Archive August 31, 2025

Wales may have restored a little bit of pride with a battling performance against Canada in Salford but just hours later, on the same pitch, they became the first side to be knocked out of the World Cup.

Scotland’s fourth try in a 29-15 win against Fiji, scored by wing Francesca McGhie in the 56th minute, meant that Sean Lynn’s side were mathematically unable to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Wales, ranked 10th in the world, had been full of hope after they stunned Australia in Brisbane in July – but they will watch knockout rugby from the sofa.

Canada’s quality meant there was an upbeat feeling in some quarters, despite a 42-0 defeat, but it is an early exit after an eighth defeat from nine games since Lynn took the reins.

Realistically, Wales were never going to upset a Canada side that are ranked second in the world and tipped to give England a run for their money on home soil.

It was the performance and result at the same ground seven days earlier that led to their failure to emerge from Pool B, with the probable prize a daunting knockout tie against the Red Roses.

Wales were abject against Scotland, thumped 38-8 in what was expected to be a tight and tense encounter.

Fiji, ranked 14th in the world, gave the Scots a much tougher afternoon.

“It’s a hard one to say, but if we had played that well last week we could have had a different outcome,” said Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan after the loss to Canada.

“Scotland were the better team on the day but we knew that we didn’t put our best foot forward.”

Nonetheless, Wales have conceded 80 points and 12 tries in two games and their only try of the tournament so far is Alex Callender’s effort from a driving line-out.

They have endured three scoreless halves on the bounce and managed just one line break against Scotland and two against Canada.

Semi-professional Canada flexed their muscles by running 11 tries past Fiji and then easing past Wales – having needed to fundraise before the tournament.

‘Mission: Win World Cup 2025’ was launched to fill a $1m (£740,000) shortfall in paying for the preparation plan.

Canada have 32 contracted players for this World Cup while Wales have 37.

The Welsh Rugby Union’s radical plans for elite rugby have put the men’s clubs of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets at risk but they have also proposed the formation of two professional women’s teams.

The document stated an aim of providing a combined total of 80 players for those squads, which will rely on the pathway providing sufficient talent.

The governing body has been criticised for its backing and approach to the women’s game in the past, which has led to Wales playing catch-up with England and France.

However, wing Jasmine Joyce-Butchers made no excuses.

“To be honest I think we are in a good place in that we have got contracts in place, we get funded, we get a lot of help, our training facilities are fantastic,” said the three-time Olympian, who made her Wales debut in 2017.

“I don’t know what else could be done. As individuals we’ve potentially got to look at ourselves and do more to be better as a team.”

Lynn, formerly boss of Gloucester-Hartpury, raised concerns about Wales’ strength and conditioning after their Six Nations whitewash.

There are deeper problems and Bevan, who plays club rugby for Bristol Bears, pointed to the problems that new men’s head coach Steve Tandy will inherit.

“It’s a tough one because the men’s game in Wales probably isn’t where it needs to be either,” she said. “[The WRU’s] priority is probably the men’s game at the minute.

There is hope for Wales thanks to some young prospects coming through, as was shown by the teenage talent that came off the bench.

Lynn brought youngsters Branwen Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood and Tilly Vucaj into the fray against a quality Canada outfit.

“You look at the investment the WRU did two years ago with the PDCs (Player Development Centres) and you are seeing the fruits of that now,” said Lynn.

Joyce-Butchers, 29, is one of the older heads and the wing agrees with her boss’ assessment.

“The girls coming through with us are fantastic,” she said. “They bring good energy and we will see that on the pitch.

“We have got Nel Metcalfe as our starting 15 and she has grabbed that shirt – she is one of the most exciting players in women’s rugby at the moment.”

However, a word of caution is provided by former Wales number eight Sioned Harries before the Six Nations at the start of the next cycle.

“I came through the system in Wales, we had regions at that time, and the system worked,” said the 35-year-old, who won 78 caps and played at four World Cups.

“There is talent coming through. The likes of Seren Lockwood, Branwen Metcalfe and Bryonie King.

“What I don’t want to see is throwing these girls into the deep end, expecting them to perform, and when they don’t, we pull them out again.”

And Harries warned: “We’ve seen it happen to Sian Jones and Gwennan Hopkins, that’s not what’s meant to happen.

Wales will expect to sign off with a win, but the performance of the Fijians against the Scots provides a warning.

They caused Scotland all manner of problems with their physicality and enterprise scoring three tries but also blowing a number of big chances.

Fiji carried for 725 metres, made 169 runs, beat 46 defenders and made 15 offloads, with the Scots having a tackle success of 74% after managing 91% on the opening weekend.

Then there is the added storyline of Wales going up against Fiji head coach Ioan Cunningham, who resigned as Wales boss in November 2024 after a turbulent time on and off the pitch.

“It’ll be at the forefront of external minds, but for us it’s about playing the game and not the emotional side from playing Fiji and Ioan,” said Bevan.

There is certainly no guarantee there will be Welsh celebrations when the final whistle goes at Sandy Park and there is no danger of Lynn allowing any complacency.

With a strong performance against Canada in Salford, Wales may have once more regained a little bit of pride, but just hours later, on the same pitch, they were the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.

With the score of Francesca McGhie’s wing in the 56th minute, Scotland won the match 29-15. This was technically impossible for Sean Lynn’s side to reach the quarter-finals.

After taking on Australia in Brisbane in July, Wales, ranked 10th in the world, had a lot of hope, but now they can watch knockout rugby from the couch.

Despite losing 42-0, Canada’s quality provided an upbeat feeling in some areas, but it is an early exit after losing eight games since Lynn took over.

Realistically, Wales were never going to upset a second-ranked Canada side, which was predicted to give England a run for their money on home soil.

Seven days prior, their performance and outcome at the same location caused them to fail to enter Pool B, with a difficult knockout tie with the Red Roses in store for the victory.

In a match that was anticipated to be tense and tight, Wales defeated Scotland 38-8.

The Scots had a much tougher afternoon thanks to Fiji, which is 14th in the world.

After the loss to Canada, Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan said, “It’s a hard one to say, but we could have had a different outcome if we had played that well last week.”

“We knew that we didn’t put our best foot forward, but Scotland were the better team on the day.”

Wales have only conceded one try of the tournament so far, Alex Callender’s effort from a driving line-out, and they have only conceded 80 points and 12 tries in two games.

They have lost three of their three consecutive games against Scotland and Canada and have only managed one line break.

Since they had to raise money before the tournament, semi-professional Canada stretched their muscles by running 11 tries past Fiji and then ease past Wales.

In order to pay for the preparation plan, “Mission: Win World Cup 2025” was released.

Wales has 37 players on contract with Canada for this World Cup, compared to 32 for Canada.

The radical plans of the Welsh Rugby Union for elite rugby have not only suggested the formation of two professional women’s teams, but also the risky men’s clubs of Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets, and Ospreys.

The document stated that those squads would need a total of 80 players, which would depend on the pathway providing sufficient talent.

In the past, the governing body has faced criticism for supporting and addressing the women’s game, which has seen Wales play catch-up with England and France.

However, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, the wing, offered no justifications.

The three-time Olympian, who made her Wales debut in 2017, said, “To be honest, I think we are in a good position. We have contracts in place, we get funded, we get a lot of help, and our training facilities are fantastic.”

“I have no idea what else could be done,” she said. We may need to consider ourselves and work harder as a team more.

After their Six Nations whitewash, Lynn, who was previously in charge of Gloucester-Hartpury, expressed concern about Wales’ strength and conditioning.

Bevan, who plays rugby for the Bristol Bears, pointed out the issues that new men’s head coach Steve Tandy will have.

The Welsh men’s game is “probably not where it needs to be either,” she said. The WRU’s top priority right now is probably the men’s game.

Wales has a chance thanks to some promising young people entering, as the off-field talent demonstrated.

Branwen Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood, and Tilly Vucaj were the young stars who Lynn introduced to a top-tier Canada outfit.

You can see the results of the investment the WRU made with the PDCs (Player Development Centres) two years ago, said Lynn.

The wing agrees with Joyce-Butchers’ assessment, which is that she is one of the older heads.

She said, “The girls coming through with us are fantastic. We’ll see that on the pitch because they have good energy.

Nel Metcalfe is the starting 15 for us, and she has taken that shirt because she is currently one of the most exciting women’s rugby players.

Sioned Harries, who was previously Wales number eight, cautions fans before the Six Nations begin the following cycle.

The 35-year-old, who won 78 caps and participated in four World Cups, said, “I came through the system in Wales, we had regions at that time, and the system worked.”

Talent is emerging, he says. the likes of Bryonie King, Branwen Metcalfe, and Seren Lockwood.

What I don’t want to see is pulling these girls out again when they don’t, expecting them to do it.

And Harries cautioned against Sian Jones and Gwennan Hopkins, who have already experienced it.

Wales will anticipate a victory, but the Fijians’ performance against the Scots serves as a warning.

With their physicality and teamwork, they not only wasted a lot of chances, but also caused Scotland all kinds of issues.

The Scots won the opening weekend tackle success with a tackle success of 74%, managing 91%, making 169 runs, defeating 46 defenders, and making 15 offloads. Fiji carried for 725 metres, making 169 runs, and a winning run total of 169 runs.

The additional plot involves Wales facing Fiji head coach Ioan Cunningham, who left as Wales’ boss in November 2024 after a turbulent time both on and off the pitch.

For us, it’s about playing the game, not the emotional side of playing Fiji and Ioan, Bevan said, “but it’ll be at the forefront of external minds.”

There is no way to avoid Lynn allowing complacency, and there is no way to guarantee that there will be Welsh celebrations when Sandy Park’s final whistle whistle blows.