The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Gregor Townsend (left) and new Wales coach Steve Tandy (right) on Lions coaching duty in 2021. (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
These are your latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, August 26.
Six Nations bosses urged to make ‘brave’ change
England legend Brian Moore has urged tournament bosses to “be brave” in expanding international rugby’s top table and ensure that there is a “guaranteed pathway” for Tier 2 sides to make a step up to the world’s biggest Test competitions. Moore’s comments come in the wake of surprise wins for Australia and Argentina in the Rugby Championship, with the tournament now wide open after they beat South Africa and New Zealand respectively.
Such a shake-up has led the former hooker to make comparisons between the southern hemisphere competition and the Six Nations, as he said that those at the top of the game must show that they are prepared to “open the game to more than its traditional masters”.
Talk of incorporating smaller nations into the Six Nations is nothing new, of course, with Georgia pushing for involvement in the top northern hemisphere competition in recent years.
Their head coach Richard Cockerill has gone as far as saying that his side have “earned the right” to face struggling Wales in a play-off match to decide which side should take part in the competition, while there has long been debate over the merits of a potential relegation/ promotion system.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Moore has given his take on the situation, saying that the ongoing shake-up in results in the Rugby Championship should be welcomed, and that World Rugby must be bold and brave in their decision making, particularly amid the “potentially existential threat” posed by the proposed R360 rebel league.
Pointing to Argentina’s progress over the last decade, he wrote that the Pumas “have gone from the inevitable whipping boys of the Rugby Championship to a side that is capable of competing on a level with their opponents…
“None of this has been by luck,” he added. “Rather, it has been through hard work by the Pumas and with the benefit of guaranteed fixtures against tier-one opponents over an extended period, irrespective of their instant results.”
“Therein lies a lesson for World Rugby. If they are serious about extending rugby’s top table, they must be brave enough to create a guaranteed pathway from tier two to tier one, via the world’s top two international competitions, the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship.
“Whatever form that pathway takes – for example, play-offs every three years – only creating formal progression based on results will enable the subsidiary tournaments that presently lie under those premier tournaments to be viable.”
Moore continued “[World Rugby] showing it is prepared to open the game to more than its traditional masters will go some way to exposing the naked commerciality of the R360 challenge. This sort of change also takes time, but first it requires the bravery to admit that the problem exists.
“World Rugby has shown little interest in pursuing this seriously due to vested interests from traditional unions who believe they are owed a perpetual place at the highest levels of rugby because of their history.”
Townsend tipped for exit
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has reportedly emerged as a target for Newcastle Red Bulls, with the newly taken-over side on the hunt for a “world class” director of rugby.
The Premiership club’s takeover by the energy drinks giant was confirmed earlier this month and has already seen a number of impressive signings made, with Christian Wade and Australia international Darby Lancaster also set to join the growing squad.
However, the new owners are not just looking at recruitment on the pitch, but off it too, with an experienced figurehead to lead the club’s coaching staff reportedly on their wishlist.
According to a report by the Telegraph, Townsend is thought by multiple sources to fit that brief and he has now been tipped to make the switch to club rugby when his contract with the Scottish Rugby Union expires after next year’s Six Nations.
Last month, the 52-year-old said that he was likely to begin negotiations over a contract extension with SRU CEO Alex Williamson, but chose not to answer when he was asked if he wanted to be in charge after the 2026 Six Nations.
If Townsend were to exit, it would be another blow to Scotland’s coaching staff, with Steve Tandy leaving his role as defence coach to become Wales’ new head coach.
The latest reports will also likely be of interest to Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith, who was linked with the Wales job himself and made no secret of his desire to one day return to international rugby. His current deal with Glasgow expires next summer.
Morgan backed to star for Lions in New Zealand
Former Wales fly-half James Hook believes Jac Morgan will only go from strength to strength ahead of the next British and Irish Lions tour in New Zealand.
The Wales captain ended up as the lone Welshman Down Under following Tomos Williams’ injury, but proved an important part of Andy Farrell’s squad against the Wallabies with cameos off the bench in the second and third Tests.
And Hook believes that the way he flew the flag for Wales will stand him in good stead in four years time.
“Jac is already an outstanding player and captain of club and country, but he’s still learning and will only get better and better with these incredible experiences,” 2009 tourist Hook told the Rugby Paper. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“The whole of Wales would have been proud of how well he performed in Australia. I was certainly chuffed to see him come on and earn his first cap in the second Test. It was a magical moment for him and his family.
“He took to the whole thing like a duck to water, just as he has done so with Wales. It’s all second nature to him. He seems to thrive on the big occasion and is so often a standout player whether the team wins or loses. He always has a huge impact on the game with his energy, power and real enthusiasm.
“There was a bit of pressure with just him and Tomos the only two players we had in the squad. And it was a huge shame for Tomos to be injured like he was. But Jac grabbed his chance when it came, and did enough to prove he deserved his place in the squad.
“You can never look too far into the future because a lot can happen, especially with injuries in rugby. But if he carries on playing as well as he is, and developing his game, there’s absolutely no reason why he cannot follow it up with the Lions in New Zealand in four years’ time.”