Today's rugby news as future Wales star 'outstanding' and Scarlets hit with play-off blow
Today's rugby news as future Wales star 'outstanding' and Scarlets hit with play-off blow
The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Josh Macleod of Scarlets is tackled by Ryan Woodman of Dragons
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Here are your rugby headlines for Wednesday, May 28.
Future Wales star has been 'outstanding'
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has admitted the club had little choice but to lean heavily on emerging talent Ryan Woodman during a bruising United Rugby Championship campaign dogged by injuries.
The Gwent region endured a torrid season, finishing bottom of the URC table with just two wins and nine points. At the heart of their struggles was a crippling injury list, with around 20 players unavailable for large parts of the campaign.
That situation forced Tiatia and his coaching staff to turn to the academy ranks to fill the gaps — a move that saw several young players thrown in at the deep end. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Among them was 21-year-old Ryan Woodman, who featured in 18 of the team's 22 matches, six of those in the second row despite his preferred role being blindside flanker.
The Caldicot product nonetheless impressed throughout the season, capping off his breakthrough year by being named the Dragons' Young Player of the Year.
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'Ryan was outstanding and people sometimes forget that he is only 21,' said Tiatia of the forward.
'He played out of position a lot this season and we tried to manage his physical development and game load, but injuries meant we were forced to play him more than we planned. He's great to work with because he just wants to improve every day.'
The former Wales U20s flanker has been tipped as a future Wales star and is one of the most promising talents in the Welsh game, with Byron Hayward saying he is certain he will feature for the senior side at the next World Cup.
'Phenomenal' Davies ruled out of play-off
Former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies is unlikely to feature in the Scarlets' URC play-off clash with Leinster this weekend.
The Scarlets travel to Dublin this weekend to take on the Irish province, but they'll be without one of their most consistent performers.
Davies, who retired from Test duty last year, has been a constant in the Scarlets side this year, but was forced to fly back from South Africa early after picking up an injury.
His absence means Archie Hughes is in line to start once again, having worn the nine jersey in their final game of the season against the Sharks in Durban.
"He's going to struggle to make it this weekend, to be honest," said Peel of Davies. "He's been phenomenal this year.
"I think he's played the most this year since he's joined. At the young age of 34, he's been an outstanding operator for us this year.
"I think Archie has proven his worth over the last two games for us. That's exciting for me.
"Archie coming on against the Lions, we were in a tough spot when he came on and it was a big, big, big game for him. Against the Sharks as well, he showed he's got the quality.
"It bodes well for the future. We've spoken a lot about Archie in the last two years and he's taken his time this season.
"We've seen some steady growth in his game and these last two weeks, he's been excellent for us.
"I think he'd push if there were any more games (after Saturday). He was running this morning. One thing I know about him is he won't quit.
"If there's a sniff of him having a chance to play, he'll give it everything to do that. We'll see on that, but we're comfortable of where we're at with our other nines."
Thankfully, Davies is the only injury concern for the Scarlets beyond long-term absentees like Max Douglas.
Leinster have been hit with their own injury blows, with Ireland stars Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw ruled out. However, they are set to welcome back Jordan Larmour after five months out injured.
Saracens boss quizzed on Farrell rumours
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Saracens boss Mark McCall declined to comment on reports that former club captain and England fly-half Owen Farrell could be eyeing a Gallagher Premiership return.
Farrell left Saracens at the end of last season following a 16-year stint with the Premiership club. He moved to France and Paris-based Racing 92, but it has proved a testing campaign for him in terms of injuries, while head coach Stuart Lancaster left the Top 14 outfit in January.
Asked by reporters about any possible Saracens return, rugby director McCall said: 'It's just not worth answering, to be honest, because as far as I know he is under contract at Racing and has a year left.
'There are so many of these stories that come out. As you know from me down the years, there is no point talking about something that is so pie in the sky. It's better for me not to comment.'
McCall did say that he would be surprised if 33-year-old Farrell's rugby future did not lie in coaching.
Saracens themselves are close to appointing a new attack specialist after Kevin Sorrell announced he would leaving the club when the current campaign finishes.
And while McCall said Farrell had not been interviewed for that post, he sees clear coaching credentials in the 112 times-capped ex-England skipper.
'I would be very surprised if he didn't commit to coaching, to be honest,' McCall added.
'Rugby is in his skin. He has got a great IQ and a passion and love for it, like his dad (Andy Farrell). I would be absolutely amazed if that wasn't what he wanted to do.
'But I can tell you it won't be him who will be our next attack coach. He hasn't been interviewed. He is a player for now, and has 14 months left on his contract with Racing.'
Scarlets star given top billing
Former South Africa internationals Hanyani Shimange, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger have cast their eye over the 54-player group selected by Rassie Erasmus and the coaching staff and picked out Scarlets' Marnus van der Merwe.
One of the central talking points was the future of the hooker position, an area long dominated by Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx. With Mbonambi now 34 and Marx set to turn 31 in July, questions are beginning to surface about who might step up when the experienced duo eventually call time on their international careers. Together, they boast 153 caps, and replacing them won't be straightforward — but the Springboks' brains trust knows it's a transition they must begin planning for now.
Omissions from the Springboks' alignment group have raised eyebrows, particularly in the case of Johan Grobbelaar, who featured on the Springboks' end-of-year tour in 2024. Joseph Dweba is another notable absentee, having now sealed a move to English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs after failing to agree terms with the Stormers. His relocation to Sandy Park may breathe new life into his career, but for now, he finds himself on the outside looking in.
In their absence, new names are emerging. One such candidate is Marnus van der Merwe, the uncapped 28-year-old Scarlets hooker who has impressed in the United Rugby Championship with his physicality and breakdown work, traits reminiscent of Marx.
Another contender is the versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who at 24 brings the added value of being able to cover both hooker and loosehead prop.
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'Marnus van der Merwe, he's a good player,' De Villiers said to RugbyPass. 'I think that's one position where there might be some question marks. You've got Malcolm Marx, I think Bongi looked tired at times, so there'll be pressure on Bongi now. And Jan-Hendrik Wessels, I think should have a go at hooker now.'
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