The latest rugby and Six Nations news from Wales and around the world
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso during the England training camp(Image: Getty Images)
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, February 5.
Feyi-Waboso reveals ‘traitor’ taunts
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso says facing Wales in the Six Nations is a game he “really wants to beat” as the Cardiff-born England wing prepares for an emotional Twickenham clash.
The 23-year-old, who was born and raised in Llandaff before moving across the border as a teenager, will come up against the country of his birth on Saturday. And while there is no bitterness, there is clear motivation.
“Maybe, somewhat,” he told The Times when asked if the fixture completes the circle. “I just feel like it’s a team I want to beat. You have a few of them, France too, but they’re just a team I really want to beat.”
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The British-Nigerian flyer grew up in Cardiff and represented Wales at under-18 level before leaving the Blues pathway after failing to secure a place to study medicine at Cardiff University, despite achieving an A* and two As at A-level.
He moved to Aston University and Wasps, then to Exeter Chiefs following Wasps’ collapse in 2022, continuing his medical studies in Devon. Though he qualifies for Wales, he has long felt more aligned with England, he says, with strong family ties across the border.
Still, the Welsh connection runs deep – and he was reminded of it in no uncertain terms when Exeter beat Cardiff 31-0 in the Challenge Cup last month.
“The crowd was at me. It was so hilarious. Their fans travel well, from Cardiff,” he added, recalling chants of “traitor, traitor!” and “Manny is Welshman!”
“It was ‘you’re just a s*** Tom Bowen’, so it was good crack. At times they were louder than our fans. It was actually good motivation when you’re on the pitch. I was kick-chasing, hearing that, and it’s just as good as someone cheering you.”
There will be no theatrics if he crosses the line at Twickenham, though. Unlike England team-mate Henry Pollock, who famously booted the ball into the crowd after scoring against Bordeaux, Feyi-Waboso insists that’s not his style.
“No, no! Leave that to him, he’s good at that stuff,” he said. “That was good, as it was a mental try wasn’t it? He caught it on the edge, chipped, chased … he’s after my spot. He’s an amazing player and can back it up. They would’ve hated that.
“When someone has misplaced confidence, it’s like, ‘What are you doing?’ but this guy is doing it every single week on the biggest stage.
“If you’re good enough, go for it. We appreciate the fact that the game needs to grow, so it’s amazing to have that personality.”
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Six Nations boss speaks out amid backlash
Six Nations chief Tom Harrison says more changes to match broadcasts are planned, as it was revealed that television adverts will be shown in the middle of games during this year’s championship.
ITV will introduce split-screen advertising during their coverage of the tournament, which gets underway tomorrow night, in a major break from traditional broadcasting.
Previously, British broadcasters have avoided interrupting live rugby action, limiting advert breaks to half-time and full-time. But now, short adverts will be shown during natural breaks in play, such as scrum set-ups, while the live action remains visible on the left-hand side of the screen.
The move has sparked a backlash from rugby fans, who have described it as “pathetic” and “horrible”, as well as an “Americanisation of sports coverage”.
“Who on earth at ITV thought this was a good idea and definitely wouldn’t upset the fans?,” asked one person on X, with another writing: “Sports coverage is in the bin.”
“Absolutely atrocious, pure greed” wrote another, while one frustrated fan added: “WTF. How to turn more fans away from a sport They’ll be getting rid of match commentators next and using AI or so-called influencers sat at home on their gaming chairs FFS.”
One social media user even claimed that they “would prefer the Six Nations to go behind a pay wall rather than this sell out,” while another said simply: “Rugby’s gone”.
However, while the plans have received a frustrated reaction, Harrison says it is a way of using rugby’s issues to its own advantage, with more changes set to be introduced to live match broadcasts.
“One of the things we’re trying to do at the moment is use some of the issues in the game to our advantage,” he said during his appearance on the Business of Sport podcast.
“We are using that moment now to create commercial inventory, which was one of the key reasons why we were able to get the ITV deal across the line. We’ve effectively got a squeeze-back in that moment before a scrum is reset. We [will] do it once every half, we managed to agree that within the Ofcom guidelines.
“So, there are elements where the game is being more flexible and we are trying to be innovative about how we can create new moments of commercial upside,” Harrison added.
“The players have a role to play in that too. So, at some point, having player interviews at half-time or during water breaks in the summer, that kind of thing, we’re not too far away from that. Interviewing coaches at half-time too.
“These sort of things shouldn’t be too hard, but they’ve just been really difficult conversations in the game so far.”
Genge: Wales are ‘damaged’ by dangerous
Ellis Genge believes a wounded Wales side could pose England serious problems when the old rivals meet in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wales arrive in London on the back of a torrid run that has seen them lose 20 of their last 22 Tests since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while uncertainty continues to swirl around the domestic game in the background.
A number of senior figures are heading across the Severn Bridge next season, with Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright all agreeing moves to English clubs. Others, including Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Dafydd Jenkins, are already playing their club rugby in the Premiership.
Bookmakers have installed Wales as heavy outsiders, with odds as long as 28-1 quoted on an away win. But England prop Genge has warned against writing them off.
“Sometimes when there is a lot of stuff behind the scenes it can bring you together and, for them, there is no better fixture than England v Wales,” he said.
“Although there has been a bit of turmoil over the last 12 months and a lot of tough discussions behind the scenes, everyone knows that a Wales team who are a bit damaged, coming to Twickenham, is not going to be an easy game by any means.”
New head coach Steve Tandy takes charge of his first Six Nations campaign, having previously overseen Scotland’s defence, and Genge feels Wales’ recent results do not tell the full story.
A 73-0 hammering by world champions South Africa in the autumn grabbed headlines, but that fixture fell outside World Rugby’s international window, meaning several first-choice players were unavailable.
Genge believes Wales’ performance against New Zealand the week before, when they were within three points of the All Blacks after 50 minutes before eventually losing 52-26, is a more accurate reflection of their level.
“You have got to pay them their respect,” he added. “With a full outfit they were brilliant against New Zealand for 50 or 60 minutes, so they have definitely got it.
“We will welcome it with open arms. I am sure they are beating the drum this week saying they need to do x, y and z, but we both know what it will be when we cross the line on Saturday.”
Cuthbert picks his Wales team
Former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has selected his team to take on England at Twickenham this weekend and there are some eye-catching calls in his starting XV.
With Wales looking to make a statement across the border, Cuthbert has opted for a blend of proven internationals and emerging talent in key positions, publishing his team on Sportin Wales’ social media channels.
At full-back, he restores Louis Rees-Zammit, backing the Gloucester flyer to provide a cutting edge on the counter-attack.
On the wings, Tom Rogers and Josh Adams get the nod, offering a mix of work-rate and finishing ability, while Eddie James partners Ben Thomas in midfield, a combination designed to bring physicality and distribution against England’s defensive line.
Cuthbert selects Dan Edwards at fly-half, handing the Ospreys playmaker the responsibility of steering Wales around Twickenham, with the experienced Tomos Williams alongside him at scrum-half.
Up front, there is plenty of Test know-how.
Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake and Tomas Francis form the front row, with captain Dafydd Jenkins joined by Adam Beard in the second row.
The back row sees Olly Cracknell at blindside, Alex Mann at openside and Aaron Wainwright at No 8.
Alex Cuthbert’s XV to play England: Louis Rees-Zammit; Tom Rogers, Eddie James, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis; Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard; Olly Cracknell, Alex Mann, Aaron Wainwright.
Six Nations gets under way
The wait is over. The Six Nations returns tonight with a blockbuster opener as France host Ireland in Paris (8.10pm kick-off).
Two of the tournament heavyweights collide under the lights at the Stade de France, with both sides harbouring genuine title ambitions.
France will look to lay down an early marker on home soil, while Ireland arrive intent on spoiling the party and building momentum from the outset.
The action continues on Saturday afternoon, when Italy welcome Scotland to Rome (2.10pm). Scotland will target a strong start against an Italian side eager to prove they are no longer the championship’s perennial underdogs.
Then attention turns to Twickenham, where England face Wales at 4.40pm in one of rugby’s fiercest rivalries.