Free Press - sport in Pontypool, Monmouth, Chepstow, Abergavenny, Caldicot & Wales

Leigh Halfpenny is world's best kicker, says Warren Gatland

12:47pm Tuesday 10th December 2013

WALES and British & Irish Lions hero Leigh Halfpenny has been hailed as the best goalkicker in world rugby by coach Warren Gatland, writes Andrew Penman.

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Wales' Six Nations win tops the Lions for coach of the year Warren Gatland

12:02pm Tuesday 10th December 2013

COACH of the year Warren Gatland insists Wales’ stunning Six Nations victory over England was better than leading the Lions to an historic series win Down Under.

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Fans vote Richard Hibbard as Wales' man of the series

3:21pm Monday 9th December 2013

HOOKER Richard Hibbard has been voted Wales' man of the series after the Autumn internationals.

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Toby Faletau aims to bounce back with Dragons victory

5:06pm Tuesday 3rd December 2013

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons star Toby Faletau aims to put last week’s bitter disappointment of losing to Australia with Wales firmly behind him by helping his region beat Bordeaux-Bègles on Friday night.

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Ex-Dragon James Harris set for another Oxford Blue

4:50pm Tuesday 3rd December 2013

FORMER Newport Gwent Dragons forward James Harris will play for Oxford University in their big showdown with Cambridge University at Twickenham next week.

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Halfpenny pipped to top award by inspirational Read

4:48pm Tuesday 3rd December 2013

WALES full-back Leigh Halfpenny has been beaten to the title of IRB player of the year by New Zealand number eight Kieran Read, writes Chris Kirwan.

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Dan Lydiate devastated by Wales' latest Wallabies woe

10:20am Monday 2nd December 2013

BRITISH and Irish Lions hero Dan Lydiate revealed Wales were “gutted” they couldn’t end their miserable modern record against Australia as they slumped to their ninth successive defeat to the Wallabies, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

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Wales looking for unparalleled 6 Nations feat – Scott Williams

9:01am Monday 2nd December 2013

SCOTT Williams says Wales will look to get over their latest southern hemisphere heartache by aiming to win the Six Nations title for an unprecedented third time, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

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Wait for scalp goes on for impressive Toby Faletau

7:02am Monday 2nd December 2013

TOBY Faletau has enjoyed another splendid autumn yet the Newport Gwent Dragons star is still waiting to toast a Welsh victory against a southern hemisphere big gun, writes Chris Kirwan.

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Another narrow loss but Wales are outclassed by Wallabies

6:02pm Sunday 1st December 2013

THE Wallabies must be crafty sadists.

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George North maintains Wales' autumn a "success"

10:58am Sunday 1st December 2013

GEORGE North has claimed Wales’ autumn series was a success despite his country achieving just a 50 per cent pass rate and all too familiar defeats to Rugby Championship big boys South Africa and Australia.

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Wales v Australia: how the players rated

1:39am Sunday 1st December 2013

ARGUS Sport's Iwan Gabe Davies assesses how Wales' players performed in the weekend's 30-26 defeat to Australia at the Millennium Stadium – their ninth setback in a row against the mighty men in gold.

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Wales 26 Australia 30

7:19pm Saturday 30th November 2013

WALES fell short yet again after a pulsating Test match at the Millennium Stadium this evening saw Australia deservedly hold on to win after nearly letting slip a 30-16 lead with 20 minutes to go.

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Live Wales v Australia

4:46pm Saturday 30th November 2013

WALES look to claim a rare southern hemisphere scalp against a SANZAR nation by beating Australia at the Millennium Stadium this evening.

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Wales have better players than Israel Folau, says Owen Williams

7:00am Saturday 30th November 2013

ISRAEL Folau is the kind of big-time player who has attracted rave reviews in the year since converting to rugby union but Wales new boy Owen Williams isn’t one to get overawed too easily.

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Gethin Jenkins looks to toast new milestone with victory

6:30am Saturday 30th November 2013

GETHIN Jenkins becomes Wales’ most capped forward this evening when he overtakes his old Cardiff Blues friend and teammate Martyn Williams.

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Folau is a class act... and there's more to come, says Genia

6:02am Saturday 30th November 2013

LEIGH Halfpenny or Israel Folau? It's a tough choice but Australia scrum-half Will Genia didn't take long to provide his answer, writes Chris Kirwan.

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Beating Wallabies will lift the country – Sam Warburton

12:05pm Friday 29th November 2013

WALES captain Sam Warburton believes a long overdue win over Australia at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow will give the nation a huge lift.

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Alex Cuthbert has that X-Factor, says Rob Howley

11:54am Friday 29th November 2013

ALEX Cuthbert’s return could make a crucial difference for Wales against Australia this weekend according to attack coach Rob Howley.

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Leigh Halfpenny looks to end great 2013 on a high

11:48am Friday 29th November 2013

WALES star Leigh Halfpenny says it is a “privilege” to be in the running for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award as he aims to round off an incredible 2013 with a Wales victory over Australia.

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Morgan helps Wales youngsters overcome the Aussies

2:08pm Thursday 28th November 2013

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons teenager Tyler Morgan could teach the Wales seniors a thing or two about beating the Aussies, writes Chris Kirwan.

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Scott Williams tired of singing same old song

10:01am Thursday 28th November 2013

SCOTT Williams says it’s high time Wales changed the record and gave their fans a new tune to dance to by beating Australia this Saturday.

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Australia team for Wales Test: Quade Cooper to bring up 50 in Cardiff

9:46am Thursday 28th November 2013

QUADE Cooper will win his 50th cap when he pulls the strings for Australia against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off 5pm).

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Wales ace Toby Faletau revved up for brutal autumn finale

8:02am Thursday 28th November 2013

NUMBER eight Toby Faletau is happy to get around in his no-frills Ford Fiesta but the Wales ace will have no problem getting revved up for another crack at a southern hemisphere juggernaut.

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Concentration key for Wales – Mike Phillips

4:31pm Wednesday 27th November 2013

WALES star Mike Phillips says he and his teammates have to focus for the full 80 minutes if they are to finally end their Wallabies curse.

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Cuthbert and Williams back for Wales to face Australia

1:03pm Tuesday 26th November 2013

WALES duo Alex Cuthbert and Scott Williams have returned from injury to be named in the starting line-up for Wales’ final Autumn test against Australia on Saturday.

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Rhodri Williams could face hero Will Genia

12:01pm Tuesday 26th November 2013

WALES’ latest cap Rhodri Williams could be set to play against his hero Will Genia on Saturday as the Scarlets scrum-half dream season continues.

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Wales must reproduce Lions intensity – Richard Hibbard

10:59am Tuesday 26th November 2013

HOOKER Richard Hibbard says Wales will try and replicate the British and Irish Lions’ ferocious intensity in July’s third Test victory over Australia when they clash with the Wallabies on Saturday.

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Wales can't switch off for a second says defence chief Shaun Edwards

10:22am Tuesday 26th November 2013

SHAUN Edwards stressed Wales “can’t switch off for a second” if they want to finally end their Australia hoodoo and beat the Wallabies this Saturday.

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Rhys Jones in Wales Sevens squad

12:19pm Monday 25th November 2013

CROSS Keys’ Rhys Jones is in the Wales Sevens squad for the second and third rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series which take place in Dubai (November 29-30) and South Africa (December 7-8).

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Dream come true for Wales try hero Owen Williams

7:45am Monday 25th November 2013

PLAYING for Wales at the Millennium Stadium was a dream come true for Owen Williams who added to the magical experience with a superb individual try.

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Wales can finally end Australia heartache – Ashley Beck

6:03am Monday 25th November 2013

ASHLEY Beck is confident Wales can finally “turn Australia over” on Saturday to end a horrendous eight-match losing streak against the Wallabies.

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Dragons teen Hallam Amos dreaming of place in Wales' squad for Aussies Test

9:02pm Sunday 24th November 2013

HALLAM Amos was preparing for the LV= Cup with Newport Gwent Dragons at the start of November. This week he will be trying to earn a spot in the Wales matchday squad that will try and end their Australian hoodoo.

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Wales confident Scott Williams will face Wallabies

12:55pm Sunday 24th November 2013

WALES remain hopeful Scarlets centre Scott Williams will be fit for Saturday's showdown with Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

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Wales v Tonga player ratings

12:29pm Saturday 23rd November 2013

WALES warmed up for their showdown next Saturday against Australia with an uncertain 17-7 win over Tonga. The Argus rated the Welsh players' performances – tell us what you think?

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Wales make heavy weather of Tonga – Wales 17 Tonga 7

9:34pm Friday 22nd November 2013

WALES laboured to back-to-back victories with a fairly lacklustre performance at the Millennium Stadium to record their seventh win out of seven over Tonga.

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Amos starts Test life with a win

10:00pm Friday 22nd November 2013

TOBY Faletau’s first experience of Test rugby at the Millennium Stadium was when he was an unused replacement in the demoralising draw against Fiji in 2010 while Andrew Coombs’ was last season’s Six Nations defeat to Ireland.

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Live Wales v Tonga

6:35pm Friday 22nd November 2013

WALES look for their second win of the autumn when they host Tonga at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).

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Andrew Coombs ruled out of Wales clash

6:29pm Friday 22nd November 2013

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons captain Andrew Coombs has been forced out of Wales' Test against Tonga this evening because of a bad back.

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Keith Jarrett backs fellow teenage prodigy Hallam Amos

10:39am Friday 22nd November 2013

HALLAM Amos is being tipped to enjoy an accomplished first cap by the man who made the most famous of dream debuts for Wales, fellow Monmouth School old boy and teenage prodigy Keith Jarrett.

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Luke Charteris looks to replicate World Cup form

6:55am Friday 22nd November 2013

LUKE Charteris aims to recapture his glorious 2011 World Cup form as he makes his first Test start in a year when Wales clash with Tonga tonight.

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