The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Taulupe Faletau of Wales(Image: Getty Images)
These are your rugby headlines on Saturday, April 26.
Farrell ‘definitely thinking about’ Faletau for Lions
Former Wales international Alex Cuthbert says Andy Farrell “is definitely thinking about” selecting Taulupe Faletau for this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
The legendary No.8 has had a torrid time with injury in recent years – making just 10 appearances for club and country since the 2023 Rugby World Cup – but has looked back to his best of late, following up a lively Judgement Day showing with another impressive performance against Munster on Friday night.
Faletau has already featured on three Lions tours, but his former teammates Cuthbert and Alun Wyn Jones see no reason why he can’t make a fourth at the age of 34. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“He’s had pretty severe injury [problems] over the years,” said Cuthbert ahead of the Munster clash. “Andy Farrell has spoken to the physio staff about his durability.
“But I think we’re seeing prime Toby back, just little things, getting a bit wide on the scrum, easier exit, these little tip passes, he’s so good at that, isn’t he? He’s been doing this for 10, 12 years and he’s just solid in every sort of foundation of the game.
“He is someone that Andy Farrell is definitely thinking about on the Lions tour,” the BBC pundit added. “Fourth Lions tour, someone you can rely on constantly. When he is fit and firing, he is one of the best No.8 still.
“Look at the other No.8s as well, there’s Caelan Doris obviously, but there’s not too many other No.8s really putting their hand up.”
Echoing Cuthbert’s words, Jones said: “I think last week we saw prime Toby, we saw him beat the first man, we saw tips. He’s definitely going to be in the conversation. Three tours, could he go on another one? I think so, so he’s definitely in that conversation.”
Seven Scotland stars in Lions fitness race
By Anthony Brown, PA
Zander Fagerson is among a string of senior Scotland internationals in a battle to prove their fitness ahead of the British and Irish Lions squad announcement.
There had been a general expectation that this year’s tour of Australia would include the largest contingent of Scots ever selected for Lions duty. While that may still prove to be the case, seven established Scotland starters with genuine aspirations of being named in Andy Farrell’s squad in a fortnight, on May 8, have been denied a clear run of games to prove their form and fitness.
Glasgow players Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey and Scott Cummings, as well as Edinburgh wing Duhan van der Merwe are all currently at various stages of significant injury lay-offs.
Zander Fagerson’s situation is perhaps the most concerning given that he would be considered a certainty for Lions inclusion but appears to be out until at least June with a calf injury suffered in the lead-up to last week’s URC match against Zebre.
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith, providing an update on the prop’s fitness, told the PA news agency: “We’re going to aim to get him ready to play rugby again, hopefully before the finals (of the URC play-offs), so if we’re there, it will be good to be able to lean on him. But, you know, it is a 10-12 week injury, so we’ll just have to hold our thumbs and see how well he progresses.”
Asked if he felt the injury would impact Fagerson’s Lions involvement, Smith said: “I wouldn’t know that, but I would not think that this injury would prevent him from being available.”
Smith is confident Scotland captain Tuipulotu and fellow centre Jones – both potential Test starters for the Lions – will return for Glasgow’s URC match away to Benetton on May 10, two days after Farrell’s squad is announced. Tuipulotu has been sidelined for more than three months with a pectoral injury that kept him out of the entire Six Nations, while Jones has been absent with an ankle injury since his last outing for Scotland away to France on March 15.
“Maybe in a couple of weeks, I hope that Sione will be ready to play against Benetton, the same with Huw,” said Smith.
Fagerson’s brother Matt, who would have been considered a borderline contender for a back-row berth in the Lions squad, is almost certain to miss out after undergoing ankle surgery last week.
Second-rower Cummings – who has been out since suffering a forearm fracture against Harlequins on January 18 – has been given a glimmer of hope of forcing his way into the mix after being named on the Glasgow bench for Friday’s match against Bulls, although the fact he was unable to stake his claim during the Six Nations may count against him in the final reckoning.
Similarly, number eight Dempsey could have done with a good run of games for club and country to bolster his Lions claims, but he has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury against Wales in the Six Nations on March 8.
“Jack ran yesterday and we’re going to now progress that and see how he develops, but he’s definitely on track to be seen again this season,” said Smith.
Scotland’s record try-scorer Van der Merwe, who was part of the 2021 Lions squad, suffered ankle ligament damage in Edinburgh’s match with Scarlets on March 28 and has since undergone surgery. Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said last weekend he would expect the wing to be back in late May, and potentially available for any URC play-off matches his side may have.
It remains to be seen how all of these injuries play into Farrell’s thinking, with the Lions due to get their summer under way against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 before heading Down Under later that month. The tour concludes with a Test against Australia on August 2.
Tierney: WRU look within for Welsh rugby expertise
New Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin says he will not bring “technical and tactical detail” to his role as chief executive Abi Tierney said there is already Welsh rugby expertise within the Union.
WalesOnline previously reported that the WRU were considering bringing in an assistant who would offer rugby expertise to Reddin, following pushback within the WRU over the suitability to the role of their “standout candidate”. Tierney says an external appointment to sit between Reddin and the new head coach is not planned, but the WRU will look within the organisation.
Instead, it appears that any initial assistance provided to Reddin could come from within the WRU, although further appointments to work alongside Reddin were not ruled out either.
“Does that mean we are not going to have Welsh rugby expertise as part of Dave’s team?” added Tierney. “There’s already lots of Welsh rugby expertise as part of that team and when we look to recruit the best people into any jobs Dave thinks we need absolutely and some of those might be Welsh.”
Speaking about what he hopes to bring to the role in terms of his expertise, Reddin – who has held fitness and performance roles with the RFU, Team GB and FA, said: “What we’re probably talking about there is the nitty-gritty technical and tactical detail. That’s not what I’m bringing to this role.”
Instead, Reddin – who will oversee both the men’s and women’s professional games – will focus on player development, with moving players around clubs to help their progress offered as an example.
He added: “In every sport I’ve ever worked in, there is a moment where you go, regardless of your background, where you’ll see this metaphorical hand on your shoulder that says ‘We’re different. I know it worked there’.
“But what you recognise after 30 years is, while culture and context are different, at its heart, player development and player progression have a lot of commonality across sport.
“I want to be heavily involved in those processes and that they’re based on strong understandings of player performance. I do bring that skillset and I’m keen we bring that skillset.
“If someone is asking me if a tighthead is binding the right way, I’ll look to my left and right to technical experts who can help with that. But if we’re talking about the principles of player development, I’ll absolutely be involved in that.”
Wales side named for rearranged clash
Wales Women head coach Sean Lynn has made three changes to his side for their crucial clash with Italy in Parma on Sunday.
Lynn’s side are currently winless in the tournament and must win to give themselves a chance of avoiding a second successive wooden spoon finish.
The fixture was initially set to take place on Saturday, but has been rescheduled due to the funeral of Pope Francis being held on the same day.
The three changes to the side that faced Ireland sees prop Donna Rose handed her first start of the campaign and Gwen Crabb recalled to the second row, while Georgia Evans reverts to number eight in place of Alex Callender, who is named among the replacements.
Rose packs down with hooker Kelsey Jones and prop Gwenllian Pyrs in the front row, with Crabb partnered by Abbie Fleming and Evans joined by Bethan Lewis and Kate Williams in the backrow.
An unchanged Welsh backline sees Keira Bevan and Lleucu George again make up the half-back pairing, with captain Hannah Jones partnering Courtney Keight in midfield. Full back Jasmine Joyce and wings Lisa Neumann and Carys Cox make up the back three.
“We have had some really honest conversations this week about what we expect to achieve and what is expected from players, coaches and staff ahead of the final game of this Six Nations campaign,” said Lynn.
“We have shown how we want to play and the style we want to develop on the field, we just need to do more of it and to be more consistent. We are creating pressure and opportunities, and we just need to finish them and convert them into points.
“We are a better team than the results show in the tournament, but we have to start learning and improve where it matters and that’s on the field during games. The players have shown they can do it, but we still need to work harder for each other and for the team.
“Italy pushed France really close on home soil and would have got real confidence after that performance,” he added. “But this is cup rugby for us, and we need to focus on our performances and to keep building our game. We are under no illusions of what is at stake.”
Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans.
Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine Richards.