When Welsh rugby players leave for clubs in England, their departures are often cloaked in a language of fear: the dread that a talent drain is sucking the life out of the sport in their homeland.

Josh Adams is different.

This is not someone who made his name at a Welsh region before being lured away by the lucre of foreign leagues - but rather a young player who tried to make the grade in Wales, only to fall through the net before eventually rebuilding his career over the border.

For that second chance, the Grand Slam winner has Worcester to thank.

Adams is sat pitchside at Worcester's Sixways home, admiring this sun-kissed little stadium before making his final appearance here against Saracens on Saturday.

"I haven't thought about it too much but, when the time comes when the final whistle goes and I get presented with my leaving gift, there might be a bit of emotion, but I'll try and hold the tears back," the Cardiff Blues-bound Wales wing says.

"This place has been fantastic for me. It's been my home for four seasons. It's somewhere I'll hold closely to my heart and I'm definitely going to miss it.

"They gave me the opportunity when there was nothing else for me. I have to be extremely grateful.

"Without a doubt, this club has made me the player I am today."

Worcester will miss Adams as well. The 24-year-old has scored 38 tries in 64 appearances for the Warriors, with last month's hat-trick against Wasps helping them secure their Premiership survival.

He has not always played such a prominent role, though. Adams' career is one he has had to forge the hard way.

Raised in Hendy, Carmarthenshire, Adams' performances for Coleg Sir Gar earned him a two-year academy contract with the Scarlets but, unable to break into the region's first team, he mostly played for semi-professional club side Llanelli.

Once his two years were up at Parc y Scarlets, Adams was not offered a new deal and, with no other Welsh side showing an interest, he says "it was a case of looking over the bridge".

No games, no hot water

Worcester gave Adams a lifeline but, even after making that move in 2015, he found his progress stunted.

With his route to the first team blocked and without an affiliated semi-pro club like he had in Llanelli, Adams left on loan to play regularly and prove himself.

"Cinderford were in National League One (the third tier of English rugby) at the time and they were struggling, so they were more than happy to get some boys down and give them game-time," he recalls.

"It was quite funny going back to grassroots because they're all amateur boys there. Playing in National One was a new league to me, going to places like Tynedale and Hull Ionians away.

"Cinderford's home ground is called Dockham Road. Going into their changing rooms on a Thursday night in January, it was cold, the radiator wasn't working and sometimes the hot water didn't work.

"Small things like that you do take for granted at times. The effort and commitment the boys put in at that level - full-time jobs and training in the evenings - is excellent.

"It did make me appreciate [what I've got] and made me work harder to get where I am now."

Hardened by his time at Cinderford, Adams returned to Worcester before being loaned out again, this time at a higher level with Championship side Nottingham.

But before he had time to impress for his new side, injuries prompted Worcester to recall their young Welshman for a pre-season friendly in Munster.

Adams did not feature in that match and, despite not getting a chance to play in that season's opening fixture with Saracens at Twickenham, he finally got his break at Bath on 17 September, 2016, making his debut as a first-half injury replacement for Dean Hammond.

"You definitely need a bit of luck, but then you've got to take your chance when it comes," says Adams.

Adams certainly seized his opportunity, nailing down a place in the first team and finishing the season with 13 tries from 23 appearances.

By December 2017, Adams was the Premiership's top try scorer and catching the eye of Wales head coach Warren Gatland, who named the Worcester wing in his 2018 Six Nations squad.

A 'mad' first year with Wales

Adams was something of an unknown quantity for some Wales fans less familiar with the domestic English game, but he soon looked at home at Test level with some assured displays during that campaign and then in Argentina the following summer.

"Mad really," Adams grins when he looks back on his first 15 months in the Wales set-up.

"When you first come into the Six Nations squad, you're very nervous. You know a few of the lads, but I remember my first day walking into the team room and I was one of the last in there.

"Everyone was in there eating food and, even though they're not looking at you, it feels as if all the eyes are on you. It's that daunting feeling.

"But now I feel much more relaxed in that environment and I feel like I can perform in that environment. That does take time."

If his first season with Wales was a settling period, Adams' second campaign was when he truly announced himself on the world stage.

In Wales' opening win over France, Adams lit the fuse for an inspired Wales comeback with a fleet-footed break which led to Tomos Williams' try.

Adams then crossed for a try of his own the following week in Italy - but it was his role in the triumph over England which etched his name into Welsh rugby lore.

In the 78th minute at a deafeningly loud Principality Stadium, Wales had edged into a 16-13 lead in an utterly absorbing, draining encounter between two sides still with Grand Slam aspirations intact.

Wales' fly-half Dan Biggar sent a booming crossfield kick towards the far corner, where Adams - his head bandaged from an earlier scrape - leapt above Elliot Daly, juggled the ball on his way down, clutched it to his chest and then stretched over for a match-winning score.

"It's probably the second most special moment of career, after standing on the podium after winning the Grand Slam against Ireland," he says.

"The importance of the game against England, everybody was fired up and it was my first try at the Principality Stadium.

"It was a special moment and one I've watched back a few times."

Six Nations stardom

Wales fans would not begrudge Adams if he was to watch it every day for the rest of his life, but his next try - a dazzling individual effort against Scotland - was arguably an even stronger contender for a personal showreel.

Those scores, together with a typically disciplined and wholehearted display in the Grand Slam-clinching win over Ireland, saw Adams nominated for the Six Nations Player of the Tournament award.

That accolade went to his captain Alun Wyn Jones, who said moments after the Ireland win that Wales had "put a target on their backs" for the World Cup later this year.

It is a view Adams shares. After a career like Jones', he knows better than most that you cannot take anything for granted.

But what his long road to the top has also taught Adams is the power of belief: with the requisite application and determination, anything is possible.

"We've got a lot of expectations on us with how well we've done in the autumn and Six Nations, but that's something we're going to relish," says Adams.

"We've put a target on our backs. People are going to want to stop that unbeaten run we've built up. That's fine, that's going to happen - it's just about focusing on ourselves.

"We don't look too far ahead because that's when you get caught up in things.

"Our focus is making sure we top that pool first, then the quarter-final, semi-final and, who knows, potentially a World Cup final."

For the latest Welsh rugby news follow @BBCScrumV on Twitter.

Mako Vunipola will miss the climax to double-chasing Saracens' pursuit of the Premiership title after being ruled with a "significant" hamstring injury.

Vunipola was forced off after half an hour of last Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final win over Leinster.

But Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall insists the British & Irish loose-head will be available for England's World Cup campaign.

Fellow prop Titi Lamositele will also miss the Premiership title push.

"Mako has a torn hamstring," said McCall. "We're waiting to see exactly what happens with that, but I very much doubt he'll play again this season. Neither will Titi.

"Mako won't be out of the World Cup, but he'll be out for a while. It's quite a significant injury. It's disappointing to lose two players of that quality. It makes us a little bit vulnerable."

Vunipola missed a large chunk of the Six Nations with an ankle injury and then suffered another injury to the same joint that resulted in an aborted comeback.

His appearance at Newcastle's St James' Park was only his second match since the Six Nations win over France in mid-February.

Both players were due to be rested as part of sweeping changes for the climax to the regular Premiership season at Worcester on Saturday.

They will now miss a home play-off semi-final on 25 May and, if Sarries progress, the final at Twickenham a week later.

BBC Radio 5 Live has secured exclusive radio commentary rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Commentary of each game during the tournament, which features England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will be broadcast on Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

It runs from 20 September to 2 November.

New Zealand have won the past two tournaments and beat Australia in the 2015 final at Twickenham.

"The Rugby World Cup 2019 is a key moment in this year's sporting calendar," said head of BBC radio and digital sport Ben Gallop.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont added: "World Rugby is excited about the appointment of the BBC as the rights-holding radio broadcaster for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which promises to be a very special and game-changing celebration of rugby."

The BBC Sport website and app will have live text and radio commentary of the World Cup.

BBC Rugby Correspondent Chris Jones will lead the BBC Radio commentary team while Sonja McLaughlan and Matt Dawson will lead BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage.

The 20-team tournament will be played in 12 cities across Japan.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Gene Haas is the entrepreneurial mastermind behind Haas F1 Team, whose voyage into Formula One has seen the outfit boast improved points finishes in every season since their arrival into the series in 2016.

Speaking to Mobil 1 The Grid, team principal Guenther Steiner joins drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean to discuss the American spirit within the team, as well as how the organisation works with its U.S. cousins, NASCAR outfit Stewart-Haas Racing.

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario – Riley Herbst will tackle a new challenge this weekend, as he goes north of the border to make his NASCAR Pinty’s Series debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Herbst will pilot an entry out of the DJK Racing stable, learning the nuances of the 2.459-mile, 10-turn permanent road course under the guidance of team owner and former series champion D.J. Kennington.

The Toyota Racing Development driver will use his time behind the wheel of the No. 28 Monster Energy Drink Dodge – as Toyota does not currently compete in NASCAR’s Canadian championship – to gain track time before he returns with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series this fall.

“I’m running the Truck Series race in August and really wanted to get some real-world experience at the track, because I’ve never seen the place,” Herbst told SPEED SPORT. “Noah (Gragson) actually did the same thing last year, and it paid off pretty well for him until the last corner. He gave me D.J. Kennington’s number, I got ahold of D.J. and we were able to put this deal together.

“I’m actually running the same car that Noah did, which is really cool,” Herbst added. “Just excited to get out there, learn the track and understand what it takes to go fast around there.”

Sunday’s Pinty’s Series event will mark the seventh different division that Herbst has competed in so far this year, making for one of the most diverse schedules in motorsports, especially for a 20-year-old.

“I’ve run in a bunch of different series this year, between ARCA, the Truck Series, the Xfinity Series, K&N, late models and even Trans-Am, so I’m definitely getting used to hopping from car to car and having to adapt on the fly,” Herbst noted. “Anything with wheels on it, I want a chance to learn, to figure it out and to enhance my race craft. I’m a racer at heart, so every shot I get I’m going to take advantage of it.”

While Herbst grew up on the West Coast – not necessarily spoken of as a hotbed for road racing – he’s been busy growing his chops at the discipline this year, particularly by making his Trans-Am Series debut at Road Atlanta in April.

“Man, that Trans-Am race was awesome; it was so much fun,” recalled Herbst. “Everyone at Mike Cope Racing gave me a great race car to go learn, make mistakes and get better … and I think we did that. If you want to run up front in that series, you really have to be on your road-racing game, and I think by the end of it we were getting a lot closer to being at the level that we needed and wanted to be at.

“This weekend is just another great opportunity to pole-vault me forward and to make me better when it comes to road racing,” Herbst added. “I had a really big goal at the start of this year to improve on that front, and hopefully the races I’ve been doing have helped to make that goal a reality.”

Though he’s fiercely competitive anytime he gets behind the wheel, Herbst isn’t setting a dedicated goal for himself in Sunday’s race, knowing that the focus is on soaking up as much knowledge as he can.

“I just want to go there, earn some respect and have fun behind the wheel,” Herbst said. “There’s no pressure at all this weekend, really, which is kind of cool because my whole season has been a bit under a microscope so far.

“It’ll be good to go up to Canada, relax, have fun and prepare to come back in August.”

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – MX Sports Pro Racing and NBC Sports Group have jointly announced broadcast programming details for Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season.

The world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing series will continue its longstanding presence across NBC, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), and MAVTV this summer, highlighted by 123 hours of content across network broadcasts and digital platforms, which includes a combined 94 hours of live coverage via each respective avenue.

A trio of live network television broadcast specials on NBC serve as the cornerstone of the schedule, where the final 450 Class moto will be showcased from the Circle K High Point National (June 15) and the Circle K RedBud National (June 6), while the final 250 Class moto will be featured from the Circle K Unadilla National (August 10).

These telecasts will bring the captivating and unpredictable competition of American motocross into millions of homes across the country. Additionally, the opening motos of both the 450 Class and 250 Class at all 12 rounds of the championship will be featured live on the continuously growing MAVTV, while NBCSN will carry live second moto coverage from four rounds on the schedule.

The tremendously popular digital platform from NBC Sports Gold will once again provide fans with the opportunity to watch the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship from anywhere, at their leisure. The “Pro Motocross Pass” provides the best value in the sport with exclusive on-demand access of the Nationals at just $54.99 for the season.

Subscribers will receive live, commercial-free coverage from all 12 rounds, which are accompanied by exclusive live streams of timed qualifying throughout the summer. In addition to the live content, users can also watch full-event replays of the completed rounds of the 2019 season, as well as the 2017 and 2018 seasons through NBC Sports Gold’s on-demand options. This unparalleled level of access to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship breaks down to less than $5 per race over the course of 12 weekends.

“Following our extension with NBC Sports Group, MAVTV, and Lucas Oil this past winter, MX Sports Pro Racing, and the sport as a whole, is fortunate to have such dedicated partners that posses an unwavering commitment to bringing the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship to fans around the world,” said Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing. “We have one of the most dynamic broadcast packages in motorsports, anchored by our live broadcasts on NBC and the best digital platform around on NBC Sports Gold. The way our fans consume the championship continues to evolve, and the overall reach of our global audience continues to expand, so providing an extensive broadcast schedule that is complemented by a user-friendly digital experience gives us the best opportunity to bring American motocross to the masses.”

All 12 rounds of the season will by accompanied by one-hour highlight shows following every National on NBCSN. Additionally, NBCSN will produce a special midseason recap, along with a pair of year-end recaps that will highlight all the drama and excitement that took unfolded in the championship battles of both the 450 Class and 250 Class.

The on-air broadcast team that will bring the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship into households around the world will feature the veteran commentating duo of Jason Weigandt, who will handle play-by-play duties, and former series champion Grant Langston, who will serve as the color analyst. Trackside reporter Will Christien returns for a second season to round out the broadcast trio, where she’ll share the latest breaking news during the races and let viewers hear directly from the riders both at the starting gate and on the podium.

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicks off this Saturday, May 18, with the Bell Helmets Hangtown Motocross Classic from Prairie City OHV Park in Sacramento, Calif.

Click here for the full Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship broadcast schedule.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryan Repko, a 19-year-old racer who recently completed his freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is doing his part to honor the victims of the April 30 shooting on the school’s campus.

Repko’s No. 14 late model stock car will feature a special UNC Charlotte tribute paint scheme during Saturday’s CARS Tour Heritage Truck Centers 250 at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.

The car will feature the UNC Charlotte logo and colors and the phrase “Charlotte Strong” will be emblazoned on the hood of Repko’s car. The names of the two victims who died in the shooting — Ellis Parlier and Riley Howell — will appear above the doors of the car.

“For the last year UNC Charlotte has been a second home to me,” said Repko, who is majoring in finance at UNC Charlotte. “A lot of the times when you see a tragedy that hits close to home for a driver you’ll honor the area with a small decal or something like that. I just really wanted to do the whole car.”

Repko is offering race fans the chance to purchase laps during the Heritage Truck Centers 250. Fans can visit https://crowdfund.uncc.edu/project/15641 to make a donation. Repko is asking for $20 donation per lap.

The late model stock portion of the Heritage Truck Centers 250 is 125 laps and if Repko is able to sell every lap for $20, he’ll raise $2,500.

“I wanted to turn it into a fundraising effort because I didn’t feel like it really … it provided emotional support but it doesn’t really help anything unless I generate money to go help the cause,” Repko said. “The goal would be to fill up all those spots (laps).

“If one kid gets killed at school, that’s one too many. But at the same time, it means a lot to be able to help provide some sort of support and relief to my community.”

Saturday’s race at Motor Mile Speedway will be Repko’s first of the season with the CARS Tour. He has 10 career starts with the series and earned a best finish of fourth last year at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C.

“We tested up at Motor Mile last week and we had a lot of speed,” Repko said. “It would be a really special win for myself, but not only myself and the area that I’m in — Charlotte — if we were able to put it in victory lane. It would really be something special.”

Repko said the plan is only to run the tribute scheme this weekend at Motor Mile, but if the fundraising effort takes off he may run the car a few more times this year or even for the full season.

“We don’t have any plans as far as raising money beyond this weekend, but if it’s something that people seem to like we have tossed out the possibility of running the paint scheme the rest of the season, or if not a few more races,” Repko said.

“I’m honestly tickled to death with how much this has taken off and how much people are supporting it. It’s just insane. I’m so proud of the community I’m a part of.”

RALEIGH, N.C. -- On the heels of yet another officiating controversy in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour passionately advocated for expanded video review.

"It's been time forever," Brind'Amour said Thursday. "It's time to get the calls right, because it's just too important. Games matter so much. That was tough last night to watch."

Brind'Amour was referring to the NHL's latest officiating snafu, in overtime of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues. Erik Karlsson's overtime winner counted, giving the Sharks a 5-4 victory. However, it should have been whistled down considering the assist was off a hand pass from teammate Timo Meier.

The NHL's Rule 79 specifically states that a player can't bat the puck with his hand to a teammate or allow "his team to gain an advantage."

However, the league said in a statement: "Plays of this nature are not reviewable. A hand pass that goes into the net can be reviewed, but a hand pass between teammates cannot be reviewed."

Kay Whitmore, the NHL's supervisor of officials for the series, told a pool reporter: "It's a nonreviewable play. You can read between the lines. You can figure out what you want. You watched the video. But it's just nonreviewable. I know that sounds like a cop-out answer, but that's the truth."

That incensed the Blues -- GM Doug Armstrong slammed his hand on the door of the officials' dressing room, yelling that the decision was "f---ing garbage" -- as well as many around the NHL, including Brind'Amour.

"Help the refs," Brind'Amour said. "These refs are great refs. A lot of you can't tell. I'm telling you. So many of the calls, I don't really know. I look down to see, then I lose my mind because I know it was the wrong call, but they can't be expected to make those calls like that. It's way too hard."

Brind'Amour said he believes there's "an easy solution."

The coach's suggested fix?

"Take two refs off the ice," said Brind'Amour, who had a 20-year NHL career before retiring in 2010. "Put them in the penalty box -- have their skates on if they want. One guy can be watching the calls. The linesman can be watching the offsides. Get them out of the way. They're getting in the way. It's hard, the game is so fast. You watch how often the puck hits them. To me, you can get these calls done quickly and done right, and that's all you want. As a player, as a coach, as a fan. You just want to make sure you get the calls right. I think. But we'll see."

After Wednesday night's game, San Jose captain Joe Pavelski admitted his team might have lucked out on the call.

"Everyone keeps talking about the hand pass, so there must have been something there," Pavelski said. "But at the end of the day, there are calls that go both ways. That's the playoffs."

The captain added: "[The refs are] not trying to screw anybody. They really aren't. They're good guys. May not always seem that way, but tonight, we may have caught a break. But there were a lot of breaks going both ways all night, all series."

ESPN's Greg Wyshynski contributed to this report.

NEW YORK -- Jim Schoenfeld has resigned as vice president and assistant general manager of the New York Rangers.

The former NHL defenseman and coach spent 17 seasons in the Rangers' organization, serving in a variety of roles. He spent most of that time as general manager of the AHL's Hartford franchise, which he also coached for two seasons.

Among the standout players Schoenfeld helped develop for the Rangers are Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Callahan.

"In nearly two decades with the Rangers, Jim made an impact on every level of the organization," Rangers President Glen Sather said Thursday. "His tireless efforts and contributions were vital to the extended run of success we experienced during his tenure in New York."

Schoenfeld has coached the Sabres, Devils, Capitals and Coyotes.

A player for 13 seasons with Buffalo, Detroit and Boston, he skated in 719 games as a stay-at-home defenseman and superb shot blocker. He played in two All-Star games, was the Sabres' captain for three seasons, and in 1974-75 helped Buffalo advance to the Stanley Cup Final.