![\"Bristol](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_GettyImages-2237859819.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond today<\/p>\n
Bristol Bears’ Joe Jenkins(Image: 2025 CameraSport)<\/p>\n
These are your rugby headlines on Wednesday, April 1.<\/p>\n
Wales target Jenkins joins Leicester<\/p>\n
Welsh-qualified centre Joe Jenkins has signed for Leicester Tigers, the English PREM club have announced. Jenkins is seen as a huge talent and is a player the Welsh Rugby Union have been monitoring for year.<\/p>\n
The former England U20s centre was born in Halifax but is eligible to represent Wales through his father, who is from Llanharan. He has impressed during his 33 appearances for Bristol Bears but his progression has been curtailed by injury problems.<\/p>\n
Jenkins went to Monmouth School<\/a> and was initially involved with the Dragons before being picked up up by Bristol. He became the Bears’ youngest ever starter in the Gallagher Premiership against Saracens in November 2022, aged just 18.<\/p>\n Leicester head coach Geoff Parling said: \u201cJoe is a big powerful body with huge potential. He made his starting PREM debut at just 18 and whilst he has consistently performed well, he knows that there is much more to come from him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been open in that we are looking to move the ball more and Joe will add another dimension, whilst also being a great age to build understanding and cohesion with our current young and exciting back line.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenkins said: \u201cHaving met with Geoff, it was clear that moving to Leicester was the correct rugby move for me to develop further as a player. I believe the way that Geoff wants his centres to play will suit my style of play.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited about the coming seasons and playing a big part in future success at Leicester.\u201d<\/p>\n He joins fellow Wales internationals Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell and Aaron Wainwright at the club next season.<\/p>\n Back in 2023 the-then Wales U20s head coach Byron Hayward said Jenkins wanted to wear red at senior international level.<\/p>\n “I spoke to Joe’s dad back in November because he is definitely a player we are interested in,” revealed Hayward.<\/p>\n “He said Joe felt obligated to England because he’d come through their U18s programme, and they had rehabbed him through a knee injury which is totally explainable. I understand and quite admire his loyalty.<\/p>\n “He is 100% Welsh and assured me that Joe wants to play for Wales at senior level and sees himself as a Welshman. However, at this moment in time he felt a loyalty to England because they’ve looked after him.”<\/p>\n WRU EGM decision<\/p>\n Welsh rugby clubs will meet later today to decide whether to continue with the planned EGM on April 13. The crunch meeting had been called in a bid to oust WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood and halt the union’s plans to restructure the Welsh game.<\/p>\n However, following Friday’s announcement Collier-Keywood will step down in July<\/a>, it is understood the request for the EGM could now be pulled. The other part of the same motion to remove Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall had already been made redundant after he stepped down last month. You can read the inside story on how Collier-Keywood was forced out here.<\/a><\/p>\n Two other motions around how council members are selected to the 12-strong WRU board are still on the table but require 75% of the vote to pass.<\/p>\n Central Glamorgan Union (CGU), who led the push for an EGM, will meet to discuss options on Wednesday. They had also been calling for a pause to the WRU’s plans to cut the number of professional sides from four to three.<\/p>\n The WRU board’s intentions around that proposal remain unclear, but the entire board backed them and CEO Abi Tierney is adamant the plan is the best one for Welsh rugby. Collier-Keywood’s departure is likely to lead to a period of reflection now as a new chair is sought, with little likely to happen until the new person is in place. You can read the latest on the whole situation here.<\/a><\/p>\n CGU must decide now whether to continue with the EGM or halt the proceedings and see how things develop. There is nothing to stop an EGM being called in the future if enough clubs remain unhappy with how the situation develops from here.<\/p>\n Springbok to miss Wales game<\/p>\n RG Snyman has suffered a devastating ACL injury, ruling the Springbok out of the majority of 2026.<\/p>\n Snyman ruptured the ACL in his right knee in Leinster’s game against Glasgow Warriors. He has suffered two ACL ruptures in the past, although the current injury is to the other leg.<\/p>\n He will now miss South Africa’s summer schedule in the Nations Championship, including the Test with Wales in Durban.<\/p>\n With the timeframe for ACL injuries ranging from six to nine months, the autumn could also be a push for the 31-year-old to return to action.<\/p>\n “It’s devastating for us and for him,” Leinster’s Jacques Nienaber said at Tuesday’s news conference.<\/p>\n “He had a couple [of ACL injuries] when he was with Munster, but he has shown [he can come back from injury] over and over.”<\/p>\n It’s a huge blow for Leinster coach Leo Cullen, who will be without the double World Cup winner for their Champions Cup round-of-16 clash with Edinburgh Rugby at the Aviva Stadium this Sunday and the remainder of the URC and European campaigns.<\/p>\n Itoje backs Borthwick<\/p>\n England captain Maro Itoje has thrown his backing behind under pressure Steve Borthwick and says the buck stops with the players on the field.<\/p>\n