The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Ellis Jenkins of Wales leads out his side during his playing days(Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Friday, September 5.
Ex-Wales tells decision-makers: You’ll be remembered for this
Former Wales captain Ellis Jenkins has been left confused by the WRU’s public survey relating to the radical decision looming in Welsh rugby and has told the powers-that-be that they’ll be remembered for this call – either way.
The Welsh Rugby Union has opened a public survey which gives fans, players and clubs an opportunity to have their say on the future of the professional game in Wales. It comes amid a formal consultation process where the WRU will engage with key stakeholders including the four professional clubs – Cardiff, Dragons RFC, Ospreys and Scarlets – along with players and the official supporters groups as it looks to put in place a radical new structure for the professional game in time for the 2027/28 season.
The WRU have already gone public with what it views as the ‘optimal structure’, which includes a reduction from four to two professional clubs and significant central control.
It also includes two professional women’s teams, a national campus and a significantly enhanced Super Rygbi Cymru competition.
Now, the survey is available on the One Wales mini-site which gives fans and players an opportunity to have their say, however it has drawn some criticism.
And former Cardiff Rugby skipper and ex-flanker Jenkins has criticised the wording of such questions and urged those tasked with making the decision to do so quickly. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“The survey, there are lots of questions in there where the answer is obvious in them,” he said on last night’s BBC Scrum V.
“‘Would more funding in the women’s game make the women’s team more successful?’ Like, ‘Yes!’
“You’d struggle to answer differently than ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ with that. There’s no choice really, there. I don’t necessarily understand the purpose of that.
“But on the flipside, there is only so much feedback you can get from the general population that would be valid.
“Everyone is biased, whether you accept it or not, everyone has their own opinion based on their own experience, who they support, what they’ve heard – what they’ve heard us say, probably – and it’s always going to be difficult to get a collaborative answer.
“It’ll be impossible to get a collaborative answer.
“At some point, the people who are privy to all the information, people who get paid a big chunk of money to make these decisions, need to make a decision.
“At some point there needs to be a decision made. They need to be confident enough, because they are going to be remembered for this decision, whether it goes right or wrong. It’s massive.”
Three England stars in ‘rip off’ row
Three England women’s Rugby World Cup stars are embroiled in a public row amid claims they allegedly “ripped off” a small independent business for their own gain.
The developing row is an unwanted distraction as the Red Roses attempt to win the tournament on home soil. Zoe Harrison, Sarah Bern and Jess Breach have been promoting T-shirts which one entrepreneur claims are a “copy and paste” job of her own brand, the Telegraph report.
Business owner Georgia Buchanan, who founded a ‘baby tee’ brand called Ruby Loot last year, has gone public with the claims the players have replicated her ideas to create their own fashion line, Below The Shoulder.
Team England Rugby, the players’ association which represents England internationals, is seeking legal counsel on behalf of the three players but declined to comment, it is reported.
Buchanan said she never copyrighted the Ruby Loot designs and there is no suggestion the players have done anything legally wrong.
But Buchanan says she was stunned when the Below The Shoulder brand launched, with the England stars heavily involved in promoting the clothing on their social media channels. It came, she says, after she was approached about a potential collaboration by another player, Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords, who was a fan of her work.
The partnership did not materialise, but six weeks later Swords is claimed to have launched the Below The Shoulder T-shirt brand, with Harrison, Bern and Breach all listed as co-founders and all involved in promotional activities. Swords was contacted for comment by the Telegraph.
The T-shirts have slogans printed across the chest area that are specifically related to rugby, such as “Two Handed Touch” and “Get Muddy With Me” and “Tackle Me”.
Buchanan has now taken to TikTok to describe her dismay, saying she was “lost for words” when she discovered the players had launched their own brand.
“I don’t like pitting women against each other, but on principle I’ve decided I have to make it [the TikTok],” she said.
“I go on the page and it turns out the female rugby player has launched her own brand that could be seen to look very similar to my entire brand identity… the exact same product, the same colour ways, the same fonts, the same tone of voice, the same content of shoot styles, the same styling, the same everything bar the exact slogan words.”
The group started promoting the T-shirts on Instagram last month, with a £32 World Cup edition already listed as sold out.
The Telegraph reports Buchanan held a call with Swords and Breach last Friday to discuss the issue and changes to the brand that could be made to distinguish it more from her own brand. The players are said to have agreed to pause sales of the current T-shirts at Buchanan’s request.
Erasmus reveals exact points Springboks need to beat All Blacks
Rassie Erasmus has warned South Africa they cannot rely on penalties alone if they want to topple the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The Springboks coach insists history shows teams must hit a specific points tally if they are to stand a chance of victory against New Zealand.
“History has shown you must score 28 points against New Zealand if you want to beat them,” Erasmus said at his team naming press conference. “So you have to score tries. We have plans … we have to score tries and get to plus 25 points if we want to win the game.”
While the 2023 World Cup final was a low-scoring 12-11 Springboks win, Erasmus pointed out that was the exception, with their last victory in New Zealand – a 36-34 thriller – producing 11 tries.
The coach said South Africa must balance their physical, kick-heavy game with the ability to open up when needed. “People say you must go back to the way you play – for us we feel like we have to do both. New Zealand’s natural way is making it loose, making it fast … once they open you up, you struggle to contain them.”
Erasmus also explained his captaincy decision, with Jesse Kriel to lead the side despite Siya Kolisi starting at number eight. Kolisi had originally been bracketed due to injury, only to be passed fit after Jean-Luc du Preez suffered a knee complaint.
The clash will also see Kolisi go head-to-head with his close friend and opposite number Ardie Savea, who is set to win his 100th Test. “It’s a massive game for Ardie and we respect him and congratulate him,” Erasmus added. “Siya is proud of him, knowing him as a friend.”
Schmidt tells Wallabies star to be patient after fresh omission
Australia boss Joe Schmidt says Lukhan Salakaia-Loto must bide his time after being overlooked again for a Wallabies recall.
The 41-cap lock has missed out on selection for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Townsville, despite Will Skelton’s return to France for club duty.
Salakaia-Loto, 28, had been sidelined late in the Super Rugby Pacific season and, despite strong form on the British and Irish Lions tour, was unable to force his way into the squad. He was an unused member during both Tests in South Africa and was again absent when Schmidt named his side to face Los Pumas.
Instead, Tom Hooper has been shifted from the back row into the second row, allowing captain Harry Wilson to return from a knee injury at No.8.
“Once someone has the jersey, it’s their challenge to lose it,” Schmidt explained. “Tom Hooper didn’t deserve to lose it, and Bobby Valetini came back and played well too. It’s about fitting players in and the challenge for others is to work their way in.
“Lukhan’s a smart lineout player, a big athlete – there’s lots to like. It’s just about timing.”
Schmidt also pointed to rising competition in the second row, highlighting Salakaia-Loto’s Reds teammate Josh Canham, who has joined the squad after impressing in club rugby.
The coach was quick to ease concerns over Wilson’s fitness, insisting the knock sustained in the Ellis Park win was only a “pinch” to his knee. Wilson will line up alongside Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini in a powerful back row.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old fly-half Tom Lynagh has been restored to the starting side after missing two games with concussion. The son of World Cup-winning No.10 Michael Lynagh replaces James O’Connor, who drops to the bench.
“Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder) is also back in the squad and should be fit to face Argentina in Sydney next weekend,” Schmidt added.