Wales

Wayne Pivac wants Wales to tour New Zealand

Wales are planning a three-Test tour to face the All Blacks, less than a year after Pivac has officially taken over from fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland following the 2019 World Cup.

Wales last visited New Zealand in 2016 when they lost 3-0.

"That would be fantastic if it was to come to fruition," said Pivac.

"It would be a proud moment for me.

"I have heard it's on the horizon but when it's confirmed, it's confirmed.

"It would be a Six Nations followed by three matches against the All Blacks.

Wales to meet All Blacks in 2020

Wales Online reports that Wales will play a series against the current back-to-back World Champions in 2020 after Pivac takes over from Warren Gatland following the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup.

Gatland, who has been in charge of Wales since 2007, is stepping down from the role to return to New Zealand, where he's expected to contend for the All Blacks job, as current coach Steve Hansen confirmed earlier this month he would not seek reappointment after the World Cup.

Wales make five changes to line-up

Aled Davies, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis and Owen Watkin also come into Warren Gatland's line-up, with Hadleigh Parkes (finger) and Samson Lee (back) ruled out through injury. 

Jenkins will play blindside flanker, while Elias and Francis will make their first starts of the tour in the front row alongside Rob Evans.

Aled Davies will line up alongside Rhys Patchell at scrum-half, while the back three remains unchanged after Wales' opening victory in San Juan. 

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Commonwealth Games: 11-year-old Welsh table tennis sensation Anna Hursey drawing crowds

She's the youngest athlete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and it is believed she is the youngest athlete to represent Wales at senior level in any sport.

And while the dream for medals in the teams event is over after a quarter-final loss to Australia, Hursey is still gearing up for a shot at the singles starting April 10.

In her home country, she's a household name. In Australia, we're only just discovering this table tennis savant. But already, Hursey is drawing a crowd of international admirers.

Former Wales prop Jones to retire

Jones on Sunday announced that he will hang up his boots 18 years after making his professional debut for Neath.

The veteran front-row forward, who went on two British and Irish Lions tours, will remain at Harlequins as assistant forwards coach on a full-time basis when his playing days come to an end.

"I'll be officially retiring from playing at the end of the season. I've had a great career and never thought I'd go on to achieve what I have." said Jones.

Rhys Webb out for season

Webb, who missed the Six Nations because of the injury, is set to leave Ospreys for Toulon at the end of the season.

That switch will make him ineligible to play for Wales, the most recent of the scrum-half's 33 caps coming in December against South Africa.

A statement from Ospreys' medical team read: "Rhys pulled out of Wales' Six Nations campaign and went on to have surgery on an ongoing knee problem.

"He will be unavailable for the remainder of this season and his focus is now on getting his recovery right for next season."

Wales captain Jones set to miss summer Tests

Wales face the Proteas in a one-off Test in the United States before coming up against the Pumas twice, but Jones looks set to be given a rest.

"I don't think he will go on tour in the summer," Wales head coach Gatland said after his side's Six Nations win over France.

"It is about us managing him over the next 18 months.

"We have got a plan in place for him over the next year or so in terms of the amount of games he plays for the Ospreys and for us.

"He is very important for us and we need to keep him fresh."

Hurricanes lose forward to Wales

27 year old Thomson, has been part of the Hurricanes club since 2013, making 40 appearances. That number would have been significantly higher had he not suffered two serious shoulder injuries in recent seasons.

Equally adept at No 8 or lock, the former New Zealand Under-20 world champion and Maori All Black said he was determined to help the Hurricanes fulfil their potential and win another Investec Super Rugby title before he headed to the Welsh club.

"My focus is fully on finishing the current season on a high with the Hurricanes and hopefully lifting some silverware.

Biggar, Halfpenny and Williams return to Wales' starting XV

Number 10 Biggar has not featured in Wales' opening two rounds, a comprehensive win over Scotland and a narrow loss to England, due to a shoulder problem, but he returns to earn his 61st cap.

Fellow British and Irish Lions Williams and Halfpenny also make the team, the former having featured and scored for Saracens against Sale Sharks on Friday to step up his comeback from an abdominal injury, while the latter was a late withdrawal against England due to an infected foot.

Baldwin ruled out of Six Nations

The Ospreys hooker, who last year was bizarrely sidelined after being bitten on the hand by a lion, was hurt in training and requires surgery that will keep him out of action for five months.

A Wales Rugby Union statement confirmed that Scarlets' Ryan Elias, who has two international caps, has been called up in his place.

Wales are already shorn of several players, with the likes of Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland among their absentees.