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Taulupe Faletau of Cardiff is tackled by George Hendy of Northampton(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Wednesday, October 21.
Welsh rugby match postponed after tragedy
A Welsh rugby match has been postponed following the sudden death of RGC player Jack Davies at the age of 24.
RGC confirmed their home fixture against Swansea on Saturday would not go ahead as a mark of respect following the devastating news of his passing.
In a statement posted on X, the club said: “Following the sad passing of Jack Davies, Saturday’s home fixture against Swansea has been postponed as a mark of respect.
“Jack was part of the RGC family, and our thoughts remain firmly with his family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him during this time.”
Tributes have poured in from across Welsh rugby following Davies’ death, with the Welsh Rugby Union and a host of clubs expressing their condolences.
RGC’s Jack Davies has died
Davies joined Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon at the age of 12 before progressing through the RGC pathway.
He later studied Physical Education and Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University, spending three years at the institution before returning to north Wales and re-joining the senior squads at Caernarfon and RGC in 2023.
His clubs described his death as a devastating loss, with thoughts across the Welsh rugby community remaining with his family, friends and teammates.
Van Zyl: There’s a good plan in place for Taulupe Faletau
Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl has spoken about the need to manage Taulupe Faletau after Wales head coach Steve Tandy refused to rule the legendary No. 8 out of a fourth World Cup next year.
The 35-year-old made his first appearance on the weekend since March, looking like he had never been away. However, injuries have hit the two-time Lion hard in recent seasons.
In his absence, Taine Basham has earned a Wales recall after featuring at No. 8 for the Blue and Blacks.
“Look, both of them (Faletau and Basham) need to be managed,” said van Zyl. “Toby is obviously in a very specific place in his career.
“So, with him, it’s more valuable to have him in some games, but potentially not all the games. There’s a good plan in place. Obviously, plans never never work out the way you want, but it is a good plan, I believe, to get as much game time for him to push on and ask questions with the selectors.
“Probably this block didn’t work out the way we wanted. As we know, he was selected for Leinster, but didn’t play. And then he would have probably not have played the week after that, so it just worked out the other way round, almost. So, hopefully he will be he’ll be up and ready to go in a week’s time.”
Van Zyl also revealed that versatile back Jacob Beetham is facing a few weeks on the sidelines, after Tandy had namechecked him as a player who had missed out on the autumn squad through injury.
“With Jake, unfortunately he got injured in that Leinster game. He went up for high ball, and then just came down in an awkward position. So he’ll be out for a few weeks. It’s unfortunate because he was also in really good form.”
Maro Itoje in talks over Saracens deal amid France interest
Maro Itoje is in talks over extending his Saracens contract, with interest from France potentially threatening to bring his England career to an end.
The England captain’s current deal expires after next year’s Rugby World Cup, with the second row set to turn 33 by the end of the tournament. To get the latest rugby news from WalesOnline in your search results, click here to add WalesOnline as a preferred source on Google
Saracens are hopeful of keeping their long-serving captain, but face competition from the French Top 14, where Bordeaux-Begles and Perpignan are reportedly among the clubs monitoring his situation.
A move overseas would put Itoje’s international future in doubt, with the Rugby Football Union currently operating a policy of not selecting players based outside England.
Itoje has won 102 England caps since making his debut in the 2016 Six Nations and has been a central figure for his country throughout the past decade.
He has spent his entire senior career at Saracens, including remaining with the club during their season in the Championship following their punishment for salary cap breaches.
The financial strength of French rugby could pose a challenge for Saracens, with the Top 14’s headline salary cap standing at €11m (£9.2m), compared with £6.4m in the English Premiership.
However, Saracens could use their marquee player allowance to help compete with overseas offers, while Itoje would also remain eligible for a central England contract worth around £150,000 a year if he stays in the domestic game.
The debate over England’s overseas selection policy has intensified in recent months, with former captain Courtney Lawes and current leadership group member Ellis Genge among those to call for a change.
Itoje’s decision could prove significant as England build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia, with the end of a World Cup cycle traditionally providing an opportunity for international players to consider moves abroad.