Wales coach explains why rising Welsh talent has been completely overlooked this summer
He is one of the best prospects in British rugby but won't be in action this summer
Morgan Morse in action for the Ospreys
(Image: Getty Images )
Wales U20s boss Richard Whiffin believes rising Ospreys star Morgan Morse will come back stronger after his shock omission from the summer tour to Japan.
Morse is one of the brightest backrow prospects in the British game, with many pundits expecting the Ospreys backrower to tour with Wales this summer. The 20-year-old also remains eligible to represent Wales U20s in the U20s World Cup later this month but instead will get the summer off.
"In terms of Morgan, he is being looked after," said Whiffin.
"He was in the selection mix for the senior squad and Matt Sherratt has gone down the route of picking incredible experience in terms of Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright with more than 150 caps. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"In terms of the Welsh Rugby Union and Ospreys' point of view, we had the conversation last year in terms of that being his last Under-20s World Cup.
"It was his third and he was already competing well in terms of URC. We had committed to that plan.
Article continues below
"He will probably be at home frustrated, but he will come back rip-roaring."
Morse is a sensational talent with huge potential and it is only a matter of time before he breaks into the senior national squad.
The powerful backrower scored a long-range try from deep inside his own half for the Ospreys against Cardiff on New Year's Day 2024.
He is an explosive carrier who rarely fails to get over the gainline, is outstanding at the breakdown and has a number of big moments in games. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
And Whiffin expects Morse to take the season by storm for the Ospreys in 2025/26.
"He will have a pre-season under his belt, which he has not had for the last three years, because he has been with us," said Whiffin.
Article continues below
"Everybody's development is different and he was an early developer.
"He is the most capped Wales Under-20s player and certainly done his bit. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
"He will benefit from having a good rest period and pre-season with Ospreys and will push his international case even further next season."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
How Rachel Reeves will RUIN British horse racing for millions of fans in her desperation to increase taxes
The Racing Tax will put the sport's British success story in grave danger NICK TIMOTHY How Rachel Reeves will RUIN British horse racing for millions of fans in her desperation to increase taxes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AFTER increasing spending by EIGHT times more than she promised, Rachel Reeves has created a huge, £51billion black hole in the public finances – and she's going to make YOU pay the price for her failure. In the Budget this year, we are going to see record tax rises — and among the ideas in the Treasury is a new Racing Tax. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Horseracing supports rural communities and towns all over Britain Credit: Alamy 3 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has created a huge, £51billion black hole in the public finances Credit: Reuters 3 A bookmaker pictured at Royal Ascot in 2022 Credit: Getty Horseracing is the second-largest spectator sport, with five million people watching every year across 59 courses. It generates £4.1billion for the economy and backs 85,000 jobs. We have the best horses, the best trainers and four of the top ten races in the world. It supports rural communities and towns all over Britain, including West Suffolk, home to the Newmarket racecourses, which I'm proud to represent in Parliament. But the Racing Tax will put this British success story in grave danger. Right now, bookies pay a 15 per cent tax rate on racing, but Labour's plan to combine all online gambling taxes into a single rate could increase it to 21 per cent. 'Mindless free-for-all' Because racing is also subject to the Betting Levy, ministers would put racing at a competitive disadvantage against the most addictive kinds of online gaming. It could mean £330million of lost revenue for racing in just the first five years, and put 2,752 jobs at risk in the first year. This would lead to higher prices and less racing because of lost income. This proves Labour doesn't understand racing at all. Punters who follow the horses, on the whole, tend to be more selective and use their knowledge, judgment and skills when placing their bets at the bookies, on the course or online. British Horse Racing to Strike for the First Time: Industry Unites Against Betting Tax Hike Plus there are only so many races that you can put money on. But online gambling is a mindless free-for-all and incredibly addictive. There is simply no reason why horseracing should be treated in the same way. Yet, in the desperation to increase taxes, racing — and millions of racing fans — will suffer. Some assume racing has the cash to spare, but this is not true at all. While the industry is very valuable to the economy, its profit margins are tight for breeders and trainers. They invest a lot, but don't always see a return. We are already at risk of falling behind global competitors — such as France — because we are breeding fewer thoroughbred horses. But our racing industry isn't taking this lying down. On September 10, the day before the St Leger festival at Doncaster, no races will take place in Britain. Everyone in the industry knows the financing of horseracing needs reform. Nick Timothy The four race meetings at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park will be cancelled. The industry is taking a financial hit to prove its point. Usually, races are only cancelled because of awful weather, equine virus outbreaks or national crises. But the whole industry, from owners to trainers to jockeys, is standing together to protest against Labour's plans. It will be the first time in the sport's modern history that the industry will voluntarily refuse to hold races. Together, they will head to Westminster and make their voices heard. Everyone in the industry knows the financing of horseracing needs reform. Australia and France give horseracing a lot more government support through direct funding or betting taxes than us. Private investors have deeper pockets in the USA and Japan. Prize money is more modest in Britain — which means races in places like the Middle East might become more appealing to owners and trainers than races at home. But the industry keeps getting punished. No progress has been made on reforming the Horserace Betting Levy, which provides a third of the industry's income. 'Nobody has any fun' Affordability checks have been introduced for anyone betting more than £150 on racing within 30 days, driving customers away and costing £3billion in lost turnover in just two years. Labour ministers keep offering us warm words, but fail to deliver. The Racing Tax is the last straw. Opposing Labour's tax plans does not mean we don't want change. The Horserace Betting Levy can be improved by applying it to bookies' total turnover rather than just their profits. It could cover bets placed on overseas races so long as the bookies are based in Britain. The rate could be raised above ten per cent. This would be done to the benefit of the industry and punters alike. There is also more the sport can do to modernise and increase revenue. But the Racing Tax is classic Labour — faceless bureaucrats interfering with people's lives, undermining a successful industry and making sure nobody has any fun. They just don't understand how the economy works, which is why they are killing it with more tax and regulation. We should all stand with horseracing to protect this vital but endangered industry.
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC presenter announces pregnancy in joyful update after engagement and new home
BBC sports presenter Jenny Drummond has revealed she's expecting her first child, sharing the news after recently getting engaged to her long-time love and moving into a new home BBC and TNT Sports presenter Jenny Drummond has revealed she's expecting her first child, sharing the happy news with fans after a life-changing year that's seen her get engaged and move into a new house. The 36-year-old sports journalist, who is best known for her coverage of major events like Wimbledon, the Women's Six Nations, and The Open, posted a photo cradling her baby bump on social media, writing: "They say things sometimes come in threes - engagement, house, now baby G. Feeling very lucky indeed." While she didn't tag or name her partner, fans and famous friends were quick to celebrate the milestone. It comes after Cheryl's emotional tribute to Liam Payne in her first big job since his tragic death. After sharing her wonderful news, Jenny's famous pals flocked to the comments to wish her congratulations. Broadcaster Laura Woods wrote: 'Amazing news congratulations! Xxx." Jenny, who is a former tennis player who transitioned into broadcasting, also shared a more personal glimpse into her pregnancy journey. Posting a behind-the-scenes video from Wimbledon, where she voiced and presented the BBC 's women's final preview, she admitted she was struggling with morning sickness at the time. "Always so proud to present and voice the women's preview to the Wimbledon final of @bbcsport coverage," she captioned the clip. "Not going to lie, I puked my way through this shoot – morning sickness has not been my friend but we got there thanks to pick n mix and most importantly to Joe Bamonte, @bensmith_cam and the editing team in Salford." Jenny, who hails from Scotland, has become one of the most recognisable faces in British sports broadcasting. Her work spans tennis, rugby, and golf, and she's gained a loyal following for her intelligent commentary and professional presence on screen. Despite her success, Jenny has also been candid about the hurdles she has faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Speaking to the Daily Mail recently, she opened up about the ongoing double standards in sports media: "As a female you get commented on how you look and what you wear rather than how you perform as a presenter or reporter," she said. "Then people criticise the angle of your questions or how articulate you were in the way that you said something. That p**s me off, for sure," Jenny added. She also explained why she keeps her distance from social media engagement: "I use Twitter /X for work but am not active on it. I'm sensitive and can't hack that (abuse) side of it, so I don't even bother looking."
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz 'dream team' lasts just 51 MINUTES in first-round exit
Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz have lost to Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in the first round of the revamped US Open mixed doubles. Raducanu and Alcaraz's partnership lasted just 51 minutes as Pegula and Draper beat them 4-2 4-2. The United States Tennis Association revamped the mixed doubles event this year, upping the prize money to $1million (£750,000) to tempt the biggest stars in the sport to enter and the move has been successful. Raducanu and Alcaraz are among those who decided to enter, with the pair teaming up as a wildcard entry after the Spaniard asked her to be his partner. However, Pegula and Draper are the top seeds and won a highly entertaining clash. Reflecting on the victory, British No.1 Draper said: "I've got a pretty good partner! What an experience playing out here with Jessica against Emma and Carlos. It doesn't get any better." World No.4 Pegula added: "Thanks everyone for showing up, that was such a fun atmosphere. I've played doubles a lot but not a lot recently, so that's always tricky. It was a lot of fun and Jack played great." There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Mirror Sport will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story.
