The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond.
Mason Grady of Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Your morning rugby headlines on Sunday, September 7.
Grady injured on comeback
Wales international Mason Grady went off injured in the second half of Cardiff’s pre-season routing of Richmond on Saturday.
The wing/centre left the field of play after the break with his arm held in a makeshift sling.
It’s rotten luck for the Blue and Blacks man, who was making his first turnout for the club after a 10-month lay-off with a knee injury.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt says they’ll await results of a scan. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“It’s a shoulder injury, but we’ll have to assess it in the next 24-48 hours,” said Sherratt.
“Fingers crossed it’s OK because Mason deserves a bit of luck. He’s had a tough 18 months so let’s hope that he’s OK.
“You learn in this game that until you have a good look at it, you don’t know.
“I’m hoping that it’s not as bad as it looks and we get a scan that is low grade. Until we have a look at it, I don’t want to get too downbeat.”
Halfpenny role explained
Meanwhile, Sherratt explained Cardiff and Leigh Halfpenny have been helping each other out after the Wales legend was spotted around Cardiff Arms Park.
The 36-year-old was pictured in Cardiff training gear during a session earlier this week. Halfpenny and Sherratt worked together on Wales’ summer tour to Japan and that relationship is obviously a positive one, with an arrangement in place which is beneficial for both parties.
“I worked with Leigh in Japan,” said Sherratt.
“He’s got a big affinity to Cardiff because it was his first club and he’s trying to get into coaching.
“He’s carrying a little bit of a niggle at the moment, so I’ve asked him to come in and we can get him up to speed and get him fit.”
“He deserves that for what he’s done for Welsh rugby and being a former Cardiff player,” added the 47-year-old coach.
“Then, while he’s doing that, he’s been great in working with some of our young players and kickers to develop their goal-kicking and kicking out of hand.
“So we’re helping Leigh out and he’s helping us out. It’s great to have him around.”
Legend’s statue updated
One of Cardiff’s favourite sons was back on his old stamping ground on Friday as his name and new title was updated on his statue in Cardiff Bay.Billy Boston, born in Angelina Street in the heart of Tiger Bay 91 years ago, made his first visit to Cardiff since King Charles turned him into Sir William John Boston KBE this summer.It turned into a big family trip for Sir Billy, Lady Joan and a number of relatives as he headed back home to see his name on the side of the Cardiff Bay Codebreakers statue in Landsea Gardens brought up to date to reflect his knighthood.Two years ago the Codebreakers statue was unveiled after a public appeal helped to raise almost £300,000 to honour three rugby league giants from the area – Gus Risman, Clive Sullivan and Sir Billy.“Dad is 91 now and living with dementia, and at the investiture I thought the King was wonderful with him, and you could see how proud Dad felt,” said Sir Billy’s son, Stephen.“He leaned over to me and said, ‘that’s the greatest honour I’ve ever received’ – and to hear that from him was very moving. But he loves coming back to Cardiff and the ceremony at the statue was another great experience for him.“He is very proud of being recognised here in Cardiff, his home city. It always means a great deal more to him.“The knightood has been a long time coming, and it means so much to him and to us as a family. The statue, which also features local rugby legends Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman, now bears Sir Billy’s full title, marking a proud moment for Cardiff and the wider Welsh sporting community.”Sir Stanley Thomas led the committee that pulled the project together and it had the wholehearted backing of the local council. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said he was thrilled with the latest upgrade to what is one of the biggest and most striking statues in Wales.“These players’ accomplishments had been undervalued for far too long. Sir Billy’s knighthood is the crowning achievement of an incredible career and life,” said Cllr Thomas.“Recognising it on the statue will help show generations to come that no matter the colour of their skin, where they grew up, or the challenges they face, anything is possible.”Billy became only the fourth Welsh sportsman to receive a knighthood after Olympic gold medalist Sir Harry Llewellyn and rugby players Sir Gareth Edwards and Sir Gerald Davies. Tannie Grey-Thompson is a Dame.“The statue itself helped build momentum for the wider recognition of Billy, driven by the passion and pride of his local community. Billy is only one of four Welsh sportspeople ever to receive this accolade – a truly historic achievement,” said Sir Stanley Thomas.“His story, from Tiger Bay to becoming one of the greatest players in rugby league history, continues to inspire generations across Wales and far beyond. His achievements on the field are remarkable, but it is his humility, dignity, and the pride with which he has always represented his community that make this recognition so special.”
As well as winning every honour in the game, from Lancashire Cup and League to three Challenge Cup wins with Wigan, a First Division crown, three Ashes test series triumphs and a World Cup triumph with Great Britain, Sir Billy was made MBE in 1996 for services to the community of Wigan.
In 2016 he was placed among five players on the rugby league statue at Wembley and a month later unveiled his own statue in Wigan. In July 2023, he came home to unveil the Codebreakers statue before King Charles made him a Knight Bachelor in his Birthday Honours.
The first statue erected in Cardiff was to honour John Crichton-Stuart, the 2nd Marquis of Bute, back in 1853. He was the founder of Cardiff docks and now Sir Billy, one of the greatest products of the area, is among 24 people honoured with statues across the city.
Christian Wade returning to union
Christian Wade is returning to rugby union, reports RugbyPass.
The former NFL player and England star only left union for league at the end of last season, joining Wigan Warriors in Super League. Wade’s last club was Gloucester in PREM Rugby. Prior to that, he was on the books at Racing 92.
Now, the speedster looks set for a move to Newcastle Red Bulls, who have recently been acquired by the energy drink company. Steve Diamond and the team are in the midst of a huge squad overhaul, with a number of players arriving in the north east in recent weeks.
Wade is currently the second-highest top try-scorer in English Premiership history, and needs nine to overtake Chris Ashton. If he hadn’t gone to the NFL in 2019, he would have eclipsed that record a long time ago.
Despite scoring two tries in two appearances for Wigan, he has not featured for the Super Rugby team since July. RugbyPass sources close to the club have suggested a deal for him is in place.