The latest rugby stories in Wales and further afield on Friday, January 30.
Gareth Thomas has been released from the Wales squad for this weekend’s match between Ospreys and Dragons
The rugby stories making headlines in Wales and around the world on Friday, January 30.
Wales release duo for derbies
Wales have released Ospreys duo Reuben Morgan-Williams and Gareth Thomas for their Welsh derby date with the Dragons this weekend.
The scrum-half and loose-head prop will feature at the Brewery Field against the Men of Gwent then head back to Steve Tandy’s training camp.
Morgan-Williams’ return to the ranks is a particular boost for head coach Mark Jones, who was forced to bring in an emergency signing at number nine this week in the shape of Leinster’s Cormac Foley.
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Thomas, meanwhile, hasn’t featured since December due to injury.
“Gareth has not been a million miles away from a return,” said Jones.
“Ourselves, Gareth and Steve felt that some minutes for him would be good, so he will get some this weekend.
“Reuben hasn’t played much due to a shoulder injury so Wales have given us the opportunity to get game time into him.
“They know us very well so have slotted back in and we look forward to them being available.”
The news comes on the day Tandy added Ospreys’ Rhys Davies to his Six Nations squad.
England international backs player strike
Former England and Lions winger Anthony Watson has backed Ospreys players to strike as the future of their club remains shrouded in mystery.
With Ospreys owners Y11 now in talks to buy rivals Cardiff and the WRU adamant that they need to reduce the number of professional clubs in Wales from four to three, the future for the Swansea-based club looks bleak.
Watson feels the players need to do what’s right for them and believes they have been “an afterthought” for too long, adding that if strike action is what is needed, then “that’s the right thing to do”.
“It is not ideal,” he said, speaking to Grosvenor Sport. “The last thing you want going into the Six Nations is all the Ospreys players worried about what happens when they go back to their club instead of focusing on rebuilding this Wales team. Steve Tandy is a brilliant coach, and I think that he’s got a hell of a job on his hands to try and keep the focus on rugby.
“At the end of the day as well, I think the players have got to do what’s right for them because I think for far too many years the players have been the afterthought and they’ve just gone with the flow. So, I think that if striking for the Ospreys boys is what’s necessary, I think that’s the right thing to do.
“On the international front, I think they’re starting to see a few young boys putting up their hands. Ellis Mee looks really good on the wing for instance.
“They’ve got talent in a few different positions, but it’s putting it all together which is tough when you’ve been on the receiving end of some of those results. That game against South Africa was a joke and a risk. It’s a shame because against the All Blacks they looked a much more assured team in themselves.”
MacLeod: Hard work paying off
Dragons coach Dale MacLeod says the Men of Gwent are beginning to see results from their endeavours.
A win on the road still evades Filo Tiatia’s men and they went close against Munster last weekend before they narrowly lost out to the Irish province.
They’ll have another opportunity to cure their travel sickness when they head to Bridgend to face the Ospreys on Saturday night.
MacLeod feels they are close now.
“If we get an outcome this weekend (at Ospreys), I’d say it’s been a successful block for us,” stated MacLeod.
“We’ve definitely grown as a group. It would have been great to get a result last week (at Munster), but you can’t fault the intent of the boys.
“We’re looking forward to getting down to Ospreys and the Brewery Field and showing what we’ve got.
“The boys have been working hard on their game and sometimes it doesn’t always show straight away. Just because you work on it today, doesn’t mean it will work on Saturday.
“We’ve done a lot of good work, and I can’t fault the intent or coachability of the boys. They’ve worked very hard and we’ve had some just about wins. We’ve got to keep growing our game. We‘ve still have a long way to go, don’t get me wrong, but we’re starting to see the fruits of our labour.”
Welsh rugby starlet gets call-up
Scarlets academy youngster Callum Woolley has been called up to make his Great Britain sevens debut in this weekend’s HSBC SVNS event in Singapore.
The 20-year-old has played most of his rugby for Carmarthen Quins in the SRC this season and has now been rewarded with a GB call-up following a training camp in Edinburgh earlier this month.
Great Britain will face Fiji, South Africa and Spain in their pool stage fixtures on Saturday.
Singapore is the third leg of the new-look HSBC SVNS series, which will heads to Perth, Australia, on February 7-8 for the next round.
Mitchell signs new deal
By Edward Elliot, Press Association
England head coach John Mitchell has signed a new contract to lead the team to the 2029 World Cup in Australia.
The 61-year-old guided the Red Roses to World Cup glory on home soil last year following a 33-13 victory over Canada in the final at Twickenham in September.
England are currently on a world-record 25-match winning run and have clinched two Six Nations Grand Slams since Mitchell was appointed in 2023.
“I am pleased to extend my time with the Red Roses,” the 2025 World Rugby coach of the year said in a statement.
“This extension provides continuity across a World Cup cycle and enables the programme to operate with a clear, long-term vision.”
Mitchell will be supported by forwards coach Louis Deacon and defence coach Sarah Hunter, while Lou Meadows is set to depart her role as attack coach.
England’s record points-scorer Emily Scarratt, 35, joins the coaching set-up as “lead attack and backs coach” after calling time on her playing career following last year’s World Cup triumph.
“The past three years have been both challenging and rewarding, delivering success at the highest level while allowing for authenticity of individuals within the Red Roses,” continued Mitchell.
“That period has helped establish strong standards, clarity of purpose, greater connections and a culture that wins.
“This emerging group has the opportunity to continue leading our game globally.
“The immediate focus, however, is 2026. There is a strong sense of unfinished opportunities within the group and that will shape our preparation, training approach and ongoing drive to raise our floor as we build our hunger in dynasty.”
England are set to return to action on April 11 when they host Ireland on the opening weekend of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.