CMJ now part of the commentary team on Sports Extra. Despite the boat comment on Day 1, I guess he was delayed by the snow here as well like Sky's David Gower.

Think Arlo White is just doing the updates for 5 Live now.

I hope Radio Wales will have its own commentary team in place. I'm sure the Celtic fans don't want to hear opposition commentators for every game. Is there really as much demand for commentary in Wales as the BBC's coverage suggests? There's nationwide coverage in English and Welsh but is there a nationwide fanbase?

Gareth Rhys Owen.

Moral of story:- Don't believe Press releases

I didn't catch the full game (was at Sixways to watch In-ger-lund V Italy in the U20 Six Nations) so maybe AWB was at Perth to see how the Welsh U20s got on.


I guess there is. The Crusaders were going into PR overdrive prior to the League opener. For obvious reasons RW don't really have a League expert, so would have to rely on general commentators rather than specific people.

I still haven't got over the try Martin Offiah scored for England V Wales in the '95 World Cup Semi-Final. He was waaaayyyyyy offside when the ball was kicked to him!
Last edited by Ian Cleverly : 06-02-2009 at 22:18

I use lack of Welsh language knowledge as my defence on that one.

Celtic's next match is next Saturday against Salford (again on Sky) after the Wales v England six nations match. Looks like Radio Wales will have commentary (possibly 2nd half) with them being on air till 10pm after a post match phone in. I'm guessing because 2 and half hours seems an excessively long phone in?

Be interesting to see what they do for Celtic's home games (being mainly played Saturdays at 6pm) in terms of commentary. You'd think when the football and Union seasons ends, this new league side would get covered every week. We shall see.


They are being promoted as a Welsh team rather than a local Bridgend team. Only time will tell. The RFL like to bask in the glory of the Catalans Dragons (french team which joined league in 2006) but unlike the Catalan region, Wales is not solid rugby league territory.

The big coverage tonight though was probably because it was the teams first game. But having their only pre season friendly cancelled, having 8 players stuck in Australia till last Sunday with visa problems and the bad weather making it difficult to train and prepare this week- they were never going to compete with the current champions. Although Leeds were in first gear, to only lose 28-6 is a great effort really. They had actually won the second half till Leeds scored a try with 10 seconds left.

R/U: Ireland v France

BBC Radio Five Live Conor McNamara
BBC Radio Ulster Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable (AM commentary)
RTE Radio One Michael Corcoran and Donal Lenahan (commentary)
Today FM Ross Lindsay
Newstalk Simon Hay ?

Radio Wales used to use former rugby league man John Devereaux on their rugby coverage a lot. They haven't used him for a while now though.

Close - Hick.

Domhnall Doyle was there for INN as I've said elsewhere...

If anyone has a spare half an hour you'll be able to hear how Ian Robertson was ticked off by the head of BBC Sport at the time with his commentary of Wales V England in 1999 as part of Max Boyce's 6 Nations. You'll also hear bits of 1971 (or was it '73 I can't remember off-hand) commentary of Scotland V Wales

iPlayer Link
Last edited by Ian Cleverly : 07-02-2009 at 21:13

Which suddenly explains why Mr Boyce showed up in London at the Six Nations launch

Scotland V Wales (RBS 6 Nations RU)

BBC Radio Wales' Morning of the Match - Gareth Lewis hosting from the BBC Bus in/at Grassmarket with Phil Bennett and Gavin Hastings, Robert Jones joining later on. Simon Davies outside talking to fans and Gareth Rhys Owen Interviewing Mike Blair (was just a simple replay of the one done for BBC 1 Wales' preview the Sunday before).

Phil Steele at Ponyclun RFC and Roy Noble also co-hosting his Sunday show from Grassmarket.

BBC Radio Wales - Steve James (host from ground) Gareth Charles commentating alongside Garin Jenkins and Phil Bennett (AM / FM / Digital / Online / Red Button)

BBC Radio Cymru - Eleri Sion (host and voice was suffering after the game) Cenydd Davis (not Alun Wyn Bevan as was said yesterday) Alun Lewis and Emyr Lewis

Real Radio South Wales - Mark Poyser

Phil Bennett heard on 5LSX at half time, and John Beattie as well (who bizarrely said the Geoff Cross tackle in mid-air of Lee Byrne wasn't worth a sin binning)
Last edited by Ian Cleverly : 08-02-2009 at 18:25

BBC Radio Manchester
Wigan v Wakefield: Phil Kinsella & Neil Turley (Commentary)

Bristol V Newcastle Falcons

BBC Bristol - Geoff Twentymann (Host) Andy Champion and Jason Hobson commentating for those on 94.9 & 104.6 only. Slight delay when going over to the ground as there were microphone difficulties.

Gary Parker and 'Some other guy' in the Glasgow Studio. Caught a bit of it via the BBC Red Button, but couldn't handle it. John Beattie was doing my head in by commentating on anything but the game!

BBC Radio Cymru - Alun Jenkins and Gary Samuel (Commentary)
BBC Radio 5 Live - Iain Carter

BBC Radio Wales

Morning of the Match (7-9am) Gareth Lewis hosting from The Hayes in Kairdiff with Bethan Rhys Roberts in a Pub in Grosmont (Wales/England border and on the A465 between Abergavenny and Hereford) Simon Davies reporting from around the Milennium Stadium. Gareth Lewis joined later on by Mark Ring and Carolyn Hitt (Western Mail)

Wales V England - Steve James host with Adrain Hadley for Pre match build up (on AM South FM Frequencies). Gareth Charles Garin Jenkins and Phil Bennett commentating (AM / FM / Digital / Online). Nick Webb and John Deveraux pitchside and Simon Davies in the Mochyn Du pub.

BBC Radio Cymru

Eleri Sion hosting with Rhys Williams used for build up (and some commentary from Eleri in the 1st half when the microphones wouldn't work) Commentary from Cenydd Davis, Emyr Lewis and Alun Lewis. Gareth Rhys Owen as pitchside reporter, Post match Interviews taken from S4C (Sara Elgan if you care!)

BBC Radio 5 Live

Wales V England - Mark Saggers (Host) Alistair Eykyn (0-20) Ian Robertson (20-40) Matt Dawson and Robert Jones.

Real Radio South Wales

Wales V England - Hamish Stuart

R/U: Ireland v Italy

BBC Radio Five Live Conor MacNamara
BBC Radio Ulster Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable (commentary)
Newstalk 106FM Simon Hick

Hugo MacNeill was also there. Mike Costello at the Indoor Athletics trials in Sheffield.

RTE Radio 1: Michael Corcoran & Donal Lenihan

INN Domhnall Doyle

Correction - David Brady

Sale Sharks V Bristol (Guinness Premiership RU)

BBC Bristol - Andy Champion and Mark Hoskins (94.9 / 104.6)
BBC Radio 5 Live - Martin Gillingham

Hull Kingston Rovers V Leeds Rhinos

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Xtra - Stuart Pyke (Hull) Alistair Yeomans (Leeds) and Iestyn Harris

BBC Radio Manchester
Wigan v Castleford: Trevor Hunt, Steve McCormack & Jack Dearden (Commentary)
Sale v Bristol: Ron Roby & Nigel Yates (Commentary before and during HT at Wigan plus full match online)

Celtic Crusaders V Hull (Engage Super League RL)

BBC Radio Wales - Gareth Rhys Owen and Geraint Davies (Online Only)
BBC Radio Cymru - Gareth Rhys Owen (preview)

Scarlets V Leinster

BBC Radio Cymru - Alun Wyn Bevan and Rhodri Gomer-Davies (Commentary)
Real Radio South Wales - Hamish Stuart
Last edited by Ian Cleverly : 21-02-2009 at 18:25

He did do a HT report, as it was heard on the Online stream.
Don't worry 'Ull fans, he didn't say anything bad about you

BBC Humberside: Craig Murdock & Gwilym Lloyd (sharing commentary and summarising in 20 min spells)
KCFM: David Doyle-Davidson & James Clark (Commentary)

Warrington v Catalans
BBC Manchester: Trevor Hunt & Dave Hadfield (Commentary)
BBC Merseyside (AM/DAB/Online): Ray French & Alan Rooney (sharing comm in 10 min spells).