The latest rugby headlines from Wales and around the world
Ben Thomas of Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Here are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, October 1
Wales star suspened after red card
Wales star Ben Thomas has been suspended for three games after receiving a red card in Cardiff’s victory over the Lions in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship last weekend.
Thomas was shown a yellow card – which was eventually upgraded to a red – by referee Filippo Russo for making direct contact with the head of a Lions player after charging into a ruck. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
If Thomas completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.
The 26-year-old will definitely miss Cardiff’s trip to Munster this weekend along with the home clash against Connacht on October 11.
Should be complete the programme he will return for the Welsh derby against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on October 17.
Thomas is an integral player for Cardiff especially given the fact he can play outside-half, centre and full-back in an emergency, while he is also a goal kicker.
Dragons suffer injury blow
Wales hooker Elliot Dee has been ruled out of the Dragons’ United Rugby Championship clash with the Sharks at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
Dee left the field injured in the 17th minute of the Dragons’ 42-21 defeat to Ulster in Belfast last weekend.
The 31-year-old sustained an injury to his right arm in the lead-up to Jared Rosser’s try and will be absent against the Sharks this weekend.
“Elliot is recovering and getting some scans, hopefully we will know where he is at soon and that he won’t be out for too long,” said head coach Filo Tiatia.
“It was a concern because he is one of our leading players – an international and important to the squad.
“We will wait for the results and hopefully he can recover really quickly, but he won’t be involved this week.”
The Dragons will also be without centre Joe Westwood and wing Rosser which could mean a first start for summer signing Fine Inisi.
“Fetuli brings experience and is a big man who can carry, has good footwork and vision,” said Tiatia.
“The challenge is connection with players who he hasn’t played with before, but they have made an effort to make sure he knows his role and the language that we are using.
“He has been with Tonga for the last five or six weeks so we need to make sure he travels light and is really clear on his role.”
BBC enter race for Rugby World Cup rights
The BBC plan to bid for the rights to show the men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027, according to reports.
City AM are reporting the BBC has held talks with World Rugby about bidding for live TV rights after achieving record viewing numbers for the women’s World Cup.
England’s World Cup final victory over Canada last weekend attracted a peak audience of 5.8m on BBC One and was the most watched rugby match of the year.
ITV has held the exclusive live rights to the men’s Rugby World Cup since 1991 but City AM say World Rugby is exploring offering multiple rights packages when the tender process begins later this year.
This would allow both the BBC and ITV to show live matches as they do during the men’s Six Nations.
World Rugby has also sold the rights to streaming companies in other markets including Stan Sport in Australia and Paramount + in the US.
Scotland boss takes on Newcastle role
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will take on an advisory role with Newcastle Red Bull after the club parted ways with its director of rugby Steve Diamond today.
Townsend has taken on a part-time role with Red Bull which requires the 52-year-old to advise Newcastle on strategy and philosophy.
The former Scotland and Lions playmaker will spend 30 days a year working on Red Bull’s global rugby strategy in a non-executive position.
Townsend recently signed a new contract with the Scottish Rugby Union so will remain head coach of the men’s national side until the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
His 30 days of work with Red Bull will take place outside of the international window while according to reports the SRU have put safeguards in place to ensure any help Townsend offers Newcastle will not harm Edinburgh or Glasgow Warriors.
“Gregor is a knowledge fiend who has always tried to learn from different sport in different parts of the world,” a source close to the SRU told the BBC.
“This is just a continuation of that. He’s scratching a development itch and the SRU will get the benefits of it with a connection with a giant sporting brand.”
Diamond’s departure from Newcastle has come as a massive shock after only one game of the Gallagher Prem season, a 39-17 home defeat to Saracens.
But Newcastle hit the jackpot over the summer when they were taken over by Red Bull who have huge ambitions for the English club.
Following Diamond’s departure Neil McIlroy will arrive on November 1 as sporting general manager.
Alan Dickens will take on the role of head coach.