Talking Rugby Union
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Talking Rugby Union
@talkrugbyunion.bsky.social
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All things Rugby Union! Still Independent...
Contact: austinh@talkingrugbyunion.co.uk
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A first competitive win at the Principality Stadium in over three years...

Can the drama of Saturday’s victory give Wales the lift they need as the All Blacks roll into town?

And then there’s what Eddie Jones had to say 👀

✍️ @iestyn21.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/last-gasp-ev...
November 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
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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
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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
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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
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🗣️ "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
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💭 '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
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👓 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
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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
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 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
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🗣️ 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
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 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
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"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
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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
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🏉 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
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🗣️ “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
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 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
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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
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🌋 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
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 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
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"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
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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
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🏆🌹 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
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"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
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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
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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