These are the rugby stories making headlines on the evening of Thursday, June 19
Jac Morgan warms-up during a training session (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)
These are your headlines on the evening of Thursday, June 19
Page reveals ‘disgusting’ training regime
Macs Page says training sessions in the intense heat at Wales’ Vale base have been the hardest thing he’s ever done.
Matt Sherratt is busy preparing his side for their two-Test tour of Japan this summer and has been putting his players through a gruelling schedule in order to help them acclimatise.
Temperatures in the Far East will reach sweltering levels during their visit and in preparation for the conditions, the heating in the gym at the Vale has been turned on to get temperatures up to more than 38°C. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Sitting down in conversation with team-mate Taine Plumtree, the pair discussed what it’s been like in their first week in camp.
“The highlight was probably that chamber,” Page began. “That’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Yeah, it’s disgusting. Getting used to that heat and being able to work in it. It’s been good getting training.
“All the boys have been good getting around me.”
Page, new to the squad this summer, said there had been a few tears when he told his family of his call-up.
“The first person I told was my dad, I FaceTimed him and told him,” he added.
“Then I FaceTimed my mam,” to which Plumtree asked “any tears?”
“My mam was crying yeah!” he replied. “No tears from me.”
Page has earned some rave reviews for his performances in a Scarlets jersey last season and hopes a debut in the red of Wales could be the cherry on the top.
“Well, that’s the dream, isn’t it, someone growing up in Wales, that’s what you dream of,” he said. ” If I get that opportunity, it’s obviously a proud day for me and my family if it happens and the people that have helped me the last few years.”
Woodward: Morgan good enough to start Tests
Former Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward says Jac Morgan is good enough to start in the Tests against Australia this summer but needs to show it.
Morgan has been handed a first start under Lions chief Andy Farrell in the warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night.
Farrell has gone strong in the Lions’ first proper hit-out, with Morgan named alongside Tom Curry and Ben Earl in the back-row.
Morgan will know he has stiff competition for his shirt but Woodward believes he has the talent to make the jersey his own, if he shows what he’s all about.
“There are only two Welshmen in this Lions squad – Morgan and scrum-half Williams,” Woodward wrote in his Mail column. “Wales have had such an awful time of it in the last two years or so.
“But I’ve been hugely impressed with flanker Morgan. To stand out as he has at international level in a team that has struggled so badly is very, very impressive.
“He fully deserved his Lions selection and it’s great for him that he starts against Argentina.
“Alongside Tom Curry and Ben Earl, Morgan forms part of a very dynamic back-row. I like what I see in that area.
“The back row is probably the most competitive area of this Lions squad and there are the likes of Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan still to come into the equation.
“Morgan is good enough to start the Tests. He just has to show it.”
Russell signs new deal
By Rachel Steinberg, PA
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has signed a new deal with Bath that will keep him at the Gallagher Premiership champions until 2028.
The 32-year-old kicked 13 points and added an impressive interception in Saturday’s 23-21 victory over Leicester to inspire Bath to an historic treble and first Premiership title in 29 years.
Russell, who joined Bath in 2023, has made 45 appearances and scored 420 points in all competitions, and finished the 2024-25 Premiership season with 183 points.
“I have loved my time here at Bath,” the British and Irish Lion told the club website.
“It’s a great team and a great club. We’ve come a long way over the last couple of years and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve.
“The fans have been outstanding since I got here. We’ve had some big results at home and that’s just our way of giving back to the fans and trying to represent them in the right way.”
“The way the club is developing and with the young players coming through, the belief and confidence that we’ve got week-to-week is just growing. There are some brilliant new signings coming in as well who will be great additions to the club and I can’t wait to get started next season.”
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan, who has transformed the Somerset side from rock-bottom finishers in 2021-22 to league champions, added: “It’s amazing news.
“Finn is one of the world’s best 10s, a player who performs in the big moments and more importantly he’s an incredible team man and a family man.
“He is one of the lads, his training is exceptional, and he’s added so much to our group.
“It’s great that he’ll be staying on at Bath Rugby and continuing his journey with the blue, black and white.”
Care backing Smith to make mark
By Ed Elliot, PA
Danny Care has tipped “incredible” Harlequins team-mate Marcus Smith to hit greater heights as he bids to make his mark with the British and Irish Lions.
Smith began this year’s Guinness Six Nations as England’s first-choice fly-half before being shifted to full-back and dropped to the bench due to the emergence of rival playmaker Fin Smith.
In preparation for this summer’s series in Australia, the 26-year-old will start Friday’s pre-tour send-off fixture against Argentina in Dublin in the Lions’ number 15 jersey, with namesake Fin selected at 10.
Care believes his long-term half-back partner has been a victim of his own versatility and also suffered at international level due to an underwhelming season for Quins, which concluded with a seventh-placed finish in the Gallagher Premiership after a 62-0 thrashing by Leinster in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
Fin Smith, meanwhile, helped Northampton finish runners-up to Bordeaux in the European competition following last season’s Premiership title triumph.
“I don’t think he’s got anything to prove,” former England scrum-half Care, speaking of Marcus Smith, told the PA news agency.
“He played in the autumn internationals against some pretty good teams not long ago and everyone was saying he’s England’s best player and he was wearing the 10 shirt.
“Unfortunately, I think Harlequins’ form probably hasn’t helped because we’ve not been playing in the big games, or giving ourselves a chance in those big games this season, whereas Northampton have been playing really well and got themselves to a European final.
“My belief in Marcus’ ability is he’s still going to get better and better; he’s already incredible and he deserves everything he gets.”
Marcus Smith was a late addition to the 2021 Lions squad as injury cover for Finn Russell but did not make a Test appearance during the series defeat in South Africa.
Russell is the other fly-half selected by head coach Andy Farrell this time around, with fellow Scotland star Blair Kinghorn and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan the alternatives at full-back.
Following the Aviva Stadium clash with Los Pumas, the Lions will fly to Australia to prepare for Test matches against the Wallabies on July 19, 26 and August 2.
“They are three very different 10s, which I think is great for Andy,” said 38-year-old Care, who will officially retire from professional rugby at the end of this month.
“Maybe there are games where he can pick and choose a certain style that maybe he wants to see.
“Obviously Marcus almost suffered from his own success in a way: he’s so good at playing 15 as well that he’s so interchangeable.
“I’d imagine you’re going to see him in a 10 and a 15 jersey this summer, whereas the other two are out-and-out 10s.”
While the two Smiths took part in last week’s Lions training camp in Portugal, Russell only joined the group on Monday after becoming a Premiership champion with Bath on the back of Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup glory.
“I’ve been a massive Finn Russell fan ever since playing against him, seeing him throwing some of those incredible passes, unlocking our defence with England a few times,” said Care, who won 101 England caps and made a record 395 appearances for Quins.
“And Fin Smith has come in and taken to international rugby so well. I’ve been blown away by his professionalism.
“He’s a wise head on young shoulders but he’s a real confident lad and it’s shown again with the Lions that it’s timing: if you get your timing right and you can get in and play really well in that Six Nations and your club form is good then you can find yourself on a Lions tour.
“Three different 10s to choose from and each of them would deserve a pick, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they go.”