Welsh Rugby 2013/2014

[Xanthippe]

Wow, what terrible news - injuries like these always put this game we love into perspective.

Wales centre Owen Williams to remain in hospital following serious neck injury
The 22-year-old Cardiff Blues and Wales centre suffered injury in inaugural World Club 10s in Singapore
By Graham Clutton7:07PM BST 23 Jun 20146

The parents of Owen Williams have flown to Singapore to be with their son after the Cardiff Blues and Wales centre suffered a serious neck injury.

Williams, who made his senior international debut in Japan last summer and scored for Wales in the autumn series victory over Tonga at the Millennium Stadium, was taken to hospital on Sunday after suffering the injury while playing for the Blues in the inaugural World Club 10s.

The 22-year-old was tended to by medical staff on the field following a collision in the sixth minute of the third place play-off game against the Asian Pacific Dragons. Although the extent of the injury is unlikely to be known until Wednesday, a statement from Cardiff Blues confirmed he will remain in hospital. The statement read; “Owen Williams is to remain in hospital in Singapore after sustaining an injury at the World Club 10s. The region would like to take this opportunity to thank fans for their messages of support for Owen. Cardiff Blues will issue further updates when they are available.”
The news has been greeted with shock around the rugby world, with fellow players, coaches, administrators and friends taking to social media to send their support.

The Wales and British and Irish Lions flanker Dan Lydiate, who was ruled out of rugby for more than a year after breaking a bone in his neck while playing for Newport Gwent Dragons in Perpignan in 2007, tweeted: “Thoughts are with you my friend.” Fellow Wales international Ian Evans said: “Thoughts are with the big man."

His close friend and fellow Cardiff Blues player Macauley Cook has been at Williams’s bedside since Sunday night and his tweet read. “At the hospital with Owen and thanks for all the kind wishes and support for him. Waiting for Owen’s family to arrive. Stay strong for Ows.”

Capped by Wales Under-20s, Williams burst on to the scene with the Blues and was deservedly named in the Wales squad for last summer’s tour to Japan. He made his debut in the 22-18 victory in the first Test in Osaka, and started in the second Test defeat in Tokyo.

His first try came when Wales beat the Tongans last November, and he played for the first 50 minutes in the 30-26 defeat by Australia later that month. He is also a Wales Sevens international.

Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Williams was closely associated with Aberdare Rugby Club, who confirmed on Monday that they have cancelled a function at which Williams was due to attend this weekend.

Williams, 6ft 3in, is seen as one of the future stars of the Welsh game by coach Warren Gatland, and was named in Rugby World’s Five Welsh Players to Watch at the beginning of last season.

He missed a large chunk of the domestic campaign due to an injury picked up at the end of the autumn series and was subsequently overlooked for Gatland’s Six Nations Championship squad. He returned in the LV= Cup game against Bath at The Rec on Jan 24, and finished the season with nine appearances for the region.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... njury.html

[JB1973]

best wishes to the lad and to his family, hope he can make a full recovery.

Totally agree with the post above rugby is nothing when compared to your health

[ceemec]

Confirmed as a significantly damaged spinal cord. Poor bloke. Have to think his career is completely over and, unfortunately, that may be the least of his worries.

Can only hope for something miraculous now.

[Peg Leg]

Confirmed as a significantly damaged spinal cord. Poor bloke. Have to think his career is completely over and, unfortunately, that may be the least of his worries.

Can only hope for something miraculous now.

Jesus, thoughts are with the lad. Hope the damage has not resulted in paralysis.

[ceemec]

Confirmed as a significantly damaged spinal cord. Poor bloke. Have to think his career is completely over and, unfortunately, that may be the least of his worries.

Can only hope for something miraculous now.

Jesus, thoughts are with the lad. Hope the damage has not resulted in paralysis.

Impossible to say but the circumstances suggest it's very much a possibility when you hear that his family immediately flew to the other side of the world to be with him. The injury was to his cervical vertebrae which is essentially your neck (the bones your skull sits on) and the spinal cord. The tone of the statement "significant injury" was not one that gave a huge amount of cause for optimism.

[JB1973]

I've seen the incident in question prior to learning how severe the injury was , (I won't post a link as I don't think it's an appropriate thing to do) total accident the guy is half tackled around the legs and is then scragged by the collar and dragged to the ground . He can't get his hands out to break his fall so his collides with the ground it looks a rock hard pitch to which has probably made the situation worse

Terrible injury , my heart goes out to the lad to his family but no foul play just a tragic accident

[Darce]

I've seen the incident and thought the scragging was quite reckless. No intent, but quite reckless none the less.

Perhaps tackles like that and these lasso type ones on the shirt collar need to be looked at by the IRB

[Darce]

Also, that pitch looked terrible

[ronk]

Really hope he makes a decent recovery

[Lar]

Good Luck to him.

[offshorerules]

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/152 ... 7FWzbAU_cs

A small it of good news. Doesn't sound like he's out of the woods yet but at least he's stable enough to fly.

[BlueStreak]

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/152 ... 7FWzbAU_cs

A small it of good news. Doesn't sound like he's out of the woods yet but at least he's stable enough to fly.

Yeah, was thinking the same thing. The fact that they've been able to fly him home so soon has to be a good sign.

[paddyor]

Game of Dragons Update

Sadly, the Regions regret to confirm that despite an indescribably tortuous process of endless telephone calls and meetings since January 6th, the control, commercial and financial conditions that are being demanded of them under drafts of the proposed new Service Agreement would be completely unacceptable for any responsible independent business to enter into and expose itself to.

The Regions are most grateful for the time and consideration of Wales’ National Head Coach, who has worked hard to reach a constructive and positive balance on the core Rugby elements of the agreement.

The public statements of the WRU Chairman referring to the need for urgency are welcomed, together with the positive position of individual WRU Board members following the Regions’ presentation to the Board during May 2014.

Unfortunately, these comments in the public domain do not reflect the actual process that the Regions continue to experience, with every apparent step forward eventually being replaced by two steps back.

The Regions have consistently made every possible effort to reach a positive and progressive agreement that truly works in the interests of both parties, to ensure a sustainable and competitive professional game in Wales at both regional and international level. They remain totally committed to the hope of reaching that solution.

However, after many months of working hard to try to progress a new agreement, it is with heavy hearts that the Boards of all four Regions must now urgently consider the stark practical consequences of operating within a business model that does not include any form of agreement with the WRU outside IRB regulations and no WRU support or involvement in the development of Professional Regional Rugby.

Not sure where this leaves their participation in the Pro12. Suicide stuff if you ask me though, they'll never get anywhere without WRU funding.

[JB1973]

Looks like it's a slow death for RRW and new centrally funded regions will take their place, the WRU may lose a 4th ai game but in the long run they will be the winners of this war

[cormac]

Looks like it's a slow death for RRW and new centrally funded regions will take their place, the WRU may lose a 4th ai game but in the long run they will be the winners of this war

If they can't fund the current regions to a reasonable degree how are they going to fund four new ones centrally? Will any decent player still want to play in Wales?

[simonokeeffe]

Looks like it's a slow death for RRW and new centrally funded regions will take their place, the WRU may lose a 4th ai game but in the long run they will be the winners of this war

If they can't fund the current regions to a reasonable degree how are they going to fund four new ones centrally? Will any decent player still want to play in Wales?

Millenium stadium debt very nearly paid off so WRFU in a good position financially, plus they get the money (first) from ECC and GP12

[JB1973]

This is all getting very very messy now, RRW are talking about preventing players from going to the commonwealth games (I think some 7s players are on dual contracts with the wru though so not sure how that works) the regions are also talking about stopping their academy players going to south Africa with the under 18 set up and RRW are adamant that they will not select warburton until this is cleared up.

I have been told that an agreement was all but reached with gatland and RRW and then the chief exec has come in and altered the agreement massively.

I'm not sure where we go from here if I'm honest, very depressing stuff with the new season weeks away and a world cup looming

[Logorrhea]

The sooner that the WRU regains control of the game in Wales the better.

[offshorerules]

This is such a mess. Warburton could end up without a club apparently as he's contracted to the WRU.

[JB1973]

The WRU will simply loan out Warburton to another pro 12 or even a French side with a full release clause.

I think he is a terrific player and he comes across as a top bloke, he does have his injury problems but hell have no lack of suitors especially with the WRU picking up his tab.

Maybe you guys will take a punt on him? Imagine a back row of heaslip sob and Warburton