The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond.

16:57, 21 Jul 2025Updated 17:33, 21 Jul 2025

Lions players line up during the first Test of the series(Image: (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images))

Your evening rugby headlines on Monday, July 21.

Lions players set to leave squad

Simon Easterby has confirmed that it is likely some Lions players will leave the squad ahead of the final two Tests. Scotland international Gregor Brown is the latest player to join the party, having linked up with Andy Farrell’s squad on Sunday. He joins fellow Scots Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman.

The players were in New Zealand for Scotland’s summer matches against the Maori All Blacks, Samoa and Fiji, and Simon Easterby was asked whether he expects them to stay in the squad. And while he confirmed some could leave camp, he recognised that Tuesday’s match against First Nations and Pasifika XV could influence the outcome.

“Plans probably will be determined after tomorrow night,” he said. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

“You’ve got a number of guys that we need to make sure that we get through tomorrow night and then that will be determined post that game tomorrow. Probably not as easy to say it straight away because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow night.

“If we pick up a few injuries to specific positions, then it becomes something that we’ll have to consider.”

The Lions player First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday at 11am UK time.

WRU boss opens up on Neil Jenkins

Dave Reddin insists the Welsh Rugby Union wants to continue to benefit from the experience of Neil Jenkins.

The experienced Jenkins was part of the senior Wales coaching team since 2006 working under Gareth Jenkins, Warren Gatland (twice) and Wayne Pivac.

Jenkins was the kicking coach and served as a mentor to many players most notably Leigh Halfpenny while he has previously worked within the pathway.

But Matt Sherratt opted not to include Jenkins as part of his coaching team for this summer’s tour of Japan and it is unclear whether new head coach Steve Tandy will want to retain his services.

But unlike other members of Gatland’s coaching team the former Wales playmaker is on a permanent contract.

“I’ve got to look at the whole system and make sure we get the right people in the right seat,” said Reddin, the WRU’s director of rugby and elite performance.

“Neil Jenkins might be in the right seat or there might be an even better seat for him. I just don’t know that yet.

“Neil has been an outstanding player and coach for Wales over the years. I’m sure we’ll want to benefit from his experience moving forwards.

“I’m looking at everything with fresh eyes. If we want change, we’ve got to be prepared to live it ourselves.”

Reddin will work closely with Tandy over the coming weeks to put together a strong coaching team.

“The job is to work really closely with Steve on the backroom team,” he said.

“On that, it’s important to say the backroom team will be connected to everyone else.

“One of the key things is they’re part of the whole thing – fully engaged with the age group teams, working with the regions and understanding the talent out there.

“This isn’t a part time job. Working with the Wales national team is a fulltime job. No-one is coming here for a rest from club rugby.

“This is full on. That’s the only way we’re going to drive success moving forward.”

Jamie George: Second Test will ‘go nuclear’

By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Melbourne

British and Irish Lions hooker Jamie George predicts Saturday’s second Test against Australia in Melbourne will “go nuclear”.

The Lions seized a 1-0 lead in the series after prevailing 27-19 at Suncorp Stadium but are braced for the backlash with bulldozing forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini set to return from calf injuries to reinforce the Wallabies.

George starts against the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday in an opportunity to force his way into Andy Farrell’s Test plans in what will be the first appearance of his third Lions tour.

“In my eyes, I don’t see a world where Australia looked like winning the first Test,” said George, a late call-up from England’s tour of Argentina.

“In the first half of that Test, the physicality that I saw from the Lions team was something else. Tom Curry was on jet fuel. It was crazy. There were some seriously good performances.

“We’re 1-0 up in the series and the potential of the team is huge, but I’m expecting a much better Australia team.

“I think they would have been disappointed with the way they played. There’s talk of them bringing in some pretty big hitters.

“That means they’re going to be a much better team. Is Test two going to go nuclear? I imagine so, from both sides.”

No hesitation from Owen Farrell

By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Melbourne

Owen Farrell did not hesitate to answer the call to join his fourth British and Irish Lions tour even though he was aware of the potential “poison” his involvement might generate.

Farrell captains the Lions for the first time in Tuesday’s match against the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium, 17 days after arriving in Australia as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly.

The former England captain had just finished a testimonial golf day for former Saracens team-mate Jackson Wray when his father Andy called with the invitation to join the squad.

Mechanical issues with his car meant he was able to disappear to answer the phone without raising the suspicions of his golf partners.

“When I got asked to come, the first thing that popped into my head was ‘yes’,” Farrell said.

“It wasn’t a discussion. Elliot got a knock and I got a phone call. ‘Can you get ready?’ and I said ‘Yeah.’ That was it. I wanted to take the opportunity and I’m glad I’m here.”

Until his cameo against AUNZ on July 12, his most recent international appearance was at the 2023 World Cup, after which he stepped back from England to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing.

It was a response to the vitriol that ensued after he was banned for a high tackle against Wales in the build-up to the tournament and the booing he received during England’s march to the semi-finals.

The 33-year-old struggles to comprehend why he is such a polarising figure but has learned to deal with the darker moments by retaining perspective, while “making sure I look after myself and giving myself a break”.

“I understand that times are different now,” he said. “Sometimes it catches fire and just takes a life of its own and goes wherever it goes and there’s momentum behind it. But no, I don’t always understand it.

“The good and the bad – both are a poison. That’s not to say that it’s all bad, but the things that should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us.

“If you go and knock on someone’s door and ask them their opinion of how you played at the weekend, you wouldn’t really listen to their answer. The people that I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people. Your mates.

“Not to say that people will just pat you on the back because you have people who will tell you how it is, but they’ll give you a real answer. If you do that and you’re in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it.

“Because there are times where people can say this, that and the other and it just go over your head. And there’s times where you’re not in the best place of all time and you’re almost waiting for something to set you off.”

Farrell – the Lions’ most experienced player – roomed with the squad’s youngest in 20-year-old Henry Pollock when the squad were in Canberra to face the ACT Brumbies.

“He’s fascinating. Fascinating. What did I learn about him that I can tell you?! He’s brilliant. His energy is nuts. He’s always on,” Farrell said of the rising star of English rugby.

“He’s always taking the mick out of people. He’s got no regard for what anyone’s done in the past or anything like that. He looks like he’s being himself, which is brilliant.”