6 days ago
Today's rugby news as Alun Wyn Jones left 'sad' and Wales star's team-mates ask 'what's going on?'
Today's rugby news as Alun Wyn Jones left 'sad' and Wales star's team-mates ask 'what's going on?'
The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
Alun Wyn Jones
(Image: 2023 Getty Images )
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, June 1.
Alun Wyn Jones bemoans Welsh rugby's 'sad' state
Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has bemoaned the 'sad' situation Welsh rugby finds itself amid off-field uncertainty and the prospect of a reduction in the number of professional teams. The future of four equally funded teams in Wales is in serious doubt, after the Scarlets and Ospreys did not sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement.
Once again, Welsh rugby finds itself dominated by talk of what will happen off the field, rather than on it. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"It is sad," said former Wales second-row Jones on BBC Scrum V. "A lot of things used to go on in the background.
"Unfortunately, those things are going on in the foreground. The saga continues and it is sad.
"It's embarrassing to a point that it still hasn't been sorted, after what's been achieved and the talent we've got coming through. I'm continually asked about talent.
"Yeah, we've got talent. Do we want to make more? Of course we do.
"But credit to all the players at the regions who have been dealing with the uncertainty, staff included. It's not an easy place to be. If it was another centre of work, there'd be a lot of different outcomes."
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell, who has recently been plying his trade in Japan, added that his experiences of playing outside of Wales was how shocked people elsewhere were with the state of the game in this country.
"The really disappointing thing is two years ago, Ken Owens and Nigel Walker stood outside the Vale and said we were the laughing stock of the rugby world," said the former Scarlets fly-half. "It doesn't really feel like we've done much.
"We've had a lot of motion, but not much action in two years unfortunately. World rugby is crying out for Wales to get their act together and be strong.
"The number of boys from overseas I've played with this season and they all ask what is going on there? They used to look at Wales and think they were competitive and made the most of what they had.
"But we don't do that. I can testify to the apathy that is there for the state of Welsh rugby, not just from a Welsh perspective, but from an international perspective."
Saracens begin talks over Farrell return
By Duncan Bech, England Rugby Correspondent
Owen Farrell's return to Saracens next season moved a step closer after boss Mark McCall revealed the former England captain could be recruited as injury cover.
Farrell has experienced a disappointing debut campaign at Racing 92, marred by a groin injury and the club's poor form, leading to reports that he is plotting a route back into the Gallagher Premiership by ending his contract a year early.
Saracens are permitted to bring in a reinforcement to fill the gap created in the squad by Alex Lozowski's Achilles injury, which will sideline the versatile fly-half and centre until Christmas, while the retirement of veteran playmaker Alex Goode has thinned the options further.
It raises the prospect of Farrell rejoining his only English club, but McCall admitted there are several hurdles that must first be navigated – including the fact that the 33-year-old has to be paid the same as Lozowski and agreement over a transfer fee.
'We think we're a bit vulnerable at 10,' said McCall, whose side failed to qualify for the Premiership play-offs despite a 36-26 home victory over Bath on Saturday.
'The way the process works is you compile a list of people you think might be suitable.
'Owen wasn't on the list because he's under contract with Racing, but there are some noises that Racing might be prepared to look at that and he might be prepared to look at that as well.
'A couple of things have to happen. One, Racing have to let him go and they've got to let him go for a price which a club is willing to pay. And secondly he's got to accept a salary which is less than he's on.
'If Owen comes on to the list, he looks like a pretty good option on the list because of the value for money that he would bring.'
Farrell spent 16 years at Saracens before heading across the Channel in 2024 and McCall believes England's record points scorer and veteran of 112 caps would provide a vital service by helping develop Saracens' young fly-halves Fergus Burke and Louie Johnson.
Peel proud of Scarlets' efforts
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel was proud of his side's efforts as they were knocked out of the United Rugby Championship play-offs by top seed Leinster in Dublin.
The west Walians gave a good account of themselves at the Aviva Stadium, with Tom Rogers, Blair Murray and Johnny Williams crossing for tries.
However, it wasn't enough - although Peel was philosophical as he reflected upon the Scarlets' efforts this sason.
"I'm proud of the season as a whole," he told BBC Wales. "Our big thing this year was we wanted to compete hard and I think we did that right up to the last minute of the last game.
"It was a tough game. At 15-14 at half-time, the first 10 minutes of that second-half, they probably got it technically and tactically right.
"We couldn't quite recover. We maybe didn't have enough of the ball. I'm proud of the effort and the commitment we showed.
"This team are on the start of a journey. They're young and they want to learn. They're obviously heartbroken in the changing room now. But I think there's a lot more to come from this team.
"We've worked hard this year to get into this position. We were in the fight and we maybe weren't as accurate as we could have been in certain areas. That's the nature of the beast."
Munster crash out of URC after semi-final shootout defeat to Sharks
By PA Sport Staff
Sharks booked their spot in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals after a dramatic shootout decider saw them edge past Munster in Durban.
After drawing 24-24 in regulation time, neither side could find a winning score in extra time as the game boiled down to kicks from the 15 and then 10-metre line, where Rory Scannell missed his effort for Munster and the Sharks went on to kick all six of their attempts to reach the final four.
The visitors had taken the lead nine minutes into the first half when Jack Crowley's cross-field kick bounced up for Calvin Nash to grasp and dive over the line before Crowley added the extras, but the match evolved into a scrappy encounter as both Crowley and Jaden Hendrikse sent penalties wide.
The game burst into life after the break and the Sharks capitalised on their bright start when Ethan Hooker cut in from the right wing, weaving around the Munster defence to score, with Hendrikse converting before sending his side ahead with a penalty.
Fineen Wycherley then squeezed through a gap to cross following a quick Munster break, with Crowley's kick successful and they extended their advantage when the hosts were unable to defend Mike Haley's kick, allowing Diarmuid Kilgallen to pounce on the loose ball and ground before Crowley converted.
The Sharks staged an impressive comeback with two tries in the final 15 minutes, pulling one back when Aphelele Fassi crossed, with Hendrikse converting and Fez Mbatha struck after breaking through the visiting defence on the tryline to ground before Hendrikse added the extras.
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Conor Murray's successful penalty from just inside his own half levelled the score at 24-24 to send the game to extra time and Hendrikse had a drop goal attempt brilliantly blocked by Thomas Ahern before the contest reached its climax with a shootout, where the Sharks claimed victory.
