Tonight's rugby news as Gatland's new team win cup final thriller and Wales star makes 'hardest decision'

Wales Online

16 hours ago

Tonight's rugby news as Gatland's new team win cup final thriller and Wales star makes 'hardest decision'
The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Warren Gatland, former Wales head coach
(Image: Getty Images )
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, June 15.
Gatland's Uruguayan team win thrilling finale
Warren Gatland's new team Peñarol clinched their third Super Rugby Americas crown with a nail-biting 35–34 victory over Dogos XV in a pulsating final at Montevideo's Estadio Charrúa. The former Wales head coach joined the Uruguayan side on a consultancy basis last month for the rest of the season. However, it was hoped the advisory role would branch out into Uruguayan rugby in broader strokes following the completion of the campaign.
‌
And Gatland, who left his second stint as Wales boss in the middle of the Six Nations back in February, will no doubt be delighted after seeing his team scrape home to a one-point victory. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
‌
The home side dominated the opening half, surging to a 21–8 lead thanks to a powerful forward display and clinical finishing out wide. Uruguay international Bautista Basso struck twice within the first 20 minutes, capitalising on front-foot ball from a dominant Peñarol set-piece. Back-row Santiago Civetta added a third try shortly before the break, crashing over from close range.
Dogos XV struggled to find rhythm in the first 40, undone by handling errors and ill-discipline. Their only points came from the boot of fly-half Juan Baronio until they finally broke through for a try on the stroke of half-time, reducing the deficit and offering a glimmer of hope.
Peñarol looked to have sealed the contest early in the second half. Sustained pressure inside the Dogos 22 led to two more tries, and with Felipe Etcheverry adding the conversions, the hosts stretched their advantage to 35–8.
Article continues below
But the Argentine visitors weren't finished. Turning to their powerful scrum for momentum, Dogos clawed their way back into the contest with four second-half tries. Scrum-half Agustín Moyano ignited the comeback with a quick tap-and-go score, followed by finishes from Ignacio Gandin, Juan Greising Revol, and Fabricio Griffo Zaradnik.
Despite their late surge, Dogos fell agonisingly short as Peñarol held firm in the final moments to secure a one-point win and the 2025 title.
The victory marks another milestone for the Montevideo-based side, who continue to establish themselves as a dominant force in the competition since its inception in 2021.
‌
Adam Beard: It was the hardest decision, but it's time for a change
After more than a decade of loyal service to the Ospreys, Wales international Adam Beard is preparing for a major new chapter in his career — one that is widely expected to take him to the Top 14 with Montpellier.
While the move has yet to be officially confirmed, Beard, 29, has opened up on the decision to leave his boyhood region, describing it as the toughest call he's ever had to make.
'It was the hardest decision I've had to make in my life,' Beard told RugbyPass.
‌
'I grew up watching the Ospreys during the glory years with all the superstars. I dreamed of playing for them — even pulling on the shirt once would've meant the world. To have done it more than 140 times has been an absolute honour.'
The 6ft 8in lock has become one of the most reliable second-row operators in the game, particularly renowned for his lineout work. His departure marks the end of an era for the Ospreys, with the region and its supporters offering warm wishes as he takes the next step in his career.
The move to France will take Beard into the heart of one of the toughest competitions in world rugby. The Top 14's near year-round schedule and physical demands — especially on forwards — have proven challenging for some Welsh stars in the past. While legends like Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate returned early from French spells, others such as Luke Charteris found success and longevity across the Channel.
‌
Beard, however, is ready for the test.
'It's one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the world, with pretty much every game of international standard. But I'm looking forward to getting started," said the 58-cap Wales international.
'I just felt there was a good opportunity with a great club in a different country. It was now or never. Maybe the move will help make me a better player — new environment, new challenges. Hopefully it'll bring out even more in my game and push me on.'
‌
If the Montpellier move is confirmed, it will mark Beard's first stint outside Wales, and possibly a fresh springboard in both his club and international career. For now, though, his time with the Ospreys closes on a note of deep gratitude — and a clear readiness for what comes next.
Ma'a Nonu scores at 43 in Top 14 semi-final
Ma'a Nonu turned back the clock in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, scoring a late try as Toulon stormed into the Top 14 semi-finals with a commanding 52–23 win over Castres at a raucous Stade Mayol.
The 43-year-old All Blacks legend powered over in the 77th minute, sealing a second-half blitz from Pierre Mignoni's men that saw them score 19 unanswered points in the final ten minutes. Join our WalesOnline rugby WhatsApp community here.
‌
Fittingly, the try came against the same opposition Nonu last scored against in Toulon colours — all the way back in 2018. It marked his first try of the season, having re-joined the club earlier this year from Major League Rugby's San Diego Legion as a medical joker.
Nonu's strike was one of six tries on the night for Toulon, whose attacking fluency and forward dominance overwhelmed Castres after a competitive opening spell. The visitors had edged ahead in the first half, but Toulon responded with precision and power after the break to take control.
Full-back Melvyn Jaminet delivered a standout performance, amassing 27 points including a try of his own, while left wing Jiuta Wainiqolo added further firepower out wide, touching down in the 80th minute to round off the scoring. Ben White, Facundo Isa, and Baptiste Serin also crossed the line in a clinical display of finishing.
‌
Though Castres stayed in the contest through the third quarter, they were ultimately worn down by Toulon's bench impact and relentless tempo. The result sends Toulon into their first Top 14 semi-final since 2017, where they will face Bordeaux in Lyon on June 21.
For Nonu, it was a night that added yet another memorable chapter to a storied career — and a timely reminder that class, even at 43, is permanent.
Leicester's final defeat a 'what-if' moment for retiring Cole
By Rachel Steinberg, PA
‌
Retiring prop Dan Cole admitted it will be tough not to rue the "what ifs" after Leicester came up just short in Saturday's 23-21 Premiership final loss to Bath at the Allianz Stadium.
Bath clung on after two late Leicester tries dialled up the drama at Twickenham, where Johann van Graan's men clinched their first Premiership title in 29 years and an historic treble.
Cole - who made over 340 appearances for his boyhood club Leicester - was controversially sin-binned in the 69th minute, allowing Finn Russell to slot in three crucial points, though a rare penalty miss from South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard earlier in the half might have also altered the outcome.
‌
"It's not about me, but did I think the end of my career would go out on a charge down, end up in the sin bin? No," Cole said in a video on Leicester's website. "Yeah, it's tough to say that penalty leads to us losing the game, so it's one of those.
"You spend all your career thinking 'what if?' and it will be one of those, but I say, you actually look at the effort we put in as a team, as a group of players, as a squad, considering 12 months ago we were eighth and couldn't buy a win, and now you look at this, we've come together, Cheiks (Michael Cheika) has forged us in one direction, we've overcome some tough times.
"You don't get the fairy-tale ending, but actually to be part of something, you can go into that room in 10 years' time and meet the guys, look them in the eye and go, 'be proud of your efforts', and that's what it comes down to."
‌
Cole is the second-most capped England men's player with 118, behind Leicester team-mate Ben Youngs, who has 127 and has also called time on his career.
Youngs said: "Straight away, you're like, 'I'd love another crack at it please' but it isn't. The ink's dry, we're done. There's a good group there, and as Coley says, you're forever tied to the club.
"We got our shirt presentation the other day, which I found incredibly emotional. I said 'all I've ever wanted to do was play for this club and I've done that, thank you all', because I couldn't find the words.
‌
"Today epitomises that. I'm immensely proud of it. Losing hurts so much, but you find solace in that group in there."
Bath ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup before then winning the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff.
The triumph capped off a complete transformation for Bath, who had finished rock bottom of the Premiership table in the 2021-22 season.
Article continues below
Van Graan, who joined Leicester the following year, said: "I'm so grateful for the journey we've been on. You don't become a champion when you win a trophy, you're a champion every day of your life, and I'm so proud of this group of people that in three years have done the unthinkable."