Sport

Mark Taylor steps down

Published

10 years ago

July 12, 2016

Tom Sinclair

Stepping down: Mark Taylor with the U20 squad after their win over Scotland

FORMER Wales Captain , Mark Taylor , has stepped down as Wales U20 Team Manager to spend more time with his family . The team’s 42-19 victory over Scotland marked his final match in the role.

The former Centre who won 52 Wales caps, scored the historic first try at the Millennium Stadium and successfully captained Wales on four occasions, has been a Wales international pathway team manager since hanging up his playing boots in 2008, first with Wales U18, and for the last six years with Wales U20.

Taylor, who also toured with the Lions in 2001, has decided to spend more time with his family and other work commitments, but admits he will certainly stay involved in rugby in some capacity.

“It’s been a massive experience for me over the past eight years . It’s been a pleasure for me to be part of the development of young players, especially when you see them go onto play for the senior Wales side.

“There have been a lot of highs and some lows in that time, which from a results point of view come down to a few heavy defeats to New Zealand, in 2011 and earlier this week.

“One of the biggest achievements was reaching the Junior World Championship final in 2013, when we probably should have beaten England in the final. Hallam Amos, Sam Davies, Steff Hughes and Jordan Williams were key to that campaign, especially in beating South Africa in the semi-final. It was the culmination of two year period under Danny Wilson as coach and the players learned a huge amount from the experience.

“One of the highlights of my career, including my playing days, was being involved with the first side to beat New Zealand U20 in 2012. Our team had gone from losing to New Zealand by 92 points the year before, with the likes of Liam Williams and Kirby Myhill in the side, to come back 12 months later and turn them over. The likes of Tom Prydie, Samson Lee and Rob Evans were in that side, the match was played in some of the worst conditions imaginable and that victory was right up there in terms of special moments.

“Despite a few results going against us during this tournament in Manchester, the current crop of Wales U20 players also created something special in winning the Six Nations Grand Slam.

“The way they came back to win in Ireland got them off to a great start, and the desire they showed to stay in the Scotland and France games showed what they are made of. The highlight of the campaign though was the big victory over England, producing excellent rugby for 80 minutes.”

The team manager role started quite small with Wales U18 , but a number of players who have gone on to become household names were in Taylor’s sights from the start.

Tom Prydie, George North, Eli Walker, Aled Davies, Matthew Morgan and Rhodri Jones were in the first Wales U18 squad Taylor was involved with in 2009, with Samson Lee, Rob Evans and Ellis Jenkins joining the party a year later.

“I was asked if I wanted to take on the role and I saw it as a good way to stay in touch with the game. I was involved with talent identification and also some of the backs coaching under Darren Edwards, who was with London Welsh at the time.

“Tom [ Prydie ] was outstanding for us in a Five Nations tournament in Italy and went on to become capped by Wales in the Six Nations the following year , before playing for us again later that season in the next Five Nations tournament. George North was the star of that tournament in Llandovery and was capped by Wales later that year.

“The day -to -day role involves a lot of organisation and coordination between the team, the rest of the Welsh Rugby Union rugby department, the other National Squads, the Regions and clubs, along with other Unions and tournament organisers. Basically everything that enables the coaches and players to get on with their job of preparing for matches. I will miss it but I owe my family some quality time after going straight into team management after ending my playing career. I will no doubt be drawn back to rugby as I still feel I owe the game a lot after everything it’s given me, but it will be more of a home -based role for the time being. I’d like to thank all the coaches and support staff I’ve worked with in my time with the 18s and 20s.”

WRU Head of Rugby Performance , Geraint John , paid tribute to Mark Taylor’s contribution to the Welsh Rugby Union over the last eight years.

He said: “It has been a pleasure working with Mark since my return to Wales and he will be a great loss. He is an excellent Team Manager, well respected by all players and staff and is well loved in the office with his professionalism, passion and humour. We totally understand the reasons why Mark is stepping down as family is very important.

“Even though he is leaving his current role I am hoping that in the future we will see Mark involved with our teams in some capacity. He is an excellent person with great values and we wish him the best but we will certainly be staying in touch.”

Sport

Pembrokeshire cricket results and tables – Week 5

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2026

Herald Sport

Week 5 of the Thomas Carroll Pembroke County Cricket League delivered some emphatic wins, standout individual performances and movement at the top of several divisions as clubs battled for early-season momentum.

Match	Result
Neyland v Burton	Neyland (152-7) beat Burton (151 all out) by 3 wickets
Narberth v Carew	Carew (163 all out) beat Narberth (119 all out) by 44 runs
Herbrandston v Cresselly	Cresselly (205 all out) beat Herbrandston (60 all out) by 145 runs
Whitland v Saundersfoot	Saundersfoot (265-8) beat Whitland (179 all out) by 86 runs
Lawrenny v St Ishmaels	St Ishmaels (148-9) beat Lawrenny (144 all out) by 1 wicket

Top performers:

Jon Mansbridge (Saundersfoot) – 120
Ethan Hall (Carew) – 60
Charlie Arthur (Cresselly) – 6-19
Alan Webster (Neyland) – 30 & 4-20

Division 1 table

Pos	Team	P	Pts
1	Carew	5	79
2	Saundersfoot	5	70
3	Neyland	5	65
4	Cresselly	5	51
5	St Ishmaels	5	40
6	Herbrandston	5	39
7	Burton	5	39
8	Narberth	5	34
9	Whitland	5	32
10	Lawrenny	5	23

Match	Result
Llechryd v Hook	Hook (140-9) beat Llechryd (136-7) by 1 wicket
Haverfordwest v Johnston	Johnston (114-6) beat Haverfordwest (113-8) by 4 wickets
Fishguard v Llangwm	Fishguard (158-8) beat Llangwm (157-8) by 2 wickets
Cresselly II v Pembroke	Pembroke (235-7) beat Cresselly II (130 all out) by 105 runs
Llanrhian v Pembroke Dock	Pembroke Dock (104 all out) beat Llanrhian (92 all out) by 12 runs

Top performers:

Jack Harries (Pembroke) – 102
Steve Mills (Johnston) – 59* & 4-8
Jack Jones (Llanrhian) – 66*

Division 2 table

Pos	Team	P	Pts
1	Johnston	5	78
2	Pembroke	5	71
3	Haverfordwest	5	67
4	Cresselly II	5	64
5	Hook	5	62
6	Pembroke Dock	5	52
7	Fishguard	5	42
8	Llanrhian	5	37
9	Llangwm	5	30
10	Llechryd	5	30

</details> <details> <summary>Division 3 results</summary>

Match	Result
Pembroke II v Haverfordwest II	Pembroke II (179-4) beat Haverfordwest II (178-5) by 6 wickets
Burton II v Hundleton	Burton II (121 all out) beat Hundleton (113 all out) by 8 runs
Carew II v Kilgetty	Kilgetty (178-2) beat Carew II (174-5) by 8 wickets
Lamphey v Laugharne	Laugharne (259-5) beat Lamphey (190 all out) by 69 runs
Saundersfoot II v Stackpole	Saundersfoot II (143-4) beat Stackpole (142-6) by 6 wickets

Division 3 table

Pos	Team	P	Pts
1	Kilgetty	5	78
2	Laugharne	5	66
3	Carew II	5	62
4	Lamphey	5	54
5	Saundersfoot II	5	53
6	Hundleton	5	52
7	Burton II	4	52
8	Pembroke II	5	37
9	Haverfordwest II	5	30
10	Stackpole	4	20

</details> <details> <summary>Division 4 results</summary>

Match	Result
Haverfordwest III v Herbrandston II	Herbrandston II (99 all out) beat Haverfordwest III (65 all out) by 34 runs
Hook II v Lawrenny II	Lawrenny II (148-7) beat Hook II (136-7) by 12 runs
Crymych v Llechryd II	Crymych (253-5) beat Llechryd II (131-7) by 122 runs
Carew III v Narberth II	Narberth II (77-1) beat Carew III (76 all out) by 9 wickets
St Ishmaels II v Neyland II	St Ishmaels II (166-8) beat Neyland II (139 all out) by 27 runs

Division 4 table

Pos	Team	P	Pts
1	Narberth II	5	87
2	Lawrenny II	5	74
3	Hook II	5	65
4	Crymych	5	60
5	St Ishmaels II	5	55

</details> <details> <summary>Division 5 & 6 results</summary>

Division 5

Cresselly III beat Hundleton II by 81 runs
Llangwm II beat Llanrhian II by 9 wickets
Whitland II beat Pembroke Dock II by 85 runs

Division 5 leaders:

Cresselly III – 86 pts
Whitland II – 72 pts
Llanrhian II – 67 pts

Division 6

Neyland III beat H’West/Cresselly by 9 wickets
Haverfordwest IV beat Kilgetty II by 8 wickets
Laugharne II beat Whitland III by 143 runs

Division 6 leaders:

Whitland III – 71 pts
Lamphey II – 56 pts
Neyland III – 55 pts

Sport

Three days of world-class motorsport set to return to Mid Wales this September

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Herald Sport

Expanded Rali Ceredigion event to bring elite rally drivers, historic cars and millions for the local economy

THE ROAR of rally engines will return to Mid Wales this autumn as the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion makes its much-anticipated comeback from Friday, September 4 to Sunday, September 6.

Now firmly established as one of the biggest events on the UK motorsport calendar, the rally will once again bring world-class competition to the roads of Ceredigion and Powys, with drivers competing across three major championships.

The event will host rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship, the British Rally Championship and the European Historic Rally Championship, the latter making its first appearance at the Welsh event.

Organisers say the addition of historic rally cars will add a new attraction for spectators, with iconic vehicles from previous generations expected to take part alongside today’s top competitors.

Expanded programme planned

Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 event will begin with a ceremonial start and rally showcase on Aberystwyth promenade on Thursday evening (Sept 3), before competitive stages get underway across Mid Wales throughout the weekend.

The rally has grown into a major tourism and economic boost for the region, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and putting local communities, businesses and landscapes in front of an international audience.

Figures from last year’s event showed a total economic impact of £11.6 million, including an estimated £5.59 million in direct spending, with businesses across the region reporting increased visitor numbers, overnight stays and higher spending.

Council backs return of event

The Leader of Ceredigion County Council, Cllr Bryan Davies said: “We’re proud to welcome Rali Ceredigion back to the county for 2026. The event continues to grow year on year, bringing significant benefits to our communities, local businesses and the wider economy.

“With an expanded programme and the addition of the European Historic Rally Championship, this year’s event promises to attract even more visitors to the region.

“As a council, our focus is on working closely with organisers and partners to ensure residents are well informed and that the event is delivered safely and successfully for everyone.”

Organisers are working alongside Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council and emergency services to ensure the event is delivered safely, with details of road closures, timings and routes expected to be released in the coming months.

Historic rally cars to join line-up

Rali Ceredigion Director Charlie Jukes said organisers were excited to expand the event once again.

He said: “The addition of the European Historic Rally Championship is a fantastic development, adding even more variety and appeal for fans, with a wider range of iconic rally cars expected to take part.

“Rali Ceredigion continues to grow in scale and reputation and we’re proud to work alongside local authorities, partners and communities to deliver an event that showcases the very best of the region and generates a significant positive impact.”

Residents and businesses are being encouraged to plan ahead, with community engagement activity expected to begin before the summer.

Photo caption:

Rally return: Last year’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion attracted thousands of spectators and delivered a major boost to the local economy (Pic: Supplied).

Sport

Vikings make history with cup final win

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Herald Sport

HAKIN UNITED have made Pembrokeshire football history after retaining the West Wales Intermediate Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Penlan at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Ashley Bevan’s first-half goal proved decisive on Thursday evening as Scott Davies’ side became the first Pembrokeshire team to win the competition in back-to-back seasons.

It was another memorable night for the Vikings, who have now reached three finals in four years and added the cup to their league success to complete an outstanding double.

Penlan began strongly, with Kyle Hughes seeing a deflected effort drift narrowly wide before Kieran Jenkins curled a shot into the arms of Hakin goalkeeper Rory Williams.

Williams was called into action again after a defensive mistake allowed Jenkins a sight of goal, while at the other end Jack Britton was unable to generate enough power on a header inside the area.

Hakin grew into the contest, with Camron Thomas and Bevan both seeing efforts blocked following a half-cleared corner.

Williams then produced one of the key moments of the match, racing from his area to make a perfectly-timed sliding challenge as Penlan threatened to break through.

Ben Aldred went close with a rising 25-yard strike which flew over the bar, before the game became increasingly scrappy, with Britton and Jordan Kilby both booked for late challenges.

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute. Shane Walsh made ground down the left and squared the ball across the area for Bevan, who slid in to finish and give Hakin a 1-0 half-time lead.

There was a brief delay after the interval while the stadium lights were switched on, before Penlan pushed for an equaliser.

Dylyn Perkins had a shot blocked by Britton, while Bevan remained a constant threat for Hakin and later fired over after Kieran King’s cross was only partly cleared.

Hakin suffered a blow when Aldred landed awkwardly after clearing a dangerous Perkins free-kick and was forced off. Craig Nicholson came on and slotted into a solid defensive line alongside Jay Power, King and the impressive Camron Thomas.

Penlan defender Jack Jenkins was booked for bringing down Bevan from behind, while Hakin substitute Liam Parks almost added a second when he latched onto a through ball over goalkeeper Luke Davies, only to lose his footing at the vital moment.

Parks later cut the ball back for Mason Dolling, whose low effort flashed just wide.

Penlan’s hopes suffered a late setback when substitute Anthony Finselbach was shown a straight red card by referee Ben Williams for a challenge on Matthew Broome.

At the final whistle, Hakin’s players and supporters celebrated a famous victory.

The Vikings have now won the West Wales Intermediate Cup five times and sit third on the all-time winners’ list, behind West End and Ragged School, who have lifted the trophy seven times each.

Penlan: Luke Davies, Jenson Lorey, Corey Young (Jaye Tebay 89), Liam Logan (captain), Jack Jenkins, Jamie James, Kyle Hughes, Navan Green (Anthony Finselbach 76), Thomas Davies, Kieran Jenkins, Dylan Perkins (Jayden Blackmore 76).

Substitutes not used: Robert Shannon, Kian Finselbach.

Hakin United: Rory Williams, Kieran King, Camron Thomas, Ben Aldred (Craig Nicholson 70), Jay Power, Jack Britton, Cameron Brunton (Mason Dolling 59), Jordan Kilby (Mark Jones 90), Ashley Bevan (Liam Parks 74), Ryan Wilson (captain), Shane Walsh (Matthew Broome 83).

Referee: Ben Williams.

Assistants: Cilan Thomas and Nick Pryor.

Fourth official: Kevin Price.