: Peel praises players after Scarlets stunning derby comeback Simon Thomas Peel proud of derby day comeback Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel said he was proud of the resilience his players showed as they fought back from a nightmare start to claim a vital 38-22 bonus ...

There are just six points separating fifth and 13th in the URC with three Welsh teams still in the mix for the play-offs.
Here’s my piece on how things stand after Round 14, kicking off with reaction to Dwayne Peel’s Scarlets’ derby day victory over the Ospreys.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

Ospreys soar up table after “crazy” contest - Simon Thomas | Ospreys

Ospreys soar up table after “crazy” contest - @simonrug.bsky.social 🗞️

"Ospreys coach Mark Jones says the target is to keep on climbing the URC table now they are up to seventh after beating Connacht Rugby 43-40 in a “crazy” 12-try thriller."

Read more: ospreys.info/4izRlR2

#TogetherAsOne

BKT URC Round 13 Review: Ospreys soar up table after 12-try thriller Simon Thomas  Ospreys soar up table after “crazy” contest Ospreys coach Mark Jones says the target is to keep on climbing the URC table now they are up to seventh after beating Connacht Rugby 43-40 in...

Ospreys coach Mark Jones says the target is to keep on climbing the URC table now they are up to seventh after beating Connacht Rugby 43-40 in a ‘crazy’ 12-try thriller ✍🏻 Simon Thomas

BKT URC Round 13 Review: Ospreys soar up table after 12-try thriller Simon Thomas  Ospreys soar up table after “crazy” contest Ospreys coach Mark Jones says the target is to keep on climbing the URC table now they are up to seventh after beating Connacht Rugby 43-40 in...

The Ospreys’ 43-40 victory over Connacht was one of the wildest games I have ever covered.
Here are Mark Jones’ thoughts on the 12-try thriller, plus an interview with Cardiff’s Callum Sheedy on another nerve jangler at the Arms Park.
nation.cymru/sport/bkt-ur...

Player Feature: Liam Belcher To get an idea of just how dedicated Liam Belcher is to his profession, it’s worth listening to the words of Matt Sherratt.

Here’s my long-read interview with Cardiff captain Liam Belcher.
A fascinating insight into what makes him tick as a player.
His thoughts on the flak hookers receive when a lineout goes wrong were particularly interesting.
www.zeeon.co.uk/article/play...

ICYMI - Our 2025 Men's Six Nations Team of the Championship. Lineup.

Cheers

An interview with Cardiff wing Harri Millard - a player who knows all about the ups and downs of life as a rugby pro. t.co/2cAh6h2u7C

Wales 14 - 68 England: Wales plumb the depths of despair Simon Thomas Another whitewash, another wooden spoon, more unwanted records and now some huge decisions for Welsh rugby. There have been plenty of lows for Wales over the past 18 months, but yesterday...

Some thoughts on where now for Welsh rugby after the darkest of days at the Principality Stadium.
nation.cymru/sport/wales-...

But, playing devil’s advocate, you could argue some tries which are allowed involve jumps over tackles where players don’t stay on their feet. Not sure the wording of the law is always applied in those cases.

Many thanks.
Just wish I could have a Wales win to write about!

As a side dish to my report…

The one caveat I would add is Wales do have more attacking shape and threat when they have the ball now - the problem was they hardly had it at all while being blown away in the first 50 minutes.

Scotland 35 Wales 29: The good, the bad and the ugly Simon Thomas We’ve seen the good and the bad from Wales under Matt Sherratt so far. The question now is will we see the ugly or can his brief tenure end in handsome fashion against England? There has ...

It was certainly an eventful encounter at Murrayfield yesterday.
But just where does it leave Wales going into their Six Nations finale against England?
Here are my thoughts.
nation.cymru/sport/scotla...

St David's Day Delight for Ospreys 🐲 - by @simonrug.bsky.social

"There was St David’s Day delight for the Ospreys as they beat Glasgow Warriors 32-31 at Scotstoun with “a rollercoaster ride” of a match taking a dramatic twist at the final turn..."

📰 ospreys.info/4h4ggL3

#TogetherAsOne

🚨Pod Drop!🚨

Buzzing to be joined this week by #FCGrenoble and Wales fly-half Sam Davies

Covering Grenoble's stellar season to date, Access Match mindset and Wales under Matt Sherratt. Plus, the best Gin in the Alps!

Give it a listen🎧👇

linktr.ee/rosbifsrugby

#Rugby #ProD2

What we can say is the Welsh pro clubs are punching above their financial weight in being competitive.

Rugby World Cup sides dumped out as Spain march into REC final Georgia and Spain will compete for this year’s Men’s Rugby Europe Championship title after defeating Romania and Portugal, respectively, in the semifinals.

And another round of the Men's Rugby Europe Championship came and went 🏆

Lelos are going for an 8-peat but there's one more hurdle to overcome...

Read it all in here 📃

www.rugbypass.com/news/rugby-c...

Depth is certainly crucial. Tough to put in place on playing budgets of £4.5m.