Five Wales players in Team GB sevens squads
Rylan Clark-Neal on his flourishing TV career, the importance of being a nice guy and the return of Ready Steady Cook
FIVE Welsh players have been named in Team GB’s Sevens training squads ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, being staged in July and August.
Wales and Bristol Bears wing Jasmine Joyce and her international teammate and Gloucester-Hartpury centre Hannah Jones are included in the women’s initial training squad.
Both are in Wales Women’s Six Nations training squad and face a congested schedule this year with the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September and October.
Wales Sevens and Ospreys wing Luke Morgan, sevens specialist Luke Treharne and Scarlets wing/full-back Morgan Williams have been called up to the men’s training squad.
With Sevens programmes across the UK being heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, teams from Wales, England and Scotland are being replaced with Team GB men’s and women’s sides in the HSBC World
Sevens Series this year and the Olympics after funding from the National Lottery.
As well as the initial training squads, it has now been announced there will be an equal pay structure in place.
A statement read: “GB7s will operate a banded pay structure which will give equal opportunities across both the men’s and women’s programmes to be financially rewarded at the same level”.
Women’s head coach Scott Forrest has selected a group of 19 players, with 16 of those having played club rugby in England’s top league. Men’s head coach Tony Roques has named a 21-player group which features a host of sevens specialists.
GB SEVENS SQUADS WOMEN’S:
Jasmine Joyce (Wales), Hannah Jones (Wales), Holly Aitchison (England), Abbie Brown (England), Abi Burton (England), Heather Fisher (England), Deborah Fleming (England), Megan Gaffney (Scotland), Megan Jones (England), Rhona Lloyd Scotland), Alex Matthews (England), Helen Nelson (Scotland), Celia Quansah (England), Chloe Rollie ( Scotland), Helena Rowland (England), Hannah Smith (Scotland), Lisa Thomson (Scotland), Emma Uren (England), Amy Wilson-Hardy (England). MEN’S: Luke Morgan (Wales), Luke Treharne (Wales), Morgan Williams (Wales), Dan Bibby (England), Tom Bowen (England), Phil Burgess (England), Richard de Carpentier (England), Alec Coombes (Scotland), Alex Davis (England), Tom Emery (Coventry), Jamie Farndale (Scotland), Robbie Fergusson (Scotland), Ben Harris (Saracens), Paddy Kelly (Scotland), Ollie Lindsay-Hague (England), Ross McCann (Scotland), Max McFarland (Scotland), Tom Mitchell (England), Will Muir (England), Dan Norton (England), Ethan Waddleton (England).
LIAM WILLIAMS
Saved an early try with super-chilled covering that denied Itoje, then was more alert than anyone as he pounced for a score at the other end. A bad two minutes saw him fail to stop Watson scoring and be charged down but Williams redeemed himself with turnover.
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT
The look on his face didn’t suggest he was entirely convinced he hadn’t knocked on in the run-up to Liam Williams’ try, but, hey ho. Stopped an English try with a superb tackle on Elliot Daly and was keen in defence all game. Good chasing, too.
GEORGE NORTH
Started well, achieving a counter-ruck turnover, and followed up with several good hits, including one on Jonny May that was a potential try-saver. Crowned an efficient effort with a super turnover on Henry Slade near the end. The Test centurion can raise his bat in triumph.
JONATHAN DAVIES
Few errors, but not that many highlights. There were a couple of decent tackles before was replaced on 51 minutes. Still moving up the gears.
JOSH ADAMS
Back from his ban, and back with a bang, scoring the first Welsh try and playing a part in the second with a dink through. Adams also chased hard in a trademark hard-working performance. Welcome back.
DAN BIGGAR
Only two players were wide awake in the run-up to Josh Adams’ try, with Biggar the other. Wonderful awareness and execution from the fly-half with pin-point kick. Taken off after 45 minutes.
KIERAN HARDY 7 8 8 5
he
8 6
Will be seeing Itoje in his sleep, with the England lock pressuring
8 him relentlessly early on. But, wow, did he take his try well, taking full advantage of
WYN JONES
Achieved an early turnover and did well enough in the scrums, relishing his battle with Sinckler. Couldn’t prevent Ben Youngs from crossing but overall finished well in credit.
KEN OWENS
If the odd line-out dart went astray, Owens drove strongly with ball in hand and slammed the door shut in defence. A typically grafting shift from the Scarlet.
TOMAS FRANCIS
Unsung, but he’s worth a lot to Wales. Defended with purpose and didn’t buckle against Mako Vunipola in the pushing and shoving game
ADAM BEARD
Picked off an English line-out, safe on his own ball, put in a number of good passes and tackles. Surprisingly subbed on 55 minutes.
ALUN WYN JONES
The captain was at the heart of a famous victory, leading by example, driving hard into contact, thundering into tackles. While Itoje gave away an abundance of penalties, his Welsh second-row rival came up with a display of controlled quality.
JOSH NAVIDI
Call off the search party. Anyone looking for the Red Wall should search no further. Here it is. Navidi was in the thick of the close-quarter
8 exchanges and didn’t miss a beat in defence. When he features, Wales always play better.
JUSTIN TIPURIC 7 7 7 6 7
Waded through a load of the unglamorous work without which no side can function. His defence was impeccable and he grew into the game, having a big second half. One hit on Owen Farrell took the breath away – the England captain would doubtless agree.
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CRIME drama McDonald & Dodds returns to ITV with Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia as the chalk and cheese detective duo with murders to solve.
Patsy Kensit joins the line-up of guest stars who are appearing in the new whoddunit specials.
Here, the 52-year-old tells us about joining the show.
Are you a fan of the detective drama genre?
I love crime. I love the Crime and Investigation channel! I’ll be watching some documentary about kids that kill their mother and my sons are like, ‘Why are you watching that stuff? It’s not normal!’
But I am not empathetic to the murderers on these things, I just love the detective work and how they solve the crimes.
I think I would make quite a good sleuth, because I don’t miss a thing. Sometimes people don’t think that about me, but then they come unstuck. I’m very on the ball!
What attracted you to the new series of McDonald & Dodds?
I loved the script. It’s a great story about five friends from the 80s, four of whom have stayed really close and have this unique friendship. They all live in the same block of flats together in Bath, and Mick, played by Martin Kemp, is the ringleader of the group.
He organises a day out for himself, my character Barbara, Jackie (Cathy Tyson) and Gordon (Rupert Graves) in a hot air balloon, but then this fifth member of the group turns up, someone my character Barbara can’t stand.
We get into the balloon and it all turns to chaos. Five of us go up in the air, but only four come down alive…
Describe your character
She was a presenter in the 80s and a bit of a trendy girl about town. In the present day, she is doing commercials and she has built a nice life for herself.
She often doesn’t think before she speaks, and that can get her in trouble. She is quite lonely and relies deeply on the contact with her other three friends,
Did you know Martin Kemp before working on the show?
I have known Martin for years. I met him when I was 14. I think I was doing a drama at the BBC when Spandau Ballet used to do Top Of The Pops there. I would be there in period costume, running into various pop stars in the corridors. Martin and I have wanted to work together for ages, he is a great guy and hopefully we will get to do something together again in the future.
You also share scenes with another guest star, Rob Brydon. What was he like to work with?
I have known Rob for years. Again, one of the funniest men on the planet and he is just brilliant in the scenes that I did with him.
What was it like filming the hot air balloon scenes?
We didn’t get to go up in the sky, but we did do a take-off on a crane, which swooped us up about 12ft in the air. It felt really exciting, but we weren’t allowed to go any higher. I have never been in a hot air balloon in real life, I’ve wanted to go in one since I was a kid.
■ McDonald & Dodds starts on ITV tonight at 8pm.