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Cardiff players watch a replay of the incident on the big screen (Image: Getty Images)
These are your latest rugby headlines on Thursday, April 9.
Wales internationals address on-field ‘mockery’
Former Wales internationals James Hook and Richie Rees have weighed in on the controversial endings to Cardiff and the Ospreys‘ respective Challenge Cup defeats over the weekend, with the latter describing one of the incidents as a “mockery”.
Cardiff crashed out of Europe after losing 38-35 to Benetton, with a last-gasp attempt to force their way over for a winning try falling short. As they hammered away at the Italian side’s line in the closing stages, Corniel van Zyl’s side thought they had gone over before Alex Mann knocked the ball on, allowing Benetton to break away.
Despite a lengthy discussion with referee Kevin Bralley, on-field captain Ben Thomas was left aggrieved that the official didn’t even check with the TMO if either Rory Thornton or Lucas de la Rua had grounded the ball prior to Mann’s knock-on, and head coach van Zyl admitted after the game that the result was “tough to take”.
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Meanwhile, the Ospreys suffered heartbreak as they crashed out of the tournament with a defeat to Ulster, with the Welsh side denied a late match-winning try.
Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy looked to have secured a last-gasp score to take Mark Jones’ team through to the quarter-finals, but TMO David Rose stepped in to ask referee Anthony Woodthorpe to look at a potential forward pass from Owen Watkin in the build-up. While video evidence suggested it was very much a marginal call, Woodthorpe agreed with his TMO and the try was ruled out.
Now, both Hook and Rees have had their say on the two incidents, with the latter not impressed with how the ending to Cardiff’s game was handled by the referee.
“He struggled a little bit all game, the referee, Kevin Bralley, I’m not sure how experienced he was,” Rees said on the Scrum V podcast.
“During the game, he was having a lot of discussion with the players, there was probably a lot of indecisiveness around some of his decisions and it was a little bit of a mockery, that final two-minute discussion on the field. But he’s got to a point where he’s let that happen.
“Cardiff clearly wanted something checked didn’t they, and the scrappiness in the lead up to where the game finished hasn’t helped the scenario. But the way he as a referee dealt with it… Belcher had a really good relationship before he went off the field. Ben Thomas took over as captain then and I think Ben was trying to get across the fact that he wanted something else checked to what they were showing on the big screen.
“But you can never get into that dialogue as a referee and probably as a captain where across 120 seconds, you’re going back and forth discussing points of ‘did this happen, did that happen, can we see another video angle of a different play?’. Because ultimately you’re taking all that responsibility away from the officials then.”
Weighing in, Hook said: “You’ve got to go back and look at it, I don’t understand. The Ratave try, Belcher went up to the referee and asked if he could have a look at an obstruction.
“The referee said yep, he asked the TMO and they had a look at it. If he [the referee] had done that, there would have been no issue. If they hadn’t scored, it would have been case closed.”
Rees added: “I think that’s where a little bit of inexperience of a referee comes into play. He’s made a non-decision, hasn’t he. He didn’t want to make a decision either way, because it was an impactful decision.
“That’s where the frustration lies, and that’s where the frustration has come from Ben Thomas, the management, the players and the supporters.”
As for the Ospreys controversy – which has seen former referee Owen Doyle accuse the match officials of going against protocol – Hook said: “You see so many of those passes where nothing happens. Momentum, relative velocity… you’ve passed the ball and it has gone forward but the hands went sideways.
“It didn’t help that Owen Watkin got tackled as he passed, which made it look a little more forward than it was. But you talk about the Cardiff v Benetton game, that Menoncello second try, that’s forward then, definitely.
“There’s so many of those passes that go unmissed and obviously the TMO has come in at the end, probably rightly so, and say you should have a look at it, but I think it’s harsh, very harsh.”
Rees added: “The bug bear of mine is when the TMO comes in with a leading question, that is something he’s picked up. Nobody referenced that in the stadium as it happened, there was no reaction from players, from fans.
“For me, you have to give the benefit of doubt to the attacking team, in that instance. It’s such a marginal call. Unless it’s clear and obvious, for me, leave it alone.”
England team-mates make big announcement
Women’s Rugby World Cup winners Rosie Galligan and Marlie Packer have announced that they are expecting a baby together.
The England and Saracens team-mates, who were both part of the Red Roses squad that lifted the trophy on home soil last year, got engaged last summer and have now confirmed that Galligan is set to give birth in October.
They made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, writing: “You are already so loved…Baby Packer due October 2026 and your mummies and big brother can’t wait to meet you.”
Galligan is the fourth England women’s player to announce they are expecting a baby this year.
The 27-year-old lock – who has 31 Test caps – follows Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford and Bristol paid Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward in announcing their pregnancies.
Packer, who also lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup with England in 2014, already has a five-year-old son named Oliver.
The 36-year-old has 112 caps for England after making her international debut back in 2008.
Furbank makes PREM switch
England international George Furbank has joined Harlequins from fellow PREM Rugby side Northampton Saints..
The 29-year-old full-back has spent his entire senior career with Northampton, helping them to lift the league title in 2024, five years after also winning the PREM Rugby Cup with the Franklin’s Gardens side.
Furbank – who has 14 caps for England – was also named Saints captain ahead of last season, guiding the team to the Champions Cup final that year.
However, he has now decided to move on to pastures new, with Harlequins confirming on Wednesday that he will move to The Stoop ahead of next season.
“George is one of the PREM’s top talents, and we’re excited to be signing a player of his calibre from next season,” said Quins head coach Jason Gilmore.
“He’s someone we’ve admired for a long time – a player who is composed under pressure, instinctive in broken play, and brings a natural attacking flair that aligns perfectly with how we want to play. His ability to see space before others and step in as a second playmaker will add real quality to our squad.
“Beyond his play, George is a proven leader who will add invaluable experience and an understanding of what it takes to win trophies to our squad,” Gilmore added.
“George also has a strong ambition to return to the Test arena with England heading into a World Cup year, and we’re really looking forward to seeing the impact he’ll make here at The Stoop.”
As his move was confirmed, Furbank said: ““I’m incredibly excited to be joining Harlequins next season. The Stoop is a brilliant place to play – it always has a great atmosphere.
“I think the group of lads here are an incredibly talented bunch, you look at the individuals and the collective – it’s a group you want to be a part of. Speaking to Gilly [Gilmore], we have a very similar philosophy and outlook on how we want to play rugby. There is a lot here that is exciting for me.
“I have been at Saints since I was 14-15 years old so it will be a different challenge,” he added. “But I am keen to step out of my comfort zone. I am hoping playing with a new group and under new coaching staff is going to be refreshing and take my game to a new level.”
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