![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS316529177.jpg\")
Rey Lee-Lo and Tinus de Beer of Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyondRey Lee-Lo and Tinus de Beer of Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\n
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, August 25.<\/p>\n
Welsh rugby cult hero reveals reason behind move<\/p>\n
Dragons fly-half Tinus de Beer has revealed that recently becoming a father was the reason behind swapping Cardiff<\/a> for Newport<\/a>.<\/p>\n The South African playmaker spent two seasons at the Arms Park, but didn’t feature as much in his second year after the Blue and Blacks signed Wales international Callum Sheedy.<\/p>\n With Matt Sherratt bringing in Ioan Lloyd from the Scarlets<\/a> ahead of this season, it became apparent there was no future for de Beer in the Welsh capital.<\/p>\n However, the recent birth of his baby meant that he didn’t want to travel far – ultimately heading to Rodney Parade. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEven if there was options elsewhere, I wanted to try and keep it as simple as possible by not moving countries,\u201d de Beer told the Rugby Paper.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife and I have just had a baby who is eight months old now, so that was the choice.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to stay in the URC for various reasons. I think it\u2019s one of the best competitions in the world to play in.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the travel, the longevity of the season and the way you get tested in all conditions, wet and dry. You have northern hemisphere games and then a trip down to South Africa as well, which is pretty tough. I just think it\u2019s brilliant.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it was a pretty easy decision for me to come to the Dragons. I am really happy with it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my 13th pre-season. I love my job and I can\u2019t see myself doing anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n The fly-half also spoke about how he wanted to bring improvements to the Dragons, after a woeful season in Newport last year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to play some footie and make the community and the fans proud. We want to get the people involved and fill Rodney Parade,” he said. \u201cWelsh people are very loyal supporters, great supporters. We want to make them proud.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a couple of up and down seasons for the Dragons supporters and one of our missions, our visions, is to get a bit of belief in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have all got the same goal in mind. We will be fighting to get over the line more than the Dragons have done in previous seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to score more tries because that gives more belief, it\u2019s more exciting and it should mean more people filling up Rodney Parade. They just want to be entertained, so we want to give that back to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Racing 92 line up record-breaking deal for All Blacks star Ardie Savea<\/p>\n French heavyweights Racing 92 are preparing a stunning move to make Ardie Savea the highest-paid player in rugby history.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old loose forward, who has won 99 caps for New Zealand, is reportedly top of Racing\u2019s transfer wishlist as they look to add another global superstar to their Paris squad.<\/p>\n Savea is contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027, but according to The Daily Telegraph in Australia, Racing are ready to test that agreement and table an offer that would eclipse the huge packages previously handed to Dan Carter and Matt Giteau in Japan.<\/p>\n Savea \u2014 crowned World Rugby 15s Player of the Year in 2023 \u2014 turned out for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific this season but is already committed to joining Japanese side Kobelco Steelers in 2026.<\/p>\n If Racing were able to lure him to France, he would follow a glittering cast of big-name recruits.<\/p>\n The Parisians have already snapped up World Cup-winning Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi and England star Owen Farrell, while Carter himself joined Racing in 2015 fresh from World Cup glory before heading to Japan three years later.<\/p>\n Savea, widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet, would represent a marquee addition as Racing look to strengthen their grip on the Top 14 and push for European honours.<\/p>\n Wales must \u2018throw everything\u2019 at Canada after Scotland setback<\/p>\n