Johnathan Edwards (born 5 July 1984) is a Welshrugby union footballer. He currently plays his club rugby as a flanker for the Cardiff Rugby Club. In 2007, Edwards was selected as captain of the Wales Sevens squad.
Edwards joined the Pontypridd RFC Academy in 2001, where his performances as a hard hitting openside flanker with a phenomenal workrate earned him a call up to the ranks of the Wales under 19 FIRA squad. Whilst employed as an Assistant Rugby Development Officer with the Buy As You View Schools Initiative, covering the Merthyr area, Edwards was drafted into the Pontypridd senior squad for the 2003/2004 campaign. Edwards joined the Scarlets in 2005 from Cardiff RFC, and made two appearances in the Celtic League for the Scarlets in the 2005–06 season. Edwards plays rugby for Llanelli RFC when not on duty for the Scarlets.
Edwards has represented Wales Sevens and was part of the side that won the Dubai Sevens Bowl competition final in 2005. Edwards went to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and was part of the squad that won the Plate Final securing a late victory against South Africa.
In March 2007, Edwards was announced as Wales Sevens Captain for the tour to Hong Kong and Adelaide in the fifth and sixth legs of the 2006–07 IRB World Sevens Series. He led by example in the Bowl final against Tonga in Adelaide as he notched a try in his team's 26–14 victory, and also scored a try in the Plate semi-final against the USA in the Hong Kong leg.
Edwards also captained the Sevens squad in the England and Scotland legs; he scored a brace of tries in the superb win over England at Twickenham, leading his team to a first Welsh win at the home of English rugby since 1988.
Edwards retained the Wales Sevens captaincy ahead of the 2007–08 IRB Sevens World Series. He led his team into the initial leg in Dubai, scoring a try in the Bowl semi-final against Australia, which Wales eventually narrowly lost. However, he captained his side to a Bowl trophy win in the George, South Africa Sevens – the first piece of silverware Wales Sevens gained in the 2007–08 season.
Gethin Jenkins is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop for Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues and Toulon. At international level, he won 129 caps for Wales. On his 105th appearance in 2014, he became Wales' most-capped player, overtaking the record held by Stephen Jones; having earned his final cap in November 2016, his record was surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones in September 2019. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams. He also won five caps for the British & Irish Lions on three tours in 2005, 2009 and 2013. He is the sixth most-capped player in rugby union history and the most-capped front-row forward.
Martyn Elwyn Williams, is a former Wales and British & Irish Lions international rugby union player. A flanker, he was Wales' most-capped forward with 100 caps until surpassed by Gethin Jenkins on 30 November 2013. He remains Wales most capped back row forward.
Dafydd Rhys James is a Welsh former rugby union footballer who played on the wing or in the centre. He toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2001. James was born in Mufulira, Zambia, but earned 48 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions. At club level, he played for Bridgend, Pontypridd, Llanelli, Celtic Warriors, Harlequins, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues and Sale Sharks.
The Wales national rugby sevens team competes in the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games. It also competed World Rugby Sevens Series although it has been replaced by a combined Great Britain team in this competition.
Matthew Rees is a Welsh former professional rugby union footballer who played as a hooker. After beginning his career with Tonyrefail RFC and Merthyr RFC, he made his professional debut for Pontypridd RFC in 2001. With the arrival of regional rugby in Wales in 2003, he joined the Celtic Warriors, but their closure a year later led to him signing for the Llanelli Scarlets. He played more than 180 matches for the Scarlets, captaining them on several occasions, leading to his first Wales call-up in 2005.
Aled Brew is a former Wales international rugby union player who played as a winger. He made his debut for the Wales national rugby union team against Ireland in the 2007 Six Nations Championship. In his career, as well as playing for Biarritz Olympique and Bath Rugby, he is one of only a handful of players to have played for all four top-level regional teams in Wales.
Richard David Parks is a former Wales international rugby union player turned extreme endurance athlete and television presenter.
Tom James is a Welsh former professional rugby union player. James represented Wales and spent most of his career with Cardiff Blues
Daniel Evans is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a full-back.
Alec Jenkins is a Welsh rugby union player who plays on the wing for Llanelli Scarlets and Wales Sevens.
Joshua "Josh" Turnbull is a Welsh international rugby union player, who currently plays in the Back row and Second row for Cardiff Rugby in the Pro14 league having previously played for the Scarlets, Llanelli RFC and Llandovery RFC. Born in Haverfordwest, Turnbull is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Gareth Owen is a Welsh rugby union player who plays at Centre, Fullback and Flyhalf. He currently plays for Newcastle Falcons in England's second division, the RFU Championship.
James Lewis is a Welsh rugby union player for London Welsh RFC. A centre, he previously played for Ebbw Vale, the Newport Gwent Dragons and Coventry. In 2010 he had a trial with Sale Sharks.
Robert McCusker is a Welsh former rugby union player, who played across the back row. McCusker began his career with the Scarlets, and also played for London Irish and the Ospreys before retiring. McCusker also played internationally for Wales.
Craig Hill is a Welsh rugby union player. An openside flanker, he first played his senior rugby for Caerphilly aged 18, before joining Newport in 2002, and moving to Pontypridd RFC in 2003. He then played club rugby for Newport RFC after returning in 2005 and the Newport Gwent Dragons regional team. He made his debut for the Dragons 9 May 2009 against Edinburgh. He was released by Newport at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Sam Kennedy-Warburton, OBE MStJ, commonly known as Sam Warburton, is a Welsh former international rugby union player. Warburton played rugby for Cardiff Rugby and was first capped for Wales in 2009. He usually played as an openside flanker but was also capable of playing at blindside. In June 2011, he was named as Wales captain versus the Barbarians and subsequently in August 2011 he was named as the Wales captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In April 2013, he was named the Lions' captain for the 2013 tour to Australia, and was also named as captain for the 2017 tour to New Zealand. Warburton held the record for the most Wales caps as captain (49) until surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones.
Jordan Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Dragons. His regular position is at full-back, but he has also played at fly-half and on the wing. He began his career with amateur side New Dock Stars RFC, before being signed by Llanelli RFC and ultimately breaking into the Scarlets regional side. However, he struggled to find playing time with the Scarlets and moved to Bristol in 2016, only to return to Wales with the Dragons two years later. He has also played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level, as well as for the Wales Sevens team.
Ryan Conbeer is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Scarlets and Llanelli RFC as a winger.
Dane Blacker is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Scarlets regional team as a scrum-half. He is a Wales under-20 international. Blacker has previously played for the Cardiff Blues and Dragons.
Iestyn Rees is a German-born Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker.
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