Today's rugby news as cult hero lands Welsh coaching job and North goes controversial with Lions call
Today's rugby news as cult hero lands Welsh coaching job and North goes controversial with Lions call
These are the rugby stories making headlines on the morning of Saturday, June 28
Cardiff Rugby hero Rey Lee-Lo
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
These are your headlines on the morning of Saturday, June 28
North predicts Lions series
George North has predicted a Lions series win in Australia this summer but has "controversially" gone for the hosts to win the first of the three-Test series.
Andy Farrell's men get their tour under way on Saturday, with a game against Western Force in Perth the curtain-raiser to a fascinating summer Down Under.
A year ago this series was widely predicted to be a whitewash in favour of the tourists but a revival of sorts from the Wallabies during the autumn has seen those predictions revised somewhat.
Most are still in the Lions camp but plenty are, like North, feeling that the hosts could be a lot hotter to handle than some may think.
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"I was thinking about this," North told the BBC when asked for his prediction for 2025. "Controversially I'm going to go Australia win the first one, Lions win the second, and it goes down to the third and Lions win 2-1."
North's own Lions story in Australia 12 years arguably made him a household name. From picking up and marching Israel Folau back to his brilliant second Test try, North will go down in Lions folklore. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"It's probably the Izzy Folau carry," he said when asked what Lions fans want to talk about when they meet him. "And then it gets on to the try and the excitement and drama the Test series brought. Going to the decider [in 2013] was incredibly special as a player, but as a fan it was also as incredible.
"I never thought I'd be able to play for the Lions, playing for your country for me is the biggest honour anyone can award you and I never thought I'd be in the conversation to be a Lion, let alone tour two times.
"But to then say you've had an impact that people remember, an iconic moment, it doesn't half put a smile on my face."
Cardiff legend lands coaching role with Welsh club
Cardiff legend Rey Lee-Lo has landed a coaching role at the Arms Park club following his retirement at the end of the season.
Lee-Lo has been appointed as a transition coach and will also mentor some of the young centres at the club like rising Wales U20s stars Steffan Emanuel and Elijah Evans.
The Samoa international hung up his boots at the end of the 2024/25 season after a decade in the Welsh capital having previously represented New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Hurricanes.
Lee-Lo is a cult hero at the Arms Park and is undoubtedly among the finest overseas players to have graced the Welsh game.
The 38-year-old will coach Cardiff's next generation of players and Matt Sherratt will be hoping his influence will rub off on the likes of Emanuel, Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis and even Mason Grady who is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury.
Lee-Lo joins Sherratt, Corniel van Zyl (forwards), Gethin Jenkins (defence), Jonny Goodridge (attack) and Scott Andrews (assistant forwards coach) in the senior Cardiff coach team for the 2025/26 season.
Darge: Gut punch to miss out on Lions
Scotland star Rory Darge admits it felt like it was a "gut punch" to miss out on Lions selection this summer.
Back-rower Darge will instead be preparing for a summer in the South Pacific, with games against the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa.
The 25-year-old insists, however, that he would be ready to answer Andy Farrell's call should it come via an injury SOS.
"Before the squad announcement, I wasn't particularly expecting to be there," admitted Darge.
"Part of that might be you're protecting yourself a little bit for when you don't get announced. But I also just think my position is so competitive.
"Even still, when the names are getting read out and you're watching it on TV, they are going in alphabetical order and it gets past your name, it does feel like a gut punch.
"I was obviously delighted for the other boys who did get picked. But it's a weird mix of emotions. I've got a lot on my plate with Scotland at the moment and we're focusing on trying to get three wins from three.
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"The Lions obviously aren't my main focus. But, yeah, if the call was to come, I would certainly be ready for it."
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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as ex-Wales coach lands top Welsh club job and WRU pause women's game revamp
Tonight's rugby news as ex-Wales coach lands top Welsh club job and WRU pause women's game revamp The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond Former Wales forward Jonathan Thomas has been appointed head coach of Swansea RFC (Image: Swansea RFC ) Your rugby evening headlines on Saturday, June 28. Former Wales star appointed head coach of SRC club Former Wales forwards Jonathan Thomas has been appointed head coach of Super Rygbi Cymru outfit Swansea RFC. Thomas won 67 caps for Wales and played an integral role in two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaigns in 2005 and 2008. The 42-year-old began his playing career at Swansea before joining the Ospreys when the game went regional in 2003. After making 188 appearances for the Ospreys, which included 14 tries, he joined Worcester Warriors in 2013 before retiring in 2015 after getting diagnosed with epilepsy. Thomas has coached at the highest level with Bristol Bears (defence) and Worcester where he was head coach. Article continues below He was also part of Warren Gatland's backroom team with Wales, helping his country reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023 before departing in the December of that year. Thomas has now taken the helm at Swansea and will be tasked with reinvigorating the famous Welsh club who finished bottom of the SRC table last season. 'Swansea RFC has always been close to my heart," said Thomas. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "It was the club that gave me the opportunity and I'll always be grateful. "It's a big part of who I am and my time with the club at the start of my career really helped shape me as a person and a player. "I'm really excited about taking up this role and helping this historic club move forward. 'Since I first signed for Swansea as a youngster 25 years ago, it's been a relentless journey, always looking forward, and it's only when I've taken the last six months out to recharge have I really been able to appreciate the journey I've been on. "I looked at the team towards the end of last season and they certainly didn't look like a team that should have been at the foot of the table. "I need to get know the players I'm working with and find out more about their character and desire to improve "Yes, there's plenty of work to do, starting straight away, but the foundations of a good side is there and it'll be my responsibility to build on that. "It's exciting for the club and it's exciting for me. "Swansea is a big club with a proud history and I want to do that justice, while understanding our relationship with the Ospreys, where I know Mark Jones really well and expect to work closely with him." WRU postpone revamp of women's game The Welsh Rugby Union has put the brakes on the proposed revamp of the professional women's game in Wales, according to the BBC. Celtic Challenge teams Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder were to be replaced by new teams but this has been postponed. The WRU had initially asked the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - along with certain universities to bid to form new women's teams. But the BBC report they have seen an internal email between senior WRU officials who have paused the process due to "the ongoing transformation in the men's game." The WRU recently gave two-year notice to the Ospreys and Scarlets who refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) due to concerns the governing body had plans to turn Cardiff into a "super region" after it had acquired the capital city club. As it stands there is the very real possibility the WRU could go down to three, if not two, professional men's teams. 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"I would like to thank all parties for the work they have done to date during the tender process, it is not wasted, and we look forward to picking this up again in earnest at the appropriate time." Losing 'exceptional' Williams would be a huge blow for Lions, says former England wing Former British & Irish Lions wing Ugo Monye labelled Tomos Williams' performance as 'exceptional' in the 54-7 victory over the Western Force in Perth. The 30-year-old was outstanding and scored two tries for the Lions before getting forced off the field with a hamstring injury. Lions head coach Andy Farrell said it was too early to judge the seriousness of Williams' injury but he will almost certainly be out of the midweek game against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. This poses a significant problem for the Lions with Jamison Gibson-Park also struggling with injury which would leave Alex Mitchell as the only fit number nine. Article continues below "Tomos Williams has been exceptional," Monye told the BBC. "The worry now for the Lions is with Jamison Gibson-Park struggling with injury and yet to play, and Williams with a possible hamstring problem, is them being left light at scrum-half." If both Gibson-Park and Williams were to be sidelined for a couple of games Farrell would almost certainly have to bring a new nine into the squad. England's Jack van Poortvliet trained with the squad in Portugal while Ben White is currently in New Zealand with Scotland.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Ben White comes into Lions conversation as Tomos Williams limps off against Western Force
Welsh scrum-half picks up hamstring injury in big win in Perth Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The British and Irish Lions face an anxious wait over the fitness of Tomos Williams after the Wales scrum-half limped off in their 54-7 rout of Western Force. Ben White is currently on tour in New Zealand with Scotland and would be an obvious solution should Williams be ruled out for any length of time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Welshman sustained an injury to his left hamstring during the act of scoring the second of his two tries early in the second half at Optus Stadium, ending another impressive performance for the Lions that was propelling him into Test contention. Tomos Williams of the British and Irish Lions clutches his left hamstring during the tour match against Western Force in Perth, Australia. | Getty Images While the extent of the damage is not yet known, it creates pressure on the tourists' half-back stocks with Jamison Gibson-Park yet to make his first appearance on tour due to a glute problem. Gibson-Park is expected to make his comeback against the Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday but with Williams struggling and Alex Mitchell facing the prospect of playing in a third consecutive game, head coach Andy Farrell may be forced to call up a reinforcement. 'Tomos has come off holding his hamstring. There was plenty of cramp last week, let's hope it is one of those,' Farrell said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Jamison is fit and ready to go and has been training fully for the best part of a week so we're happy with that but you don't know until you know and we will only know in the morning. 'We need to talk about that' 'You have to let these things settle down and see what the outcome is and give it a little bit of space. 'Tomos was playing well and I'm sure there is a bit of concern there, but you can only deal with the here and now so fingers crossed.' When asked about White, Farrell said: 'We need to talk about that and make the right call for the group.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad White, 27, has been capped 29 times by Scotland and was widely considered to be unlucky not to be included in Farrell's original Lions squad. The Toulon scrum-half is instead in New Zealand where Gregor Townsend's side are due to play the Maori All Blacks in Whangarei next Saturday, the first game of a three-match tour that will also seem the face Fiji and Samoa. Ben White is with the Scotland squad in New Zealand. | SNS Group / SRU Joe McCarthy was named man of the match in the Lions' eight-try demolition of Force and their first outing on Australian soil also saw eye-catching displays from Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Elliot Daly, Finn Russell and Henry Pollock. All sides of Pollock were on show as the Lions' youngest tourist at 20-years-old used his athleticism and awareness to set up Williams' first try and almost scored one himself, while also providing the spark for a confrontation between the sides and being sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement. Praise for Pollock 'Henry got a yellow card because of repeated infringements – which was fair enough – but you also saw his point of difference, that's for sure,' Farrell said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pollock received strong praise from Dan Sheehan, the Ireland hooker who was captaining the Lions on his debut for the tourists, but there was also a reminder that the team comes first. Henry Pollock of the British & Irish Lions charges upfield during the tour match against the Western Force. | Getty Images 'Henry was brilliant. He does his own thing and plays his own way, which is different to a lot of the forwards,' Sheehan said. 'I enjoy that kind of rugby – off the cuff, see what's in front of you and make it happen. With his skillset and speed he can certainly make it happen.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
British and Irish Lions face anxious wait over fitness of Tomos Williams
Williams sustained an injury to his left hamstring during the act of scoring the second of his two tries early in the second half at Optus Stadium, ending another impressive performance for the Lions that was propelling him into Test contention. While the extent of the damage is not yet known, it creates pressure on the tourists' half-back stocks with Jamison Gibson-Park yet to make his first appearance on tour due to a glute problem. Now that is a STUNNER 🔥 The Lions break through James Lowe and go the length of the pitch, as Tomos Williams flies over in the corner. Conversion: missed. #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 28, 2025 Gibson-Park is expected to make his comeback against the Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday but with Williams struggling and Alex Mitchell facing the prospect of playing in a third consecutive game, head coach Andy Farrell may be forced to call up a reinforcement. 'Tomos has come off holding his hamstring. There was plenty of cramp last week, let's hope it is one of those,' Farrell said. 'Jamison is fit and ready to go and has been training fully for the best part of a week so we're happy with that but you don't know until you know and we will only know in the morning. 'You have to let these things settle down and see what the outcome is and give it a little bit of space. 'Tomos was playing well and I'm sure there is a bit of concern there, but you can only deal with the here and now so fingers crossed.' Ben White is currently on tour in New Zealand with Scotland and would be an obvious solution should Williams be ruled out for any length of time. When asked about White, Farrell said: 'We need to talk about that and make the right call for the group.' Joe McCarthy was named man of the match but the eight-try demolition in the first outing on Australian soil also saw eye-catching displays from Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Elliot Daly, Finn Russell and Henry Pollock. All sides of Pollock were on show as the Lions' youngest tourist at 20-years-old used his athleticism and awareness to set up Williams' first try and almost scored one himself, while also providing the spark for a confrontation between the sides and being sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement. 'Henry got a yellow card because of repeated infringements – which was fair enough – but you also saw his point of difference, that's for sure,' Farrell said. Dan Sheehan, right, was impressed by team-mate Henry Pollock, left (Trevor Collens/AP) Pollock received strong praise from Dan Sheehan, the Ireland hooker who was captaining the Lions on his debut for the tourists, but there was also a reminder that the team comes first. 'Henry was brilliant. He does his own thing and plays his own way, which is different to a lot of the forwards,' Sheehan said. 'I enjoy that kind of rugby – off the cuff, see what's in front of you and make it happen. With his skillset and speed he can certainly make it happen. 'It's just about trying to make sure he's doing the right thing for the team all the time.'
