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Jamie Roberts working for S4C.(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news from Wales and around the world<\/p>\n
08:27, 18 Oct 2025Updated 08:28, 18 Oct 2025<\/p>\n
Jamie Roberts working for S4C.(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\n
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, October 18.<\/p>\n
Former players respond to Lyn Jones’ Dragons comments<\/p>\n
Former Dragons players Jamie Roberts and Andrew Coombs have criticised Lyn Jones’ comments on the Rodney Parade club, as club coach Filo Tiatia claimed he was unaware of the former coach’s remarks about the club’s future.<\/p>\n
Jones caused a stir on Friday with his comments <\/a>to BBC<\/a> Radio Cymru, in which he said he believed the Welsh Rugby Union would be justified in cutting Dragons if the governing body reduces the number of professional teams.<\/p>\n Those comments were aired on the same day of the Dragons’ Welsh derby against Cardiff<\/a> in Newport<\/a>, with Tiatia’s side losing 24-17 on Friday night.<\/p>\n And the timing was criticised by both Roberts and Coombs during S4C’s coverage of the derby.<\/p>\n “Everyone, players, ex-players, coaches, supporters more than anyone have their opinion on what’s going to happen to rugby in Wales during the next month and next few years, and he has his opinion,” said current WRU board member Roberts, who called the timing “disrespectful”.<\/p>\n “Tonight’s about celebrating Welsh rugby, we’re hoping for 8,000 fans here tonight and it’s something very special.<\/p>\n “So it’s not the day for discussing that kind of thing.”<\/p>\n Coombs added the timing of Jones’ comments was “disappointing”, saying: “Somebody with Lyn’s experience knows the importance of derbies.<\/p>\n “He knows how important it is for regional players and coaches to focus just on the game. There’s enough going on off the pitch in Welsh rugby at the moment so Lyn didn’t have to say that before this game.<\/p>\n “The players have to concentrate fully on this game. We need some excitement in Wales at the moment and I’m sure this game will give us that excitement tonight.<\/p>\n “The crowd’s out in force, they’re loud and I like what I see here tonight.<\/p>\n “I want to see the Dragons come out tonight and keep Lyn Jones quiet.”<\/p>\n As for Tiatia, he claimed to have not seen the comments.<\/p>\n “I didn’t see it or read it,” he said afterwards. “He’s my old Ospreys<\/a> coach.<\/p>\n “He’s coached here. Everyone is fighting for a job. Particularly these players here, they’re trying to put performances forward and win games. We fell short today. There were areas that we need to keep improving and that’s what we’re going to do.”<\/p>\n Cardiff not getting carried away after topping league<\/p>\n While it was a tough night for the Dragons, Cardiff went top of the United Rugby Championship with victory in Newport.<\/p>\n The club have dealt with former head coach Matt Sherratt’s departure well, winning three of their opening four matches to lift them to the top of the league.<\/p>\n “Just happy with the result tonight,” said coach Corniel van Zyl afterwards. “It’s a derby and you want to get on the right side of that.<\/p>\n “It was a tough one and we ground it out, similar to last week. It probably wasn’t our most entertaining style, but it doesn’t matter.<\/p>\n “To be honest with you, our attack probably wasn’t the best. Credit to the Dragons, they defended well. Sometimes that happens. We just need to try get it better and score some tries.”<\/p>\n When asked about their healthy position in the table, van Zyl added: “Definitely, but let’s not get carried away. We’ll take it again Monday and keep on building to next weekend.”<\/p>\n Shamed winger to miss autumn clash<\/p>\n Disgraced former Scotland international Rufus McLean will not play for America in their match against Scotland at Murrayfield next month, despite being named in the USA’s squad for the autumn.<\/p>\n The winger will not feature following concerns over his involvement in the game. McLean left Scottish rugby in 2023 after his club Glasgow Warriors terminated his contract after he pleaded guilty in court to domestic abuse against his girlfriend.<\/p>\n At the time, Glasgow stated that his actions “constituted gross misconduct and breach of contract”.<\/p>\n McLean had admitted to abusing his then girlfriend for almost two years, eventually being sentenced to 120 hours of community service.<\/p>\n McLean had won three caps for Scotland prior to this, but has since switched allegiance to the nation of his birth – having been born in Boston.<\/p>\n The Daily Mail had initially reported McLean wouldn’t feature against Scotland, with USA Rugby confirming that with a statement.<\/p>\n “USA Rugby is aware of Rufus\u2019 history, and appreciates the impact the November 1st match may have on the situation and those involved,” read the statement.<\/p>\n “After internal discussion, consideration with Scottish Rugby and with respect to all parties, Rufus will not participate or be present at the match.”<\/p>\n Boston-born McLean, who won three caps for Scotland and scored twice on his debut against Tonga in 2021, was sacked by Glasgow Warriors after pleading guilty to the charge in 2023.<\/p>\n He was eventually sentenced to 120 hours of community service and banned from contacting Ms Haston for 10 years.<\/p>\n Gloucester in \u2018dire straights\u2019 after suffering more injury woe in Bristol defeat<\/p>\n By PA Sport Staff<\/p>\n Gloucester boss George Skivington was left counting the cost of a fourth successive Gallagher Prem defeat and more worrying injuries following a 49-34 loss against Bristol at Kingsholm.<\/p>\n Gloucester had a double-figure injury count before kick-off, but then saw Ollie Thorley carried off after just five minutes before his fellow wing Ben Loader and captain James Venter both suffered hamstring problems.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t got an explanation for it,\u201d rugby director Skivington said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s your worst case? And it has happened.<\/p>\n \u201cOllie looked pretty bad \u2013 I think he knocked himself out. Ben Loader hurt his hamstring, I don\u2019t know how badly. James Venter hurt his hamstring.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, isn\u2019t it? We are up to 19-20 players (sidelined) now. I honestly haven\u2019t got an answer. We are in dire straits for numbers now, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will look at ourselves, and it is how we manage ourselves through this spell. Management-wise it is a headache, emotionally it is a headache because this isn\u2019t where we wanted to be, four games in.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the boys looked more connected than they have done the last few weeks, but with the injuries it is just challenging. What could go wrong is going wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pressure is always on, but you just live under pressure whatever you are doing. It\u2019s more working out what we are going to do and finding a solution \u2013 that is the real management challenge at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cExeter away next Saturday, seriously depleted, we have got to work out a smart way of playing to try and get whatever we can out of that game.\u201d<\/p>\n The west country derby clash produced 12 tries, but Bristol made it three wins out of four thanks to doubles from Gabriel Oghre and Kalaveti Ravouvou, while Fitz Harding, Viliame Mata and Sam Worsley also crossed, with Worsley adding seven conversions for a 19-point haul.<\/p>\n Gloucester conjured five tries of their own \u2013 Will Joseph, Matias Alemanno, Seb Blake, Josiah Edwards-Giraud and Venter crossing \u2013 with Ross Byrne kicking three conversions and a penalty.<\/p>\n But Skivington\u2019s team were once again left wondering what might have been, as a winning touch continued to elude them.<\/p>\n Bristol\u2019s absentees included Louis Rees-Zammit, Ellis Genge and a suspended Tom Jordan, and they fielded only one member of the back division that started their Prem season opener against Leicester just 19 days ago.<\/p>\n Bristol rugby director Pat Lam said: \u201cI am really proud of this group. We are adjusting and adapting with players out and new players coming in. We have reshaped the schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cI am blowing the whistle a lot at training, which I don\u2019t normally do, because I don\u2019t want any more injuries. There are a few boys in pink bibs, which means don\u2019t touch them.<\/p>\n \u201cTo get five points here against a dangerous side was pleasing. I feel for George because he has had a lot of injuries as well, and we both know what each other is going through.\u201d<\/p>\n * Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here<\/a> and our WhatsApp channel here<\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on social media on our X account<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok.<\/a><\/p>\n For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.<\/a><\/p>\n