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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales Today's Ross Harries is to be the new presenter for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' flagship TV rugby strand Scrum V.

Ross Harries joins the Scrum V team at an exciting time for Welsh rugby, with the new Rabo Direct Pro 12 rugby league due to kick-off in a couple of weeks time and the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September. Ross will present the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Wales Friday evening Scrum V Live rugby games and also the Sunday evening magazine Scrum V programme during the domestic season and he joins the regular Scrum V team of Jonathan Davies, Gareth Charles, Phil Steele, Rick O'Shea and new signing Tom Shanklin.

Born in Llantrisant, Ross went to school in Llandrindod Wells and his family were originally from west Wales. He went on to study journalism at Cardiff University and took the post-graduate diploma in journalism at the college in 2006. He has worked as a reporter for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' Wales On Saturday sports magazine programme and, over the past few years, has been a reporter and presenter for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' early evening news programme Wales Today. He has also worked as a reporter on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Channel.

On taking on his new role Ross says: "I'm a huge rugby fan and I always thought if ever that job comes up I'd love to do it. I’ve watched the series as a fan for as long as I can remember, right back to Rugby Special Wales with Alan Wilkins, and ever since then I've always thought 'I'd love to do that’. So it's a bit of a dream come true for me really.

"Being a big rugby fan I think anything you do for a living that you can bring that degree of passion to is always going to be exciting, because you're just building on what's already there, I already know quite a few of the boys from the sports department, so I'm just looking forward to getting to know the ex-players and pundits a bit better, and getting a grip on the current state of Welsh rugby."

Geoff Williams, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' head of sport says: "It's great to welcome Ross on board, especially at such an exciting time for Welsh rugby and with his background in news he will bring a fresh perspective to the Scrum V team."

Ross takes over from current Scrum V presenter Gareth Lewis, who is moving over to news to join the daily line-up on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales as co-presenter of the early evening news and current affairs series Good Evening Wales. Steve Austins, Editor of Radio Wales says: "Gareth is an excellent journalist and a great communicator and I'm delighted he's joining the daily line-up on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales."

Ross is in the hot-seat as the team kick-off the new season of Scrum V Live on Friday 2 September with exclusive live coverage of the first game in the new Pro 12 league with Ospreys v Leinster on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Wales from 7pm. Commentary on the game is from Eddie Butler and Jonathan Davies and Ross is joined in the studio by Robert Jones and Scrum V Live's new pundit Tom Shanklin.

NP