The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
08:13, 30 Aug 2025Updated 09:52, 30 Aug 2025
Willis Halaholo (right) playing for Wales(Image: Getty Images)
These are your latest rugby headlines on Saturday, August 30.
Ex-Wales star makes Test return
Former Wales international Uilisi Halaholo has made his international rugby return ast the age of 35. The centre came off the bench for Tonga in second half of the Pacific Nations Cup clash against Fiji.
It was the first time Halaholo has played on the Test stage since the 2022 Six Nations clash against Italy.
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 in 2024 to move to New Zealand.
He is now free to represent another country on the international stage after a three-year stand down period and was called up to the summer squad due to his Tongan heritage.
Tonga took an early lead against the Fijians in Suva but were eventually overpowered in a 32-10 defeat.
Halaholo 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.”
Sean Lynn wants Wales to show pride in World Cup encounter with Canada
By Rory Dollard, PA
Wales head coach Sean Lynn has called on his side to “put pride back into the jersey” when they take on hot favourites Canada in Salford.
A chastening 38-8 defeat to Scotland in their opening fixture was a morale-sapping start to the Women’s World Cup campaign and life is only likely to get harder when they take on the might of the Canadians.
Lynn has shuffled his deck with seven changes and although it may be fanciful to expect a revamped XV to land a giant-killing victory, the first challenge is to raise spirits by giving a fair account of their own abilities.
“Canada are ranked second in the world and are a very good side, so we now want to make sure we put pride back into the jersey,” said Lynn.
“We’ve had some honest conversations during the week following the Scotland game and the girls have reacted positively. We all knew the performance last weekend wasn’t good enough and it was all about putting that to bed and having a really good training week.
“We didn’t have the physicality we needed against Scotland around the breakdown and we need to ensure that defensively we are making our one on one tackles.”
Wales will be without both of their co-captains for the game, with injuries to Alex Callender and Kate Williams making their task even harder, but that provides room for others to step up.
“I just told the group we have to start learning and that everyone has to be a leader. We can’t just rely on Alex and Kate to lead on their own,” said Lynn.
“The seven changes I’ve made are about giving other players a chance to show what they can do. If you are not performing, you are out. Individuals have to step up and I’m excited to see how they do. If I ask the players to be brave then I have to be brave as well.”
Anscombe in last run-out
Wales international Gareth Anscombe played for Bayonne in his new side’s final pre-season game before the Top 14 begins again next week.
The fly-half signed with the French side for the 2025/2026 season, having spent last campaign with Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM.
He turned out for his new club on Thursday evening, starting against Toulouse, but he couldn’t help the team to victory as they fell to a 28-24 defeat. Anscombe also played against Biarritz last week.
Joining the 34-year-old in the Bayonne squad was Fiji star Sireli Maqala, Springbok Herschel Jantjies and former England international Manu Tuilagi.
The new Top 14 season begins on September 6 with Anscombe and his teammates kicking off their campaign away to Perpignan.
Speaking about his move to France back in May, the 37-cap international said: “I’m really pleased to announce that I will be joining Aviron Bayonnais next season.
“Really looking forward to testing myself in the Top 14 that is arguably the most competitive league in the world at the moment.”
England boss plays down concerns
By Ed Elliot, PA
England head coach John Mitchell played down concerns about a raft of one-sided scorelines at the World Cup as his side seek to secure a quarter-final spot at the earliest opportunity.
The Red Roses, who are favourites to lift the trophy, launched the competition with a crushing 69-7 success over the United States in Sunderland before Samoa were thrashed 73-0 by Australia in the other opening Pool A fixture.
In a series of uneven encounters, Canada trounced Fiji 65-7, defending champions New Zealand defeated Spain 54-8, Ireland overcame Japan 42-14 and South Africa thumped debutants Brazil 66-6.
Mitchell has made 13 changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s clash with Samoa in Northampton, which is expected to bring another resounding win for the hosts.
Asked if the sizeable margins of victory were a bad look for the tournament, he replied: “I thought it was a fantastic weekend of rugby; it is a 16-team tournament and there are always going to be teams that are more advanced than the others.
“In every World Cup the early stages of the tournament is always against supposedly the classic cliche of minnows.
“I don’t think the scoreboards are important to those teams, it is their identity, and the value in their performance comes in the way they play with their heart and they are trying to make their people back at home proud.
“Some of those countries are not all rugby countries so they have to start somewhere, so for me it is just the normal cycle of starting a tournament.”
England have won their two previous meetings with Samoa by an aggregate score of 118-3.
The second of those victories – a 65-3 triumph in 2014 – came en route to the Red Roses lifting the World Cup for a second time.
Stand-in captain Marlie Packer, who will lead the team in the injury absence of Zoe Aldcroft, replacement scrum-half Natasha Hunt, and Emily Scarratt, who is not involved this weekend, are the only members of Mitchell’s squad to have previously faced the Pacific islanders.