The latest rugby news stories from Wales, the Lions and beyond
Willis Halaholo, right, playing for Wales(Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)
These are your rugby headlines on Friday, July 4
Halaholo gets Tonga call-up
Willis Halaholo has been named in the Tonga squad for this summer’s Pacific Nations Cup.
Halaholo won 10 caps for Wales after moving to the country in 2016 and making more than a century of appearances for Cardiff Rugby before leaving last summer to move to New Zealand.
He decided to return home to the southern hemisphere, joining up with Bay of Plenty last July.
Halaholo’s last Test appearance for Wales came in 2022 against Italy, meaning he is now free to represent another country on the international stage. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
The 34-year-old was a cult figure during his eight years in the Welsh capital and signed off his time at the Arms Park with an emotional statement this time last year.
“First I want to thank God for watching over me and my family here in Cardiff the last 8 years,” a part of the statement began. “A lot of highs and some tough lows but definitely a memorable part of my life and career so far. Winning a European Challenge Cup, a Welsh rugby debut alongside a Six Nations title and joining the 100-cap club for Cardiff Rugby (are) some of my favourite achievements.
“Big thank you to all my brothers I have had the honour of playing alongside in both jerseys, memories that will last forever.”
Cockerill makes case yet again
Georgia head coach Richard Cockerill has again made the case for their inclusion in the Six Nations – but admits he wouldn’t agree to it if he were one of the other nations involved in the competition.
Georgia have publicly pleaded a number of times for a place in the tournament, with Wales the country in their sights after beating them under the reign of Wayne Pivac.
Since then they have offered repeat invitations to Wales to come to Tbilisi to face off in an unofficial play-off match.
Cockerill took over in January of last year and hopes for a chance of inclusion – but he’s not holding his breath.
A play-off would be fair, reckons Cockerill, calling it the “richest game in rugby”.
“No, not a chance because if I was one of the Six Nations teams I wouldn’t put myself at risk,” Cockerill said ahead of their match with Ireland this weekend when asked if he thought it would happen. “We’re at a standstill because we are an inconvenience as a national team, aren’t we?
“Where do we go? We keep winning Rugby Europe and we don’t have to play at our best to win that, with respect to all the other teams.
“For me, sport is about opportunity. It’s Wales at the moment, it could be anybody, but whoever finishes bottom of the Six Nations, if we or Spain, Portugal, Romania, whoever that may be, they should be good enough to beat us, shouldn’t they?
“Why can’t we be in the Six Nations for a year? And we might get spanked but it’s no different to Italy getting the opportunity and it took them however long to win a game.
“They’ve been able to build and we need that opportunity too but where do we get it? Are we just going to sit here winning Rugby Europe until the government gets bored of funding it because where do we go with it? Or are we going to take the next step?
“We’ve got some work to do with infrastructure and all the other bits and pieces but until we’re in it and we’re learning from playing right the way through to the board and administration, it’s all new to us. Rome was the great new Six Nations weekend when Italy first came in – come to Tbilisi, it’s an amazing place.
“We talk about expanding the game – Italy have been allowed into the Six Nations, the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika are in Super Rugby. Where do Georgia get their opportunity? A play-off seems fair to me. I’ve said it before, it would be the richest game in rugby – how good!”
French teams fined for violent scenes
French Pro D2 clubs Grenoble and USA Perpignan have been handed fines for their parts in the ugly scenes that marred the end of their promotion play-off last month.
The two sides met on June 14, with Perpignan winning an extremely close encounter 13-11 to deny Wales’ Sam Davies and Grenoble Top 14 rugby next season.
But it was events after the final whistle that caught the headlines, with a pitch invasion and physical fights between supporters taking place, with the police forced to keep the peace.
Grenoble has been fined €25,000 and banned from playing their opening home match of next season at Stade des Alpes. Perpignan were handed the same financial sanction and also given a one-game stadium ban, although the latter stipulation was suspended.
Ford set to join 100 club
By PA Sport staff
George Ford will make his 100th appearance for England in Saturday’s opening Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The 32-year-old Sale fly-half, co-captain alongside Jamie George, has been named in head coach Steve Borthwick’s starting line-up alongside Test debutants Seb Atkinson and Will Muir.
Gloucester’s Atkinson and Bath’s Muir, will win their first England caps at centre and on the wing respectively, while Bath back-row Guy Pepper could make his international bow off the bench.
Ford, who made his senior international debut in the 2014 Six Nations against Wales, helped England reach the 2019 World Cup final in Japan.
Borthwick said: “George has been a standout player for over a decade.
“Reaching 100 caps is a remarkable achievement and it speaks volumes about both the professional and the person he is. Everyone in the squad is incredibly proud to share this moment with him.”
Borthwick named a 36-man summer tour squad 10 days ago for a two-match series against Argentina, who beat the British & Irish Lions 28-24 in Dublin last month, with the second Test in San Juan on July 12.
They will then play a one-off Test against the United States in Washington DC on July 19.
Borthwick added: “We’re excited to be playing in Argentina and to test ourselves against a strong, in-form side.
“Having beaten the British & Irish Lions, they come into this series as favourites. They’re brilliantly led by Julian Montoya and we know it will be a huge challenge.”
Borthwick, without 13 players who are currently on tour with the British and Irish Lions, included 10 uncapped players in total in his squad.
Joe Carpenter, Oscar Beard, Charlie Atkinson, Arthur Clark, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh and Afolabi Fasogbon, a late replacement for injured prop Emmanuel Iyogun, are all hoping to force their way into Borthwick’s side.
England line-up: F Steward, T Roebuck, H Slade, S Atkinson, W Muir, G Ford, B Spencer, F Baxter, J George, J Heyes, C Ewels ,A Coles, B Curry, S Underhill, T Willis. Replacements: T Dan, B Rodd, A Opoku-Fordjour, C Cunningham-South, G Pepper, A Dombrandt, J van Poortvliet.