Tonight's rugby news as Lions tour hit by World Rugby bombshell and Welsh coach admits he didn't know players' names

Wales Online

22-05-2025

Tonight's rugby news as Lions tour hit by World Rugby bombshell and Welsh coach admits he didn't know players' names
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
This summer's British & Irish Lions tour is set to feature a controversial law
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These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, May 22.
Lions tour hit by red card bombshell
World Rugby have confirmed that the controversial 20-minute red card will be used in all elite competitions from later this year after it was approved for a global trial. It will come into force globally from August 1, with the governing body confirming that it will be in operation for both the Women's Rugby World Cup and World Rugby U20 Championship, while it is also set to be used during this summer's British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, according to World Rugby-owned RugbyPass
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The law, which allows teams to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes has elapsed, has divided opinion across the rugby world since it was first trialled on the international stage in the autumn.
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Ireland and France are among the top nations to publicly hit out at the law, with those calling for it to be scrapped claiming it undermines player welfare and does not provide an effective deterrent against dangerous tackling. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
However, World Rugby chair Brett Robinson says the law "preserves the fairness and drama" of rugby by not punishing teams for the whole game or making contests too one-sided.
'Our mission is to ensure rugby is a compelling sport to play and watch," he said. "The 20-minute red card preserves the fairness and drama of elite competition by punishing the individual, not the entire team or the spectacle.
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'Player welfare is non-negotiable. We monitor data around head injuries, tackle height, and concussion rigorously – and transparently. If evidence ever indicated this trial posed greater risk, we would end it immediately.'
However, World Rugby also confirmed that referees will still be able to issue a full and permanent red card for any foul play considered deliberate and highly dangerous.
Two yellow cards, however, will result in a 20-minute red card being shown, unless the second yellow card offence in itself meets the requirements for a full red card.
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Welsh coach admits he didn't know players' names
Wales scrum coach Adam Jones has admitted he initially didn't know the names of some of the squad when he came into camp for the first time ahead of this year's Six Nations.
The legendary prop was brought in by Warren Gatland ahead of the tournament to act as a scrum consultant, on secondment from Harlequins. While he went back to the Gallagher Premiership side following the culmination of the Six Nations campaign, he has now returned to the Wales set-up for the summer tour of Japan as part of Matt Sherratt's team.
While he is now up to speed with the squad - and even recommending players to be called up - Jones admits that when he first arrived in camp, he was unfamiliar with "a lot of the players" he was brought in to work with.
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Appearing on the latest episode of The Overlap's Stick To Rugby podcast, the three-time Grand Slam winner said: 'I wouldn't say I had watched a lot of the URC.
'A lot of the players, the backs coming, I was having to ask: 'What's his name?' I coach in the Premiership, so I don't see a lot of it. I went in with a clean slate."
However, after getting to know the squad a bit better, Jones was impressed by the mentality on display amongst the players.
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"What I did find out straight away is that, they are young, but the main thing is, and this is a phrase Jerry Flannery used to say all the time: 'You can tell the Welsh boys care'," he said.
'They do care, and that is the main thing I took out of it. They are tough, they are not the biggest anymore, but they care, they're tough, we've got to build something around that as well.
"We're never going to have the biggest players, you're never going to have a 150kg right-hand lock or a 160kg tight-head prop, unless you want to pick me again!
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'That mentality of the Welsh - never know you're beaten, they'll fight to the end," he added. "That's the one thing I saw straight away.'
Springbok banned after hit on Cardiff star
Springboks star Damian Willemse will miss the Stormer's URC quarter-final against Glasgow after being handed a three-match ban.
The full-back was sent off during the South African side's win over Cardiff in Cape Town on Friday, following a high hit on wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb shortly before the hour mark.
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The 27-year-old accepted he had committed an act of foul play and a red card offence and he was given a six-match suspension, which was then reduced to three due to his good disciplinary record.
If he agrees to attend World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme - also known as 'tackle school' - Willemse's suspension will be reduced by one week.
As a result, he will miss the Stormers' quarter-final clash against Glasgow next weekend, as well as their semi-final match if they make it through.
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If they are knocked out in the quarter-finals, however, Willemse will instead miss South Africa's uncapped match against the Barbarians in June.
Pollock tipped to shine with Lions
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Henry Pollock is being backed by England boss Steve Borthwick to continue his startling breakthrough season by becoming a Test British and Irish Lion this summer.
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Pollock won his only England cap against Wales in the final match of the Six Nations but that Cardiff cameo and some rampaging displays for Northampton in Europe have propelled him into Andy Farrell's squad for Australia.
Still only 20, the high-energy flanker is one of the most exciting talents in English rugby and Borthwick believes his remarkable career trajectory could produce an appearance against the Wallabies.
'Nobody would bet against it. What struck us is that each and every level he steps up to, he really embraces that challenge,' Borthwick said.
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'I sense he's somebody who just jumps all into it and doesn't contemplate it too much. Simply jumps into it and embraces the contest. And I expect him to do the same again this summer.
'Look at how quickly he's grown from being at our Six Nations training camp, then playing a couple of games with the Under-20s, to then joining our training camp again and playing at the end of the Six Nations.
'The form he's shown for Northampton since then – and in some of the biggest games – has been brilliant. He's clearly an incredibly talented player who just loves the challenge.'
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While Pollock will have responsibility for looking after the Lions' cuddly toy mascot 'BIL' for the entire tour due to being the squad's youngest player, another England forward will head Down Under as the first amongst equals.
Maro Itoje has been placed in charge of the Lions for the 10-match itinerary that opens against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 – and Borthwick believes he will lead by example.
'I always remember an interview with Martin Johnson after 2003 and they were asking him 'what's the most important thing for a captain to do?'' said Borthwick in reference to England's World Cup-winning skipper, who also led the Lions in 1997 and 2001.
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'And in the typical Johnno way, with very few words, he replied: 'play well'. That's exactly what Maro does.
'Each and every week he plays 80 minutes of every contest. He's exceptional. That's the kind of role model you want as a captain. He also understands the game really well.'