Tonight's rugby news as Wales captain replaced in major shake-up and Maro Itoje makes demands
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Maro Itoje takes part in a gym session during the British & Irish Lions training camp
(Image: Getty Images )
These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, June 18.
Wales captain replaced
Wales Women head coach Sean Lynn has announced he will be appointing a new captain ahead of his side's summer tour of Australia and the 2025 Rugby World Cup campaign, with centre Hannah Jones being replaced in the role. The former Gloucester-Hartpury boss endured a disappointing first campaign in charge of the national side as they failed to win a single game at this year's Six Nations, finishing with the wooden spoon for the second year in a row.
That disappointing run has seen Swansea-born Lynn more motivated than ever to drive much-needed change within the squad and transform the culture around it as well as improving performances on the pitch.
Selecting a new captain, he says, is part of that process and means that Jones - who has won 65 caps for her country - will no longer be skipper moving forward. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
She was handed the captaincy ahead of the 2023 Six Nations, when Wales finished third in the table.
However, her side have gone on to finish bottom of the following tournaments and, after also dealing with a messy contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union last year, the 28-year-old is set to be replaced.
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'This is a new chapter for the team, and I am determined to drive the change we need with the squad, coaches and staff so that we build real success on solid foundations," said Lynn.
'A new Wales captain is part of this process, and we have some candidates, but they need to prove that they have the qualities to lead the national side.
'Hannah Jones has done a really professional job in challenging circumstances that have been well documented, but we will call for a fresh voice in a deliberate move to grow the leadership within the squad.
'Hannah remains a valued and senior member of the squad. We have enjoyed great success together at club level and I want us to do the same at international level."
The Wales boss added: 'I made it clear when I was appointed by the WRU that this was the job I always wanted and I needed the mandate to create a new team culture, to drive standards and challenge coaches, players and staff to build a team to make the nation proud.
'That is something we will all do together, and developing more leaders is one of many steps on that journey.'
Itoje lays out Lions demands
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Maro Itoje wants his British and Irish Lions squad to be defined by toughness, unity and energy as they target a triumphant tour of Australia.
Itoje's third Lions expedition is also his first as captain after an impressive Six Nations in charge of England propelled him into one of the most revered posts in the game, previously occupied by greats such as Martin Johnson, Willie John McBride and John Dawes.
For almost a decade the 30-year-old second row has set the tone for England's physicality up-front, but he knows brute strength alone will not be enough to shape players drawn from four rival countries into a cohesive force.
'I want this Lions squad to be tough. I look at our forwards and I see a group of tough men,' Itoje said.
'I want us to be tight, that's a huge thing. I want us to be an incredibly tight group of players that have each other's back.
'And regardless of who plays and regardless of which combinations, I want us to play with the passion, energy and zeal you'd expect of a Lions squad. I think that's what the fans would expect of us.
'The Lions works when the players are selfless, so to make sure it's a successful tour we all have to be selfless and put the Lions at the forefront of everything we do.
'You have a new family when you're with the Lions. There's a reason why there are four emblems on the badge – because when you get there, this is your new family.
'You're not thinking from an English point of view or a Welsh point of view, you're thinking from a Lions point of view.
'I want the players to enjoy it. This is an incredibly unique experience. Who knows if the guys on this tour will go again?
'There's no way of knowing what will happen in four years' time. So you have to enjoy it.
'You enjoy it by working hard, giving all of yourself to it and being selfless. If we do those things, with the talent we have, it will be a great tour.'
Six Nations unions enter Lions talks
The Welsh Rugby Union have reportedly joined the other Six Nations unions in entering talks with the British & Irish Lions about bundling their TV rights for the next four-year cycle in an effort to entice Sky Sports.
While the rights for the Six Nations between 2026 and 2029 have already been sold to ITV and the BBC in a joint deal, the rights for the new Nations Championship, as well as the 2029 Lions tour to New Zealand, remain up for grabs.
The biennial Nations Championship, which is set to be held for the first time next year, will see the Six Nations sides comprise a 'European Conference' and compete against a 'Rest of the World Conference' which will be made up of the SANZAAR nations, in addition to two invited unions, which are likely to be Fiji and Japan.
According to City AM, Lions bosses have been approached by their counterparts at the unions about selling their respective rights together in a bundle deal.
With Sky holding the exclusive live rights for Lions tours since 1997, the publication says the unions hope that a bundling of the rights could persuade the broadcaster to also bid for the Nations Championship.
However, it remains very possible that the Lions may choose to continue selling their rights on an individual basis, as they have done for nearly 30 years.
Montoya to lead Pumas
By PA Sport Staff
Julian Montoya will lead Argentina against the British and Irish Lions on Friday just six days after starting the Gallagher Premiership final.
Montoya captained Leicester in their 23-21 defeat by Bath at Allianz Stadium but is immediately back in action as the Pumas look to inflict defeat on Andy Farrell's men in the curtain-raiser to their summer tour of Australia.
Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, and Simon Benitez Cruz will make their first appearances for the Pumas if they step off the bench for the non-cap international in Dublin.
Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and Gloucester's Bath-bound full-back Santiago Carreras are among a strong Premiership contingent.
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Argentina were also the warm-up opponents in 2005 when they held Sir Clive Woodward's Lions to a 25-25 draw in Cardiff.
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