The latest rugby news stories from around the world
Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett (R) of New Zealand look on in disappointment after The Rugby Championship humiliation(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, September 14.
Welsh rugby fans stage WRU protest
Pressure has mounted on the Welsh Rugby Union as fans staged a protest at the pre-season friendly between Dragon and Scarlets, with a defiant march now also planned.
Supporters of the two Welsh regions joined together to make a stand against proposals to halve the number of professional clubs in Wales to just two. Scarlets fans now plan to march from the site of the old Stradey Park posts to Parc y Scarlets before the URC opener against Munster next Saturday.
“It’s important to make the WRU aware that supporters aren’t happy with their proposals,” Dan Hallett, chairman of the Dragons Official Supporters Club, told the BBC.
“We will keep these protests going until the end of October when we potentially could have the decision.
“We are the people paying money to watch these teams and some have been doing it for 20-odd years, some even longer with the Scarlets and Cardiff.
“There needs to be some change but the figures don’t add up for their two-team model.
“There has been no accountability, this is a result of many years of chronic mismanagement by the WRU, with their investment in the wrong things and taking money away from the professional game.
“We had fan forum a few weeks ago and not a single person said they would support an east Wales franchise.
“They would either watch community clubs, not bother putting money into Welsh rugby, or go and watch games across the [Severn] Bridge.”
Both Scarlets and Dragons supporters protest(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
“Players come and go but supporters are the fabric of the clubs,” said Helen Davies, Scarlets supporter liaison officer.
“We have got to use our voices, show our support and let the WRU know how passionately we feel about this.
“The majority of our supporters have said that if we were forced into a merger then they would walk away, so a lot of support would be lost.”
The WRU says it welcomes challenges to its proposals, with director of rugby Dave Reddin seemingly suggesting the union is already making adjustments to its initial thought process.
He said: “I don’t want to get ahead of myself or take any shortcuts here, but I can confidently say that our thinking is changing in positive ways as we progress.”
Peel knows Scarlets need to sharpen up
The Dragons ended up coming out on top on the field, winning 33-28 in a nine-try affair.
Afterwards, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel wasn’t too happy with his side’s performance – although he admitted it would hopefully focus their attention ahead of the Munster clash in two weeks’ time.
“It was a scrappy game if I’m honest,” said Peel. “We were guilty of coughing up too much possession.
“Discipline and set-piece, we can definitely improve. We gave the Dragons some soft tries.
“It was one of those games where the fundamentals were lacking and it looked like some of the guys hadn’t played for a long time. We were a bit scrappy.
“When we had intent to move the ball, we did create pressure. But we didn’t have enough pressure.
“I’m disappointed with some areas of the game. I know we need to improve before Munster.
“Games like this narrow the focus, we know we need to sharpen up before Munster, but we are in a good spot, we’ve trained really well over the summer and are ready to go.
All Black ‘physically sick’ after record defeat
New Zealand legend Sir John Kirwan said the record 43-10 defeat to South Africa in Wellington left him wanting to ‘vomit’.
The Springboks dominated the All Blacks in the second-half at Sky Stadium, scoring 36 unanswered points to inflict the heaviest Test defeat in New Zealand’s history.
Speaking to Springbok icon Victor Matfield on Sportscafe Media, Kirwan explained just how much the hammering had affected him.
“I feel physically sick… I want to vomit. South Africa smashed us,” he said. “We didn’t come out at half-time, we just sent someone else out at half-time!”
“The scrum dominated us, the lineout dominated us and we couldn’t catch the high ball. They played an expansive game.
“I thought we had them in the first half because I thought they weren’t going to be able to keep up the pace, because I thought we were really good for 40 minutes.
“They hung in, in the critical times. Kolbe was unbelievable.”
The result has rocked New Zealand rugby, with an inquest under way into the unprecedented capitulation and coach Scott Robertson saying he takes full responsibility.
Former captain Kieran Read said: “You’ve got to look at this All Blacks side and go, okay, there’s something not right there.
“There’s something within that group when you’re able just to leak and leak. Where’s that spine that we want to see?”
Cardiff not getting carried away after Irish win
The other Welsh side in pre-season action on Saturday, Cardiff, enjoyed an impressive victory – beating URC champions Leinster 31-10 in Dublin.
Matt Sherratt’s side were unfortunate to trail 10-5 at the break, having created a number of clearcut opportunities to add to Tom Bowen’s early score.
However, four unanswered tries in the second-half – including two for Wales hooker Evan Lloyd – sealed the victory in Ireland.
“I think we got exactly what we wanted out of that game,” said Sherratt afterwards. “Good, physical workout.
“We probably didn’t finish off enough things in the first-half, but credit to the players, second-half was a really good attitude and we took our chances.
“In attack, out intent and attitude to the game was outstanding. Lots of linebreaks and chances. Second-half, we rounded them off.
“But we talked today about , as you saw today, Cardiff can get excited with the ball, but it’s more without the ball. Can we be tough to beat as well?
“We don’t get too carried away with pre-season games, but it was a good hit-out for us.”