Today's rugby news as Scarlets investor's pitch to other Welsh club emerges and rebels make new move
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Feyi-Waboso is a wanted man
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, August 10.
Scarlets investors tried to buy Pontypridd
It has emerged that new Scarlets investors House of Luxury enquired about buying Pontypridd RFC two years ago.
House of Luxury intend to acquire a majority 55% controlling stake of the west Walian club and have already assumed non-rugby operational leadership in partnership with the Scarlets board.
In a post to X, rugby reporter Robert Rees posted a screenshot from the private Pontypridd RFC Supporters Group on Facebook which shows House of Luxury chief experience offer Simon Kozlowski enquiring about buying the club.
Rees' caption reads: "It is interesting that the group that have acquired a majority stake in Scarlets, once enquired into Pontypridd, in 2023. However, it appears nobody at the club got back to them."
The query from Kozlowski reads as follows.
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"How might I go about acquiring Pontypridd Rugby Football Club?
"While this post might be considered the most unconventional (even unprofessional and disrespectful) approach to exploring such an opportunity, please take a moment to hear me out. Unlike most other clubs, PRFC is owned by a broad mix of friends and supporters of the club.
"I've personally spoken with some of these shareholders. They tell me that they never made the financial investment for personal gain. Rather, as true fans with real skin in the game, they purchased these shares to help the club through trying times.
"That's what real commitment looks like. That is how true community behaves. And what thanks have these shareholders received?
"I represent an alliance of international business leaders who are committed to regenerating local rugby, and who (because one of our members hails from Ponty) have set our affections on Pontypridd RFC. We would like to rescue and redeem this fine institution by acquiring it.
"We have a proposal that we would like to put to the shareholders — a proposal where they not only get a generous financial return on their prior investment in shares, but where the legacy of Pontypridd RFC is revived, and the broader community is richly benefited.
"Given that many of the shareholders are in here – yes, thanks to public records I know who you are – I'm requesting an opportunity for our people to present to you at the next AGM… or an EGM if it really has to come to that. So how might we make that happen?"
Feyi-Waboso targeted by rebel R360 league
England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is a target of the new R360 league.
The Exeter Chiefs winger is the latest high-profile star to be thrown into the mix for the proposed new franchise-based competition, which could get off the ground in late 2026.
Feyi-Waboso signed a long-term contract with Chiefs in March 2024, but it is believed R360 are targeting him for their new project, report RugbyPass.
R360 claim to have letters of intent from 160 players worldwide, and if it comes to fruition, the league could change rugby forever.
Rees-Zammit, Antoine Dupont and rugby league superstar Kalyn Ponga are high on the shopping list for R360, which is spear-headed by former England international Mike Tindall.
The new competition, which would run from September to December 2026, will involve eight teams competing in the biggest cities across the world with players on massive salaries.
England send ominous World Cup warning
By PA Sport Staff
England ran in six tries as they completed their preparations for the Women's Rugby World Cup with a 40-6 win over France.
The Red Roses, who kick off their campaign against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday, August 22, were made to work hard for a 27th successive victory in Mont-de-Marsan by a French side missing first-choice scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus through suspension.
England's forward power proved irresistible during the first half as they established a commanding lead, but having seen France all but reel them in before holding on to win their Six Nations Grand Slam decider in April 43-42, they headed for the dressing room taking nothing for granted.
Morwenna Talling provided the finishing touch to a fourth-minute rolling maul after second row partner Abbie Ward had secured possession at an early line-out, and hooker Amy Cockayne repeated the dose at the end of a powerful 15th-minute drive with Zoe Harrison adding the conversion.
Handling errors and imprecision cost John Mitchell's side further tries as the French conceded a series of penalties which eventually saw lock forward Manae Feleu yellow-carded, and although Morgane Bourgeois reduced the deficit with a penalty in her absence, prop Maud Muir touched down from another rolling maul and Harrison added the extras to make it 19-3 at the break.
Bourgeois kicked a second penalty to capitalise on Teani Feleu's rampaging early break as the second half got under way, but scrum-half Natasha Hunt's quick thinking after her pack had forced a scrum penalty sent centre Megan Jones over and Harrison obliged once again.
France started to throw the ball around, with half-backs Carla Arbez and Alexandra Chambon both making dangerous breaks and as the England scrum came under pressure, the visitors were starved of meaningful possession.
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But catch and drive did the trick once again with six minutes remaining for replacement hooker Lark Atkin-Davies to go over, and she added a second three minutes later to allow Harrison to take her tally to 10 points with two more successful kicks.
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