Talking Rugby Union
talkrugbyunion.bsky.social
Talking Rugby Union
@talkrugbyunion.bsky.social
All things Rugby Union! Still Independent...
Contact: austinh@talkingrugbyunion.co.uk
Wales’ Quilter Nations Series opener ended in a heavy loss to Argentina.

Los Pumas were clinical, and the 52-28 defeat was compounded by Jac Morgan’s dislocated shoulder.

But were there green shoots?

✍️ @iestyn21.bsky.social
🖇️ www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/breath-of-fr...

📸 www.inpho.ie
November 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Rhys Carré to start and Rees-Zammit to come from the bench as Steve Tandy names his first Wales team.

More from @iestyn21.bsky.social 🔽

t.co/9uwx2Qdpzp

📸 Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
November 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
It came as no surprise to see Jodie Ounsley contributing to the recent #RWC2025 coverage.

Her passion for connecting audiences with the sport - as a player, Gladiator, presenter, and trailblazer - continues to shine through.

🔗 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/jodie-ounsle...
October 30, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Talking Rugby Union
✍️| The opening block of the URC has come to an end, here's my round up on all four Welsh teams and how they have gone on this season for @talkrugbyunion.bsky.social.

Any likes or shares would be greatly appreciated!
www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/welsh-region...
Welsh regions in focus: URC form and the state of play before autumn internationals
The opening block of fixtures in this season’s United Rugby Championship has drawn to a close and as the league pauses for the Quilter Nations Series, the Welsh regions have plenty to ponder both on a...
www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
🗣️ "It’s a rivalry that’s been around for a long time, but that’s not our focus...

“Our focus is on performance..." 😤

Bath are aiming for a response over rivalry as they look to bounce back against Bristol Bears this weekend 👊

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/bath-focused...

📸 Patrick Khachfe
October 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
💭 'Welsh supporters will hope a win over Japan is achievable.

'Running Argentina close, maybe even stealing a win, and keeping the final two games competitive would make for an encouraging month.'

✍️ Iestyn Rhys-Thomas on Steve Tandy's first Wales squad: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/louis-rees-z...
October 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👓 The Welsh URC preview

🔥 Dragons vs Cardiff – East Wales derby! Can the Dragons end their losing streak?

🇿🇦 Scarlets kick off their South African tour

⚫️ Ospreys vs Glasgow - after last week’s win over Zebre, can Ospreys build momentum?

📸 www.inpho.ie

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/dragons-face...
October 16, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Redemption mode 🔛

The 'sour taste' of last year's 33-0 home defeat to Leicester is fuelling Northampton ahead of Prem Rugby derby weekend...

✍️ Earlier this week, Elizabeth Cartwright heard from the Saints: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/-sour-taste-...

📸 Northampton Saints
October 10, 2025 at 8:09 AM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Three Welsh regions are still chasing their first URC wins but with a draw and a postponement thrown in, could better fortunes be just around the corner?

✍️ Iestyn Rhys-Thomas looks ahead to Round 3 of the United Rugby Championship: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/winless-wels...

📸 www.inpho.ie
October 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
🗣️ Ollie Hassell-Collins Interview

While he is fully aware of the strength in depth England have on the wings, the focus remains simple - do the job for Leicester Tigers 🐯

📝 James Orpin
📸 Paul Cooke / PAC Photography

🔗 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/ollie-hassel...
October 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 URC Round 2: Welsh regions seek wins after mixed opener

✈️ Ospreys away at Stormers
🏠 Dragons host Sharks
🇮🇪 Scarlets + Cardiff in Ireland

💻 Iestyn Rhys-Thomas previews the weekend's action: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/united-rugby...

📸 www.inpho.ie
October 2, 2025 at 12:43 PM
"I think it was a chance to redefine women’s rugby...."

The words of World Cup-winning captain Zoe Aldcroft said it all.

#RWC2025 was transformative and will help the game go to the next level.

✍️ Elizabeth Cartwright
📸 Lizzy Terry/TEZ.PHOTOG

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/redefining-w...
September 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Cardiff impress with battling win ✅
Scarlets struggle 🙁
Ospreys & Dragons find positives in defeat 💪

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿✍️ Iestyn Rhys-Thomas with his weekly Welsh recap from the United Rugby Championship...

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/united-rugby...
September 29, 2025 at 9:31 AM
🏉 The 2025/26 URC season 🔜

🔵⚫️ Will Cardiff's attack-minded style continue?
⚫️⚪️ Can Ospreys return to the Top 8?
🔴⚪️ Can Scarlets remain competitive?
🐉🐉 Dragons - Keep an eye on Harry Beddall!

📝 Iestyn Rhys-Thomas

🔗 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/united-rugby...
September 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🗣️ “This might be the most enjoyable World Cup I’ve worked on.” – Ugo Monye

🔙 Reliving the quarter-finals
👀 Eyes on the last four 🔜
🌟 The impact of #RWC2025
🎙️ "A privilege" to cover it with incredibly passionate colleagues

✍️ Elizabeth Cartwright

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/ugo-monye-in...
September 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 After exiting the World Cup, change is coming for Scotland...

But opportunity does lie ahead ✨🏉

💻 Gary Heatly has highlighted 5⃣ players to watch out for, all of whom ply their trade in Premiership Women's Rugby

🔗 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/scotland-s-w...

📸 N50Sports

#RWC2025 #PWR
September 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Six months ago, Rhona Lloyd wasn’t sure she’d make #RWC2025...

But now she has very much rediscovered her love for rugby and is relishing a quarter-final clash with England 👏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

✍️🌟 Gary Heatly heard from the Scotland star: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/rhona-lloyd-...

📸 Lizzy Terry/TEZ.PHOTOG
September 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
🌋 From Vesuvius to Etna
🚴 500 miles | 🧗 11,500m | ⏱️ 6 days

💪 Ex-Worcester & Exeter Chief Kai Horstmann joins Phil Dollman & Greg Bateman for an epic challenge...

All in aid of Looseheadz 🖤🤍

🗣️ He talks about the cause + chats rugby with TRU...

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/kai-horstman...
September 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Flag Day for Molly!

👏 Scotland front-rower Molly Wright was honoured by her former Watsonians teammates after battling back from injury to star in her second Women’s Rugby World Cup.

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/flag-day-for...

✍️ Gary Heatly

#RWC2025
September 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
"𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆..." ✨

Scotland’s Emma Orr is an inspiration to the girls of Biggar RFC as they watched her shine last weekend against Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏

📰 Gary Heatly has the story: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/scotland-wor...

📸 Biggar RFC

#RWC2025
August 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The Women’s Rugby World Cup starts TODAY🤩

We’ll be in Sunderland, Salford and Northampton this weekend and speaking of Salford, Scotland fans will be excited to watch the electric Francesca McGhie vs Wales tomorrow⚡️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

💬✍️ Gary Heatly heard from the winger

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/scotlands-fr...
August 22, 2025 at 7:14 AM
🏆🌹 Of course, the Red Roses will be chasing World Cup glory, but their impact can go beyond the pitch.

England defence coach Sarah Hunter believes #RWC2025 can be a pivotal moment in inspiring the next generation.

💻 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/sarah-hunter...

📸 Lizzy Terry/TEZ.PHOTOG
August 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨..." 🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The triumphant return of the England Students Women’s programme was a resounding success and could provide a fresh avenue for future Red Roses 👏

www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/the-dominant...
August 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Quiet achiever in the spotlight...🌠

Loughborough Lightning's Becky Boyd has gone from an unexpected Six Nations debut to earning a spot in Scotland’s #RWC2025 squad.

💬 She chats to Gary Heatly for TRU: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/loughborough...

📸 Scottish Rugby
August 14, 2025 at 7:10 AM
ICYMI: Big changes could be coming to Welsh rugby 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

The WRU is set to reveal its "optimal solution" for the game’s future.

✍️ Last week, Iestyn Rhys Thomas was at the Principality Stadium for TRU: www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/wru-s-next-s...
August 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM