The latest rugby news headlines from Wales and beyond today
Max Llewellyn of Gloucester in action (Image: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
Here are your rugby headlines on Sunday, June 7.
Wales centre outstanding as Gloucester seal Champions Cup place
Max Llewellyn put down a marker ahead of Wales’ Nations Cup campaign this summer with an outstanding individual performance as Gloucester thrashed Newcastle Red Bulls 54-21 at Kingsholm.
The 27-year-old missed the Six Nations through injury but on this evidence will be pushing hard for a place in Steve Tandy’s starting XV against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium next month.
Llewellyn scored two tries for the Cherry & Whites and he set up a further two as Gloucester booked their place in next season’s Investec Champions Cup. Win free tickets to watch Fiji v Wales in Cardiff this summer
The Wales centre looked extremely powerful throughout with his explosiveness getting the home side over the gain-line while some deft handling from the former Cardiff centre also helped unlock the Newcastle defence.
With Bath centre Louie Hennessey out injured Llewellyn will compete with the likes of Eddie James, Bryn Bradley and Joe Roberts for a place in the starting XV.
Wales star’s suffers final heartache
Tomas Francis suffered heartache as his Provence side lost 18-14 to Vannes to see the Pro D2 title slip through their fingers.
They will now face an access match against USA Perpignan next weekend for a place in the Top 14 next season.
Vannes will line up next term in France’s top flight after a narrow victory and marks an immediate return following relegation last season.
But their promotion was thoroughly deserved, having dominated this season, losing just five times across the entire campaign.
As for Francis, he will hope to leave the club on a high and achieve promotion via the access match before he leaves France for a return to the UK.
He has signed a deal with English Premiership side Sale Sharks after three years in Provence.
Francis has been given the summer off Wales duty as Steve Tandy looks to preserve him for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Leinster book final spot
By Anthony Brown, Press Association
Leinster held on to book a return to the United Rugby Championship Grand Final with a hard-fought 20-11 win over Stormers at the Aviva Stadium.
The champions were pegged back after opening up an early 13-0 lead but the South Africans were undone by their own indiscipline.
The visitors had Ruan Ackermann sent off and Salmaan Moerat sinbinned in the second half before Jamison Gibson-Park settled an ill-tempered contest – during which a scuffle broke out in the tunnel at half-time – with a late try.
Leinster had made a strong start with Rieko Ioane crossing on eight minutes and Sam Prendergast converting and adding two penalties.
Stormers responded after Andrew Porter was forced off through injury and reduced the deficit to five points as Andre Smith crashed over from close range and Jurie Matthee landed a penalty.
Stormers survived Leolin Zas’ sinbinning, and a further Matthee penalty brought them back within two as they dominated after the break, but Ackermann was then shown a yellow card – later upgraded to red on review – for a dangerous challenge on Ronan Kelleher.
Gibson-Park regathered after the ball was kicked out his hands by Moerat to race under the posts and seal victory nine minutes from time.
Moerat was then sin-binned for his cynical play in the build-up and the hosts saw out the closing stages.
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