Ireland 27 – 17 Wales – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Guinness Six Nations, Round Four

WALES produced their most encouraging performance of a difficult Six Nations campaign but ultimately fell to a 27–17 defeat against title-chasing Ireland in Dublin on Friday night.

In a fiercely contested match at the Aviva Stadium, Warren Gatland’s side showed resilience, energy and flashes of attacking brilliance, pushing the hosts far harder than many had predicted before Ireland’s experience told in the closing stages.

The defeat extends Wales’ winless run in the Championship to 15 matches, but the performance offered genuine signs of progress from a squad still rebuilding.

Ireland made the early breakthrough after six minutes when wing Jacob Stockdale finished neatly in the corner following slick build-up play. Fly-half Jack Crowley added the conversion to give the home side a 7–0 lead.

Wales gradually grew into the contest and were rewarded in the 17th minute when debutant fly-half Dan Edwards slotted a penalty to put the visitors on the scoreboard.

Defensively Wales were resolute, repelling repeated Irish attacks with a disciplined line that frustrated the hosts for long periods of the first half.

Just as Ireland looked to be heading into the break ahead, Wales produced a moment of magic. Loosehead prop Rhys Carre burst down the blindside, shrugging off a challenge before powering clear for a remarkable 35-metre try. Edwards converted to give Wales a shock 12–10 half-time lead.

Ireland responded quickly after the restart. Number eight Jack Conan crashed over in the 44th minute following sustained pressure, restoring the hosts’ advantage.

Yet Wales refused to fade. Replacement flanker James Botham finished a well-worked move just past the hour mark, and Edwards’ conversion cut the deficit to 19–17, raising hopes of an upset.

The decisive moment came in the 68th minute when fullback Jamie Osborne crossed following a clever offload from Stockdale, securing Ireland’s bonus point.

Crowley added a late penalty in the 77th minute after Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams was sin-binned, ensuring Ireland closed out the match 27–17.

Despite the defeat, Wales can take encouragement from a committed display that included more than 200 tackles and two well-taken tries.

Captain Dewi Lake said afterwards that the squad believes a breakthrough victory is close.

“The win is coming,” he said. “You can feel the belief building in the group.”

Against one of the tournament favourites, Wales showed determination and growing cohesion. If they can build on this performance, the long wait for a Six Nations victory may not last much longer.

Ireland: Tries – Stockdale (6), Crowley (37), Conan (44), Osborne (68); Cons – Crowley (2); Pen – Crowley (77).
Wales: Tries – Carre (40), Botham (63); Cons – Edwards (2); Pen – Edwards (17).

Man of the match: Jack Conan (Ireland)

A TEAM of ocean rowers has today (Saturday, March 7) set off on the next leg of an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise £57 million for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and treatment.

The ROW4MND team, made up of four experienced endurance athletes, began the demanding second stage of their mission from Dale in Pembrokeshire. Over the next ten days, they are expected to row continuously across the Irish Sea towards the Western Isles of Scotland, battling cold temperatures, darkness and unpredictable conditions.

The campaign builds on last year’s successful challenge, during which the team raised more than £140,000 while rowing around 1,000 miles of UK coastline. The latest leg forms part of a four-year campaign which aims to raise £57 million for MND research and treatment by 2028.

Funds raised will support My Name’s Doddie Foundation, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity.

The 2025 challenge unexpectedly drew national attention when the crew were mistakenly identified as “illegal migrants” by MP Rupert Lowe while rowing past Norfolk. The incident quickly became one of the year’s most talked-about news stories, but the team turned the publicity into momentum for their cause — even receiving a £1,000 donation from the MP afterwards.

This year’s rowing team consists of Mike Bates, Matt Parker, Aaron Kneebone and Gareth Timmins. The campaign’s £57 million fundraising target is symbolic, inspired by the shirt numbers worn by rugby legends Doddie Weir (5) and Rob Burrow (7), both of whom died after battling MND.

The crew includes some of the world’s most experienced endurance rowers. Joining the team this year is Gareth Timmins, a former Royal Marines Commando who is now a bestselling author, behavioural and cognitive performance strategist, and researcher.

He rows alongside campaign co-founders Mike Bates, a solo Atlantic rower and former Royal Marines Commando, and Matt Parker, chief executive of cyber security firm Xypher and a purpose-driven entrepreneur who has completed numerous endurance challenges. Aaron Kneebone, an accredited ocean rowing coach and Royal Marine veteran, also returns to the crew.

Matt Parker, co-founder of ROW4MND, said: “When people go out of their way to sacrifice and suffer in the name of such an incredible cause, we hope it gives people hope that change is possible in the future.

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that this is an endurance mission which will bring short-term pain for us. We are determined to do everything we can to raise £57 million for MND research and treatment by 2028 and we are grateful for the support we receive every row of the way.”

Mike Bates, also a co-founder of the campaign, added: “We are even more resolute this year in our ambition to raise vital funds for MND research and treatment. The challenge ahead will be tougher because at this time of year it will be colder, wetter and darker.

“What we will have in our minds is the fact that one in 300 people are affected by MND. That is a hard reality to face and it means almost everyone in the UK knows someone impacted by this cruel disease.

“These challenges are tough, but they are nothing compared to the pain experienced by those diagnosed with MND and their families every day. ROW4MND is about helping change the future of treatment.”

Readers can follow the crew’s progress and support the campaign by visiting www.row4mnd.com

A major £500,000 fund-raising drive has been launched to salvage Milford Haven’s 50-metre outdoor swimming pool.

Following a five-year consultation initiative to bring the modern outdoor swimming facility back to the town, the Milford Haven Lido Park Society is now poised to launch a community share offer later this Spring, 

Chairman Michael Allen said the project had recently seen a breakthrough after what many viewed as a period of inactivity.

“We’ve been working on this for nearly five years,” Michael Allen told The Pembrokeshire Herald. “There have been many unkept promises around the site in the past, but we’ve been quietly working with the council to advance the community asset transfer.”

The group hopes to transform the site into a major community and tourism facility centred around a 50-metre outdoor pool, alongside an infant paddling pool and splash play area.

Community investment drive

The society is preparing to launch a community share offer in April, and aims to raise £500,000.

Residents and supporters will be able to invest from £100 upwards, which is a funding model already applied successfully ithroughout Pembrokeshire to support community shops, farms and chapels.

Mr Allen said the offer would be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, ensuring a secure framework for investors.

“We want to raise half a million pounds to show Pembrokeshire County Council we have the capability to manage the site,” he said.

The funding will help the society secure control of the site through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).  However, Mr Allen acknowledged there was no guarantee the transfer would be approved.

A long-term vision

If successful, the society estimates it will ultimately require around £20 million to transform the site into a year-round facility capable of attracting visitors and boosting tourism.

“It’s not easy,” Mr Allen admitted, “but other lidos across the UK have done it.”

Future funding could come from organisations such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, government programmes and major charitable donations.

Summer heating and cold water swimming

The proposed pool would be heated during the summer months using a ground-source heat pump, but not during the winter.  This would allow the site to support the growing cold-water swimming community.

“Heated swimming pools are a national challenge because of energy costs,” Mr Allen explained.

The plans also include a smaller heated rehabilitation pool, which would operate all year round.

The project has also secured support through a Perthyne grant, administered by Bryn Teg Consulting, to explore using the existing building as a Welsh-language community hub.

The facility would operate as a café open to all, but run primarily through the Welsh language with the help of volunteers from local groups including Hwb Aberdaugleddau and Caffi Pal (Friends Café).

Mr Allen said the project had recently secured cross-party backing from local politicians, including local MP Henry Tufnell. Sennedd Member, Paul Davies, Cris Tomos Chris and Scott Thorley.  Support has also been expressed locally by town councillors and community organisations including Milford Youth Matters and the VC Gallery.

The society stresses the pool will not rely on town or county council funding, but will operate as a community-owned asset.

Michael Allen went on to say that the number of new lido projects opening across Britain has increased significantly in recent years.

“The opening of lidos is accelerating,” he said. “That means creating a credible business plan is far easier now because there are successful examples to follow.”

Historically, the original pool used water from the Cleddau Estuary, which was then returned to the river, however Mr Allen said that ensuring the project meets environmental regulations remains one of the project’s most complex elements.

“By law the water cannot cause any harm to the environment,” he said.

Despite the challenges ahead, the society remains determined to bring outdoor swimming back to Milford Haven.

“There will be no visual eyesores,” he added. “We want this to be something the whole community can be proud of.”