The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
George North (centre)(Image: Ryan Hiscott/Federugby via Getty Images)
These are your latest rugby headlines on Sunday, August 31.
North makes bold regions claim
Wales legend George North believes that many of France’s second-tier clubs would be competitive against Wales’ professional sides and teams from the Gallagher PREM, having been taken aback by the high standards in the Pro D2. The 33-year-old, who retired from international duty following the 2024 Six Nations, made the switch from the Ospreys to Pro D2 side Provence last summer, and made his debut in January after returning to fitness from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
He went on to make 12 appearances for the French club in the last campaign as they reached the play-off semi-finals, only to lose out to fellow Wales international Sam Davies and his Grenoble side.
Absent for Provence’s 2025/26 curtain-raiser against Soyaux Angouleme on Friday, North has spoken about his new life in France and the differences he has experienced, having spent the rest of his career in either Wales or England.
“I enjoy travelling to places in France I’ve never been to,” he told L’Equipe. “For me, one of the main strengths of this Pro D2 is the supporters; it’s exceptional to see this passion everywhere.
“And rugby-wise, some may imagine a lower level because it’s a second division, but the standards are actually very high. But what surprised me the most was when I learned that our matches had the same audiences as the Prem. For a second division, that’s incredible!
“I was more used to UK rugby in terms of structure, where everyone has their well-defined role. Now, I really appreciate this change towards faster rugby with offloads, a more offensive and instinctive game. The skills, the physicality, the speed of the game… clearly, it ticks all the boxes.”
Asked whether his Provence side would be able to compete against teams from the URC or the English top-flight, North added: “Definitely, yes. I even think that many Pro D2 clubs would put up a good fight against teams from the Prem or the Welsh regions.
“It also depends on the rules we use; if we play with substitutions on the fly like in France [rolling subs], it can favour the French teams. And if we play with the rules we have in the UK, I would see a really balanced and close match.”
On why he finally said yes to playing in France last year, the 121-cap international explained: “Throughout my career, there have been different approaches from French clubs, but it didn’t seem like the right time.
“I had my career in Wales, but now I wanted a new chapter after the end of my adventure with the national team. And when I met Denis (Philipon, the president of Provence Rugby) and the team, my impressions were confirmed.
“The history that this club is building, with the desire to move up to the Top 14, seemed very exciting for me and my family. I have two young boys, it’s a real opportunity for us to discover a different way of life, a different culture.”
Wales coach splits opinion in TV interview
Wales Women coach Sean Lynn says he is “super proud” and “impressed” with his side, despite their Rugby World Cup elimination being confirmed following a 42-0 defeat to Canada on Saturday.
Lynn’s team faced a sizeable challenge as they took on the world’s second-best team in Salford with both of their co-captains unavailable, and they were ultimately nilled as they conceded six tries and crashed out of the tournament after two matches.
That said, it was a much-improved performance from their opening-round defeat to Scotland a week ago, and Lynn was optimistic as he spoke to the BBC following the match.
“We knew today was going to be a big ask, you look at Canada and just the way they move the ball, they’re an offloading team,” said the Swansea-born coach, who took up the reins with Wales ahead of the Six Nations.
“I asked for a positive reaction and that’s something we got. Everything we did out there I was very impressed with and we’ve got to move forward with small steps.
“In the first 15 to 20 minutes we could see the physicality side of it, I saw improvements, and that’s what I wanted.
“When I went in at half-time I told the girls ‘just empty those tanks in the next 40 minutes,” Lynn added. “The big thing for me was that in the last 15, 20 minutes there was a glimpse of what I want to see; being brave, moving the ball and getting individuals with the ball in hand.
“I’m a proud Welshman and I’m coaching at the World Cup. I’m relishing it and I feel that with this squad of players that we’ve got we can be moving forward very soon.”
However, Lynn’s comments have not won over everyone, with former Wales international Lee Jarvis expressing concern that the coach’s focus on off-field culture may be creating “a soft environment”.
Responding to a clip of the BBC interview on X, Jarvis wrote: “This is just my opinion from what I’ve seen since he’s taken over, I might be wrong.
“His main focus is off-field culture and keeping everyone happy, which creates a soft environment imo. Off-field culture means nothing without on field results. This interview sums that up.”
Earlier, the former outside-half had written: “Wales Women did well for 15 mins at the start of the game. That was expected as a reaction to the Scottish game.
“Canada skill level / offloading and conditioning far superior. Tough afternoon for Wales Women. Is Sean Lynn improving this team?”
English coach revives career with Welsh side
Former England international Jon Callard says he thought his career in rugby was done before taking up a job as a coaching consultant with Super Rugby Cymru side RGC.
The 59-year-old had been out of work for nearly 18 months after his part-time role as kicking coach at Bath was cut short early last year, but was appointed by the North Wales outfit a month ago, with his trial period now being extended.
Callard, who won four caps for England and has also held coaching roles with the likes of Sale Sharks and Leeds Tykes, spent most of his formative years in Wales and is delighted to be both back in the country and back in the game.
“After leaving Bath, I thought that was the end of that,” he told RugbyPass. “I had been out of the game for 18 months, so this is a great opportunity to get back in.
“The league is very much a development level for Wales as a whole, so it’s an exciting project, and it’s rekindled my love for the game again. The challenges that Welsh rugby presents, I am looking forward to.”
On his early days in Wales, Callard added: “I was born in Leicester, but all my ancestry is Welsh. From the age of three months to 19, I lived in . I went to Bassaleg ().”
“I played for Welsh Schools, 15s, 16s, 18s, 21s. I was in the Welsh national squad when I was 19 with (Paul) Thornburn, (Mike) Rayer and (Tony) Clement.”
The coach – who was also part of the senior England coaching set-up for the 2007 – is splitting his time between his home in Harrogate and Colwyn Bay, where RGC play their home matches.
RGC kick off their Super Rugby Cymru campaign at home to last season’s table-toppers on September 13th.
Relentless England smash records
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Jess Breach plundered a hat-trick as England continued their march through the Rugby World Cup group stage by overwhelming Samoa 92-3 at Franklin’s Gardens.
The mismatch between professionals and amateurs produced a predictable outcome with the Red Roses registering a 29th successive victory, sending records tumbling in the process.
It was their highest number of points scored in a World Cup match and their biggest margin of victory, while player of the match Helena Rowland’s individual haul of 27 points was the most in the nation’s history.
Rowland carved out her own slice of Red Roses history with the final act of the game when she converted Claudia Moloney-MacDonald’s try that was scored on the stroke of full-time.
Breach led the charge by lifting her total of Test tries to 52 with a trio of classy finishes and there was an eye-catching double from Megan Jones as England crossed 14 times against opponents ranked 15th in the world.
The win came even though head coach John Mitchell had made 13 changes to the starting XV after the United States had been thrashed in the tournament opener.
Samoa’s head coach Ramsey Tomokino described the showdown against a side that has never lost a World Cup group game as “mission impossible” and it took just 172 seconds for the size of the task to hit home.
The Islanders’ early tackling was ferocious but their organisation failed to match their intent, especially in the wider channels where Jones was the first over in the third minute before Breach showed her pace to finish in the right corner.
The drizzle at a gloomy Franklin’s Gardens took a toll on both sides’ handling, but the flow of points from England did not let up with Sarah Bern burrowing over from close range before Jones added her second.
The Red Roses were being presented with acres of space to attack, while their scrum was also dominant and when Maddie Feaunati and Lark Atkin-Davies touched down to reward the power of their pack, the lead grew to 40-0 with 30 minutes on the clock.
Samoa were being run ragged and were already showing signs of tiring, struggling to cope with the variety of their opponents’ play.
Lucy Packer added England’s seventh try, but the first-half finished with the Islanders on the rampage with fly-half Harmony Vatau and number eight Nina Foaese carrying hard.
The arrival of replacement tighthead Tori Losefo in the 33rd minute had steadied Samoa’s scrum and early in the second half they won a penalty at the set-piece that was slotted by Vatau, igniting wild celebrations on the field.
England then had to roll their sleeves up in defence and having weathered the storm, they advanced downfield to score through Kelsey Clifford before Breach went over for her second.
Rowland stuck and converted her own try, putting her joint level with Nicky Crawford and Sue Day as England’s record points scorer in a World Cup game on 25, but she was unable to push clear by failing to improve touch downs by Marlie Packer and Breach.
When Moloney-MacDonald crossed in the 80th minute, she had one last chance to nail the record and over went the touchline conversion.