The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond today as Welsh rugby’s war intensifies
Ospreys and Cardiff fans will make their feelings clear(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
These are your headlines on the morning of Friday, January 23
Ospreys and Cardiff fans to protest
Ospreys and Cardiff fans will unite in protest against owners Y11 Sports & Media and the Welsh Rugby Union this weekend as they vow to fight plans against the deal that threatens the Swansea-based side’s future.
The Ospreys’ home match against the Lions tonight is set to be a tense affair, with the crowd expected to make their feelings clear after Y11 were chosen as the preferred new owners of Cardiff. While that move guarantees Cardiff’s long term future, no guarantees have been given about the Ospreys beyond next summer.
Following a meeting between Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley and WRU CEO Abi Tierney on Thursday, Stewart called for the union board to resign en masse, claiming the WRU had indicated there was no viable long-term future for the region. The council are now refusing to plough £5 million into the planned redevelopment of St Helen’s.
Ospreys fans will light up their phones in the 11th minute of the match tonight to make it clear they are “watching Y11”.
“This is a message to say we are watching, and we will not ignore the disgraceful treatment of our players, Ospreys staff and our supporters We stand behind our lads and we will not stay silent.” Banners are also expected to be unfurled in protest ahead of the match.
Cardiff Supporters’ Group CF10 Trust have pledged to do the same when they play Benetton on Saturday in a show of solidarity.
Wales international ‘heartbroken’
Wales international Ellis Jenkins says he is heartbroken for the Ospreys players after the events of this week left them facing uncertain futures.
Speaking on the BBC’s Scrum V show, the former Wales and Cardiff captain said it appeared as if owners Y11 had just jumped ship, describing it as a “bitter pill” to swallow.
“My first reaction is you are just heartbroken for the Ospreys people. The players, staff, supporters. It almost feels like Y11 have jumped ship and gone for Cardiff,” he said.
“From a human point of view, the players have still got a season to play, plus next season potentially. It’s just another example of bad PR and bad comms in terms of the uncertainty. I understand there is stuff that can’t be made public but for the players to know nothing and have a meeting with Lance Bradley where no light was shed on what’s happening…
“Even from a Cardiff point of view you look at the investors. They come in off the back of turning their back on the Ospreys. What is to say that won’t happen again.
“It is a very tough pill to swallow.”
Former Ospreys player Alex Cuthbert hit out at the lack of communication from Y11 and the WRU from the start of the whole process.
“I just feel so sorry for those Ospreys lads, they have been just left in the dark,” he said.
Dragons go fully loaded
The Dragons are at full strength as Filo Tiatia’s men head across the Irish Sea to face Munster tonight.
The rejuvenated Men of Gwent – who have won four successive games on home soil – aim to cure their travel sickness in Cork and have named a strong XV for their date at Thomond Park.
Wales No 8 Aaron Wainwright and lock Ben Carter are including in the walk-on side, while overlooked winger Rio Dyer also starts.
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more
There are also places in the starting side for loose-head prop Rodrigo Martinez and open-side flanker Harry Beddall.
Munster have lost four games on the bounce and although an away win is unlikely, Tiatia says getting victories on the road is the next stage in the team’s development.
“It’s an area of growth and we need to keep improving around taking our game and mentality that we have at home when we go to other grounds,” said Tiatia.
“How do we stay in moments and dominate? We’ve got a lot of young guys that are still learning their craft.”
“I don’t think there is ever a ‘good time’ to play Munster,” he added.
“The whole of their group will be hurting and Munster have got a proud tradition and legacy.”
Munster: Haley; Abrahams, Kelly, Nankivell, Daly; Hanrahan, Coughlan; Loughman, D Barron (capt), Ala’alatoa, Kleyn, Wycherley, Edogbo, Quinn, Gleeson.
Replacements: L Barron, Wycherley, Jager, O’Connell, Coombes, Patterson, Butler, Kilgallen.
Dragons: O’Brien; Roberts, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Hope; Martinez, Coghlan, Hunt, Douglas, Carter, Keddie, Beddall, Wainwright.
Replacements: Burrows, Morris, Dlamini, S Davies, Lewis-Hughes, R Williams, Ackerman, C Evans.
Springboks and All Blacks set for US showdown
The Springboks and All Blacks will face off in America later this year.
In the latest instalment of their ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series, the two international juggernauts will meet at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore – home of NFL franchise Baltimore Ravens – next September.
The fixture comes as the US gears up to host the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and 2033 respectively, with the aim to grow the sport on the other side of the Atlantic.
World Rugby chief executive officer Alan Gilpin added: “Partnering with unions to bring world class content to key U.S cities is at the heart of the sport’s strategy to grow the market on the road to hosting men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in the US in 2031 and 2033.
“There are few bigger rivalries than New Zealand versus South Africa, and to be able to showcase the best of our sport in Baltimore, one of 27 super engaged cities and regions in the Rugby World Cup hosting process, is an exciting prospect, inspiring more sports fans in the US to fall in love with rugby.”
New Zealand have already participated in matches in the States, facing Ireland on a couple of occasions, most recently in Chicago in November last year.
Caluori out to emulate Pollock
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Noah Caluori wants to follow the trail blazed by Henry Pollock in 2025 by winning his first England cap in the upcoming Six Nations.
Saracens’ teenage sensation has set his sights on becoming England’s greatest ever wing but his immediate target will be helping the under-20s win the grand slam, which runs alongside the Championship.
A year ago Pollock was competing in the age grade competition only for his stellar performances to result in a call-up by Steve Borthwick, resulting in his try-scoring debut against Wales.
Three months later, aged 20, he was the youngest member of the British and Irish Lions squad that delivered a triumphant tour of Australia.
The 19-year-old Caluori has already had a taste of England camp after his aerial expertise was used to mimic Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in training during the build up to last autumn’s Test against the Wallabies. Now he feels ready to take the next step.
“I want to go on England’s tour this year and hopefully get my first cap either in this Six Nations or in the summer,” the six-foot four-inch Caluori said. “I want to make the most of any opportunity I’m given.
“I know Pollock last year was in the under-20 camps, moved up into the Six Nations senior squad, went back into the under-20s and then made his debut in the Six Nations.
“Credit to him, he’s had a crazy rise and I would definitely like to follow in his footsteps in some of the things he’s done.
“We’ve had a couple of chats in camp, but not really in depth. But maybe that’s a chat to be had in the future to get some tips.”
Caluori announced his arrival with a stunning five-try haul in Saracens’ 65-14 demolition of Sale on October 18 that showcased his unique threat in the air and finishing skills. A week later he was called up by England.
That performance had its origins in a training ground dressing down by Owen Farrell in the wake of his debut off the bench against Newcastle on the opening weekend of the season.
“It was a very cold day. I wasn’t necessarily moping. I was a bit cold. Feeling a bit ill,” recalled Caluori, who was speaking ahead of the ‘Showdown 6’ between Saracens and Northampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 28.
“I’m usually quite bubbly in training but it wasn’t one of those days. I would say I could have been training harder.
“We were doing a tackle drill and I was like, ‘my shoulder kind of hurts’, just to myself. Faz was like, ‘is there anything wrong with you?’. I said, ‘I’m fine’ and he said, ‘train like it then’.
“I didn’t take it in a negative way at all. He spoke to me later in the session and said, ‘you shouldn’t need someone to motivate you to train like you always do on a day when it is cold or on a day when you haven’t been selected’.
“No matter what ups and down in my career I want to have the same mental focus and treat every opportunity the same.”