The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Louis Rees-Zammit(Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)
These are your latest rugby headlines on Friday, August 1.
Louis Rees-Zammit inundated
Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has promised fans there is more big news coming after he confirmed he is quitting NFL to return to the sport.
The Welshman shocked the sporting world late on Thursday night, announcing his rugby return with immediate effect. In doing so, he told fans there was more “big news coming soon” as all eyes turn to where he will end up. You can follow live updates on the Rees-Zammit story here.
The winger was inundated with messages from fans pleading with him to join their club, with Gloucester fans in particular hopeful he will return to to where he left when he sensationally quit the sport in January, 2024.
A move to Wales seems unlikely at this stage, particularly with the current uncertainty around the game, with France or England a more likely destination. Rees-Zammit is sure to appeal to the new R360 rebel league that is being proposed to start from 2026 season and he will instantly command one of the biggest salaries in the game.
The overnight news will also be a major boost for new Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who will have a new weapon at his disposal from this year’s autumn internationals onwards.
Wallabies star pulled from team
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Sydney
Australia’s injury woes continued when first-choice hooker Dave Porecki was ruled out of Saturday’s third Test against the British and Irish Lions because of a cut heel.
In the wake of losing flanker Rob Valetini and prop Allan Alaalatoa to the treatment room, the Wallabies have been forced into making a change to their front row for the Accor Stadium clash.
Matt Faessler had already been ruled out by a calf injury, so Billy Pollard will make his second Test start in the number two jersey with Brandon Paenga-Amosa drafted on to the bench.
Head coach Joe Schmidt has likened losing Saturday’s second Test in the closing seconds to a grieving process, but insists Australia’s recovery is underway.
“Incredibly deflated group. Tuesday was tough, actually, to get them up off the canvas,” Schmidt said.
“There has been a little bit of an upswing and we’ve just got to keep that momentum. It’s a challenge because of all that emotional energy and psychological energy that was expended.
“The way things finished, the sense of frustration – it’s almost like a grieving process by the time they’ve gone through those first few days.
“We’ve given them time to breathe a bit and then try to elevate the spirits and the tempo.”
Henson would love Welsh ‘super clubs’
Gavin Henson says he would “love” for two “super clubs” to be formed in Wales as he gave his take on the current state of Welsh rugby.
The two-time Grand Slam winner represented three of the four Welsh regions over the course of his career, playing the majority of his rugby with the Ospreys before spending a short-lived spell with Cardiff and bowing out from professional rugby with the Dragons in 2019.
However, with the Welsh Rugby Union considering halving the number of regions as part of a new domestic structure by the 2027/28 campaign, the future of Henson’s former clubs, as well as the Scarlets, is under fresh scrutiny.
It comes after Henson’s former Ospreys teammate Steve Tandy was named as the new Wales men’s head coach, with the 38-year-old admitting that the “real deal” ex-flanker “has got his work cut out” after a run of 18 straight defeats was finally ended last month.
Giving his take on the state of the national team and regional game, Henson told MailOnline: “It was interesting for me to see Steve become a coach. I probably didn’t expect that of him.
“But from what I’ve seen and what he’s done, he does look like the real deal. It’s tough times for Welsh rugby. Luckily, we got a win in Japan, so Steve can start on a clean slate and a losing run isn’t hanging over him. He’s got his work cut out.
“The bigger thing is can we sort out the regions? Do we go down to two? Do we go back to clubs? I’d love Wales to create two super clubs.
“Hopefully, Steve can bring exciting rugby back,” he added. “In Wales, we’re not the biggest so we need to be a bit cleverer. I think we were fun to watch in 2005 when we won the Grand Slam. Hopefully, we can get back to that and shock a few people but it’s whether we’ve got the players to do it or not. I don’t know if we do.
“I’d still love to be coming through as a rugby player now. I think the environment would be much better suited for me. I think Wales needs a player like me now, but that’s my opinion.”
Wales duo ‘wanted child for so long’
Wales Women star Jasmine Joyce-Butchers has opened up on her wife Alisha’s pregnancy journey, admitting they had “wanted a child for so long” that the timing is irrelevant.
The two Wales teammates announced earlier this year that they were expecting a baby after Alisha missed the entire Women’s Six Nations campaign. Due to the pregnancy, she will also miss the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in England later this month, with their baby son due to arrive in November.
Paying tribute to her “selfless” partner, Jasmine – who will win her 50th Wales cap against Australia today – explained why they decided not to wait to try for a baby, admitting that their careers means there is “always something that comes up”.
“Everyone was asking Alisha ‘why now, why now?’,” she told the BBC. “But there is always something in rugby, there is always something that comes up and you’re like ‘we’ll wait for that, we’ll wait for that’.”
“Obviously she’s been the brave one, it’s very selfless of her to be the one to carry and miss out on the World Cup and part of her career. But we’ve wanted a child for so long and if one of us didn’t play rugby, I think we would have had a child a long time ago.
“We’re over the moon that we’ve been so lucky, we get to grow a child and bring him into the world.”
Alisha has also become the first professional player to experience the Welsh Rugby Union’s new performance maternity programme, which Jasmine says has been “phenomenal”.
“I think they’ve pretty much followed England’s maternity policy,” she explained. “[England lock] Abbie Ward trialled that out and I know she speaks very highly of it.
“It’s been phenomenal so far, Alisha can’t fault it. Jamie, our S&C, has been the lead in her programme and she wants to do more and more every day, but Jamie’s like ‘you’re carrying a child, chill out.’
“She’s been loving training in and around the environment with the girls as well.”
England name side to face Spain
By PA Sport Staff
England flanker Abi Burton will make her first Test start in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Spain in Leicester.
The 25-year-old Trailfinders player scored two tries as a replacement on her international debut against Wales during the Six Nations before again coming off the bench in the successful Grand Slam decider against France.
She will line up at blindside flanker in a back row which contains Marlie Packer as captain and Maddie Feaunati at number eight.
Props Kelsey Clifford and Sarah Bern will pack down either side of hooker Lark Atkin-Davies at Welford Road, ahead of locks Lilli Ives Campion and Abbie Ward.
Scrum-half Lucy Packer will partner fly-half Zoe Harrison, with Jade Shekells and vice-captain Megan Jones selected as the midfield duo.
Full-back Emma Sing and wings Helena Rowland and Jess Breach form a new-look back three.
England, who play away to France next weekend, begin their home World Cup on Friday, August 22 against the United States in Sunderland.