The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world one week out from the Six Nations
Bundee Aki has been banned(Image: World Rugby)
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, January 29.
Bundee Aki gets big ban
Ireland and Lions star Bundee Aki has been given a six-week ban, two of which are suspended, after the misconduct controversy that saw him ditched from the Six Nations squad. Aki will miss four games in total, including Ireland’s first three matches of the tournament.
He will, however, be available for the fourth round clash against Wales in Dublin.
Aki was called to face an independent disciplinary committee following Connacht’s loss to Leinster on the weekend after he clashed with match officials during and after the game.. The hearing found him guilty of “verbal abuse and disrespect”.
The 35-year-old is now banned for Connacht’s URC game against Zebre this weekend and Ireland’s Six Nations fixtures against France, Italy and England.
A URC statement read: “After considering all of the submissions, the Independent Committee deemed that the Player engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions in a manner which breached the Disciplinary Rules.
“The Independent Committee concluded that the Player’s behaviour constituted verbal abuse and disrespect of a Match Official(s) under the relevant Rules.
“The committee felt that while a six-week ban was appropriate, two weeks would be suspended. It also recognised the centre was full of regret for his actions and was grateful for the approach that he took towards the proceedings.
“However, given the Player’s previous disciplinary record (including incidents of a similar nature) and his lack of a plea in this case, the Independent Committee could not apply mitigation to the sanction, the statement continued.
“The Committee reminded the Player of the importance of the Spirit and values of the game of rugby and the importance of respect towards Match Officials. The Player was reminded of his right to appeal.”
Michael Sheen urges WRU rethink as he backs Ospreys amid growing row
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has spoken out in support of the Ospreys amid the escalating dispute over the region’s future, urging the Welsh Rugby Union to rethink its position.
The Welsh star posted his backing on social media platform X, aligning himself with the Ospreys, a number of former players and Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart as pressure continues to mount on the WRU over its handling of regional rugby.
“Want to give my support to @ospreys, these former players, the supporters and Swansea Council’s Leader @Cllr_robstewart in a call for a rethink from WRU and Y11 on their approach to this,” he wrote in support of the former Ospreys players’ joint statement.
Sheen’s intervention comes at a critical moment in a saga that has seen fierce public disagreement between the WRU, local politicians, former players and the region itself.
Sheen’s links to the Ospreys stretch back more than a decade. In 2011, he appeared in a club campaign in which he described himself as “proud to be an Ospreylian” and said he was proud to support the region.
His comments follow a growing backlash against the WRU’s plans, with Ospreys legends including Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Ryan Jones and James Hook recently calling for a rethink and warning the proposals risk damaging the region’s identity.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart has also been highly critical of the WRU, accusing it of “putting the region’s future at risk”
Concerns have intensified following the WRU’s decision to proceed with the sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11, while declining to provide assurances over the Ospreys’ long-term future. Local MPs have described the situation as a “stitch-up” and warned the region could be pushed towards collapse.
O’Brien sets Dragons challenge as captain reveals next big step
Angus O’Brien has laid down a clear marker for the Dragons’ season, insisting the “next step” for the resurgent region is finally delivering an away win after nearly three years without one in the league.
The Dragons co-captain says the feel-good factor at Rodney Parade must now travel, with the Gwent side preparing for a Welsh derby showdown against the Ospreys at Bridgend’s Brewery Field on Saturday. The Dragons have not won a URC match on the road since April 2022, a statistic that continues to loom large despite a clear upturn in performances.
“We’ve had four great wins at Rodney,” O’Brien said. “The next step is for us to go and win away and we are working hard to do that.”
The 31-year-old full-back has been central to the Dragons’ improved form, with the region winning four of their last seven matches in all competitions and collecting losing bonus points in two others.
O’Brien has been one of the standout Welsh performers this season, combining playmaking influence with a strong tactical kicking game. JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more
Last weekend looked like it might finally bring that long-awaited away breakthrough, with the Dragons leading Munster 20-7 midway through the second half at Thomond Park. However, two late tries from replacement No 8 Gavin Coombes saw the Irish province snatch a 22-20 victory.
“It feels like one that got away,” O’Brien admitted. “To narrowly miss out like that hurts. We were unlucky not to get the win.
“To go out to Munster is never easy, but we could have won that game. I think that just shows where we are as a group.”
Despite the disappointment in Cork, O’Brien believes confidence within the squad is growing rapidly, pointing to a turning point earlier in the campaign.
“Since the win against Lyon in Europe, you can see us growing in confidence,” he said. “We are capitalising on opportunities now and the belief in the group is great. It’s a special group to be a part of.”
Attention now turns to a packed-house derby against the Ospreys, with O’Brien determined the Dragons put down a marker away from home.
“It’s a local Welsh derby,” he said. “They are always exciting games and we’re really looking forward to it. We’ve got to put our best foot forward.”
For O’Brien, a Newport-born product who has spent eight years with the Dragons across two spells, the recent run of home wins has also been about rewarding long-suffering supporters.
“They have been outstanding for us through the highs and lows,” he added. “As a local boy, I’m chuffed that we’re paying the fans back with the scoreboard. Now we’ve got to make sure we do it away from home too.”
Tuipulotu: Scotland have Six Nations motivation after autumn pain
By Anthony Brown, Press Association, Edinburgh
Sione Tuipulotu has urged Scotland to use their autumn anguish as fuel for their upcoming Guinness Six Nations campaign.
The Scots were pilloried in November after squandering a 21-0 lead in a home defeat by Argentina. A week prior to that, they missed a golden chance to beat New Zealand for the first time in their history when seemingly in the ascendancy at 17-17 before going down 25-17.
“We’re not short of motivation, that’s for sure,” said captain Tuipulotu. “And I think it’s important that we carry a little bit of the hurt from the autumn into the Six Nations because it’s important not to just pass it by and act like it didn’t happen.
“It’s important that we show progression in this tournament, not only from the autumn, but from the last Six Nations as well. As captain, it’s my responsibility to lead that, and I’m looking forward to doing that.”
Tuipulotu was one of 19 Glasgow players named in Gregor Townsend’s initial 40-man squad for the championship and he believes the Warriors’ excellent recent form, particularly in the Champions Cup, can give Scotland a boost.
“It is significant, and the combinations and cohesion that we have on the field that we can bring to the Scottish environment is important,” he said of the Glasgow contingent.
“But I think it’s also important how we mesh with the other boys. Test rugby is a lot different to club rugby. It would be stupid for us to think that because Glasgow beat Toulouse, we’re favoured to beat France or anything like that.
“But it does give us confidence and it’s important that boys that have played big roles in those wins that we’ve had between autumn and the Six Nations, they bring that confidence into the Test arena.”
Scotland kick off their campaign away to Italy a week on Saturday. Asked what their target is for the championship, Tuipulotu said: “It would be stupid of me not to say the target is to touch the trophy. That is the target.
“But the message to my group will be not to look anything past Italy. Not look at the table, not look at what it’s going to take for us to be in contention to the last week. Don’t look at anything past Italy.
“It’s important not to look past any game. Yes, the goal is to touch the trophy, but the only way we can touch the trophy is by starting well in Rome.”