Tonight's rugby news as former England coach linked with Wales job and Welsh exile makes feelings clear on future
Tonight's rugby news as former England coach linked with Wales job and Welsh exile makes feelings clear on future
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Rowntree (right) has been linked with the Wales job
(Image:)
These are your evening rugby headlines on Sunday, May 11.
Former England coach linked with Wales job
Former England and British & Irish Lions coach Graham Rowntree is the latest name to be linked with the vacant Wales head coach role, according to reports. The former prop left his role as head coach of Munster in October and it has been suggested that he could go back to his old club Leicester Tigers from next season, but a return to international rugby could also be on the cards.
Rowntree is understood to have spoken to the Welsh Rugby Union about the job, with the 54-year-old keen to resume his coaching career after seven months out, according to Rugby Pass.
However, former Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy remains the favourite to succeed Warren Gatland in the Wales hotseat. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Rowntree was forwards coach on the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and held the same role with England between 2007 and 2015. He has worked in the same capacity with Harlequins, Georgia and Munster, before spending two years as head coach at the Irish province.
It comes after WalesOnline reported that the WRU's new director of rugby Dave Reddin has brought new names to the table in the hunt for a new head coach.
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The likes of Tandy, Ireland coach Simon Easterby and Glasgow Warriors' Franco Smith remain strong contenders for the job, while former England boss Stuart Lancaster is also an option - but it is understood Reddin is keen to stamp his own authority on proceedings by suggesting new candidates.
The RugbyPass report also adds that Alex King – who left Gatland's coaching staff ahead of this year's Six Nations – and Mike Forshaw look set to move on when their WRU contracts expire later this year.
Welsh exile makes feelings clear on future
Former Scarlets powerhouse Carwyn Tuipulotu has made his feelings clear on where he wants to play his rugby next season after moving to France earlier this year.
The 23-year-old joined Top 14 side Pau as a medical joker in February, as he looked for more game-time having seen his opportunities limited at Parc y Scarlets.
Tuipulotu has taken his opportunity with both hands, with the powerful No.8 making a big impression in the south of France and quickly becoming a fan favourite after just seven appearances.
While he is out of contract this summer, the former Wales U20s star has now made it clear he wants to stay at the club, as a supporter shared a video of him interacting with young fans on the pitch and asked if he would still be part of the side next season.
"I hope so," Tuipulotu replied. "I'm just loving my rugby & enjoying every day as it comes. Allez Section!"
It comes after the back rower admitted he was eyeing international honours with Wales, with making the squad for this summer's tour of Japan one of his goals.
'Obviously I have aspirations for Wales,' Tuipulotu said in an interview with The Times. 'That's every boy's dream who comes from Wales.
"I'd love to have that as a goal to hopefully go on that summer tour. I'm just quietly doing my business here in France. Hopefully someone notices and wants to see me."
Lancaster to follow in Welsh mentor's footsteps
Former England coach Stuart Lancaster says the death of former Wales boss Kevin Bowring last year had a "profound effect" on him, as he laid out plans to follow in his footsteps.
Bowring, who became the first professional coach of Wales' national team in 1995, died in October aged 70 after suffering a heart attack.
After leaving the Wales job in 1998, he spent a decade with the RFU as its head of elite coach development and was involved with the appointment, management and development of over 20 England National Academy coaches, several of which have gone on to coach the England team or in the Premiership.
Lancaster was one of those to benefit greatly from Bowring's mentoring and the two became close friends, with the former Racing 92 boss revealing on his Leaders on Leaders podcast that he had given the eulogy at the late coach's funeral having been rocked by his death.
'One of the things that happened during this season, my mentor Kevin Bowring, passed away tragically in October," he said. "He had a heart attack. I was privileged to be asked to do his eulogy. The emotion of that week in my life and Kevin not being there had a profound effect on me."
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Lancaster - who hit out at Rugby Australia's treatment of him after being shortlisted for the Wallabies head coach role - added that a role like Bowring's appealed to him and admitted he could take on a similar job in the future.
"I do want to do a Kevin Bowring role in the future, coach the coaches," he said. 'There is the thing I can offer, I get really motivated by helping coaches and also tend to always reach out to coaches who are struggling because I know what it feels like, how lonely it is."
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Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Craig Bellamy: Wales will prepare for Liechtenstein the same way as any opponent
Liechtenstein are among the whipping boys of world football and ranked 205th out of FIFA's 210 nations. They have not won a competitive game since September 2020, and lost their opening two World Cup qualifiers in March to North Macedonia and Kazakhstan 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. Wales forward Brennan Johnson (centre) during a training session ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein (Adam Davy/PA) 'We win the game, that's it, That's the honest truth,' Bellamy said at his pre-match press conference. 'I don't care about scorelines. We have to win, that's all we're working for this week. 'We've prepared for Liechtenstein as we did for Turkey and everyone else. It doesn't matter who we play against. 'I've watched the same amount of games on Liechtenstein as I have for every other team. My psyche can't work any different. 'I honestly believe if you disrespect the game it will catch you out. Do I understand people looking past it? Of course I do. 'But I was up late last night. I didn't sleep well. Does that tell you something? I treat every team the same. 'The same messages have been fed to the players. It doesn't matter.' Wales opened their World Cup campaign in March with a 3-1 home victory over Kazakhstan and a last-gasp 1-1 draw in North Macedonia. The Dragons know a far tougher test against group favourites Belgium lies ahead in Brussels on Monday. Daniel James could miss Wales' World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein following illness (Bradley Collyer/PA) Bellamy has utilised much of his squad in previous double-headers since being appointed last summer. He is likely to do so again with such a quick turnaround before the Belgium game, although Leeds winger Daniel James is likely to miss out against Liechtenstein. 'Unfortunately Dan picked up an illness so we've had to separate him from the group,' said Bellamy. 'We can't afford to have any other players infected. 'We're monitoring him and monitoring the situation, but we've got cover. It's OK.' Captain Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson have joined up for international duty after helping Tottenham to Europa League glory against Manchester United. Brennan Johnson (centre left) and Ben Davies (left) have linked up with the Wales squad after winning the Europa League at Tottenham (Nick Potts/PA) Johnson scored the winner in the Bilbao final to end Tottenham's 17-year wait for a trophy. Davies said: 'We had a couple of days celebrating, but you keep going on that merry-go-round and the next game seems to come up. 'I think Brennan has shown this year that he's a top, top player and proven a lot of people wrong. 'We've got full confidence in him in this Wales squad, that he can replicate his form at the club, here. 'We love having him around the place and I feel we've got the best Brennan at the moment.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Big players return and youth given chance
Craig Bellamy's side took four points from their opening two games against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia in March. Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points surrounding the Cardiff City Stadium clash. Flaming June Frustrated Wales players exchange words with Armenia goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic during their shock 4-2 home defeat to Armenia two summers ago (Adam Davy/PA) Summer fixtures have proved a major problem for Wales in recent years. Euro 2024 qualification hopes were seriously damaged by defeats to Armenia – then ranked 97th in the world – and Turkey two years ago, and manager Rob Page lost his job after an embarrassing goalless draw with Gibraltar and a 4-0 beating in Slovakia last June. Slipping up against Liechtenstein, who are 205th out of FIFA's 210 ranked nations, would top those disasters, and boss Bellamy will be keen to brush them aside ahead of Monday's challenging test with Belgium in Brussels. Big players are back Ethan Ampadu (centre) and Harry Wilson (left) are fit again to drive Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign (Nick Potts/PA) Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson, arguably Wales' two most important players, are available again after missing the March qualifiers through injury. Leeds captain Ampadu has not played for his country since September due to knee issues, with Bellamy saying Wales do not possess another player with the midfielder's 'number six profile'. Fulham forward Wilson has been on fire since Bellamy took charge, scoring four times in six games as Wales won promotion to the top tier of the Nations League last autumn. No Allen farewell Wales midfield great Joe Allen ended his distinguished playing career last month (David Davies/PA) Wales great Joe Allen has retired since the last international camp, calling time on a 77-cap career which saw the former Swansea, Liverpool and Stoke midfielder play at a World Cup and two European Championships. Allen had previously retired from international football in February 2023 before Bellamy persuaded him to return to the Wales fold last autumn. There had been suggestions Allen would prolong his career to make one final Wales appearance in Cardiff, but Bellamy paid tribute to the 35-year-old saying: 'Joe has been one of our greatest players. All I could do was just thank him for this period.' New kids on the block Cardiff teenager Ronan Kpakio has been thrust into the Wales senior spotlight (Nick Potts/PA) At a time when Desire Doue and Lamine Yamal have proved on the biggest stage that if you are good enough, you are old enough, Wales are nurturing their own young talent. Full-back Ronan Kpakio has been promoted from the Under-19 squad after just six appearances and one league start for Cardiff, while Leeds midfielder Charlie Crew, also 18, is included as well. Whether the pair receive game-time against Liechtenstein remains to be seen, but Bellamy is keen to fast-track high-potential youngsters for them to have experience of the senior environment. Payback chance on Liechtenstein trolls Hello! Shall we schedule a friendly match? — Liechtenstein_br (@liechtensteinbr) June 6, 2024 Wales were at a low point last summer after Gibraltar's part-timers held them to a 0-0 friendly draw in Portugal. But that did not stop the official Liechtenstein X account poking fun at the Dragons with a spot of trolling online. 'Hello! Shall we schedule a friendly match?' proclaimed a nation without a competitive victory since 2020. The World Cup draw ensured there was no need for that – and now Wales have the perfect chance for revenge.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Craig Bellamy: Wales will prepare for Liechtenstein the same way as any opponent
Liechtenstein are among the whipping boys of world football and ranked 205th out of FIFA's 210 nations. They have not won a competitive game since September 2020, and lost their opening two World Cup qualifiers in March to North Macedonia and Kazakhstan 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. 'We win the game, that's it, That's the honest truth,' Bellamy said at his pre-match press conference. 'I don't care about scorelines. We have to win, that's all we're working for this week. 'We've prepared for Liechtenstein as we did for Turkey and everyone else. It doesn't matter who we play against. 'I've watched the same amount of games on Liechtenstein as I have for every other team. My psyche can't work any different. 'I honestly believe if you disrespect the game it will catch you out. Do I understand people looking past it? Of course I do. 'But I was up late last night. I didn't sleep well. Does that tell you something? I treat every team the same. 'The same messages have been fed to the players. It doesn't matter.' Wales opened their World Cup campaign in March with a 3-1 home victory over Kazakhstan and a last-gasp 1-1 draw in North Macedonia. The Dragons know a far tougher test against group favourites Belgium lies ahead in Brussels on Monday. Bellamy has utilised much of his squad in previous double-headers since being appointed last summer. He is likely to do so again with such a quick turnaround before the Belgium game, although Leeds winger Daniel James is likely to miss out against Liechtenstein. 'Unfortunately Dan picked up an illness so we've had to separate him from the group,' said Bellamy. 'We can't afford to have any other players infected. 'We're monitoring him and monitoring the situation, but we've got cover. It's OK.' Captain Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson have joined up for international duty after helping Tottenham to Europa League glory against Manchester United. Johnson scored the winner in the Bilbao final to end Tottenham's 17-year wait for a trophy. Davies said: 'We had a couple of days celebrating, but you keep going on that merry-go-round and the next game seems to come up. 'I think Brennan has shown this year that he's a top, top player and proven a lot of people wrong. 'We've got full confidence in him in this Wales squad, that he can replicate his form at the club, here. 'We love having him around the place and I feel we've got the best Brennan at the moment.'
