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Today's rugby news as Wales star banned for 'reckless' act and coach denies Andy Farrell accusation
Today's rugby news as Wales star banned for 'reckless' act and coach denies Andy Farrell accusation
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
Farrell has accused the Waratahs of using a sneaky tactic
These are your latest rugby headlines on Sunday, July 6.
Wales star banned for 'reckless' act
Wales U20s star Louie Trevett has been banned for three matches after being shown a red card during his side's 35-21 defeat to France at the World Rugby U20 Championship clash on Friday. The replacement prop had only been on the field for a minute when he was sent to the sin-bin for an illegal ruck clear out on openside flanker Noa Traversier, which left the Frenchman screaming in pain.
After an off-field review, Trevett was judged to be deserving of a 20-minute red card, with Wales conceding 14 points and falling to defeat as they saw out the game with 14 men. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
Now, the 20-year-old Bristol Bears player - who spent time on loan with Scarlets last season - has been handed a three match suspension for the "reckless" act by an independent disciplinary committee.
A statement from World Rugby on Saturday read: "An Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) has convened to consider a sanction for Louie Trevett (Wales). Trevett received a red card during the France v Wales match in the World Rugby U20 Championship match at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo.
"The independent FPRC has confirmed a three-match suspension to Trevett after determining an action contrary to Law 9.20(e) (dropping weigh or targeting lower limbs) during the Wales match against France on 4 July, 2025. The sanction has been accepted by the player.
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"In determining the sanction, the FPRC reviewed the matter, including all submissions and footage, determined that Trevett's actions were contrary to Law 9.20(e) (dangerous clear out), in that the action was reckless, the action was dangerous to the victim player, but that the involvement of another player contributed to the offending action.
"The Committee decided the incident warranted a mid-range entry point of 6 matches. The FPRC decided to propose a three-match suspension taking all factors into account. The player has accepted the sanction."
Trevett will now miss Wales' pool stage match against Spain next week, as well as the two further knockout matches they are set to play at the tournament.
Farrell cries foul
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Correspondent, Sydney
Andy Farrell suggested the Allianz Stadium pitch had been deliberately watered to assist the New South Wales Waratahs as his British and Irish Lions toiled to an ugly 21-10 victory.
The Lions produced comfortably their worst performance of the tour two weeks out from the first Test against the Wallabies with Huw Jones' two tries and an important touch down by Alex Mitchell among the few highlights.
Sydney was hit by a "bomb cyclone" earlier in the week, leading to heavy rain and gale force winds, but Farrell suspected skulduggery from the Waratahs in an attempt to even up the game. And a conversation with Mike Catt, one of Farrell's coaching lieutenants with Ireland who is now in charge of the Waratahs' attack, appeared to confirm his suspicions.
"The pitch was very wet and I was asking Mike Catt after the game and he was laughing," head coach Farrell said.
"I mean, that's good tactics from them isn't it? The ball's slippy, the breakdown's ferocious enough and the line speed is high octane stuff as well from them.
"I mean, he just laughed. Catty just laughed. We've seen that done plenty of times. I don't know whether the pitch needed watering."
When it was put to Farrell that Sydney had been hit by storms until Wednesday, he replied: "We know all that, but we have been here for two days now and it has been glorious. The pitch was OK and we are not complaining.
"It is good, isn't it? That is what you would do if you are waiting for this type of game to come - it's huge for all the clubs.
"We know what is coming and we have got to be ready for anything and able to adapt."
The Waratahs laughed off Farrell's concerns about the pitch, with captain Hugh Sinclair declaring: "See the weather on Tuesday? That sucked."
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar added: "No, no, no. I'd too much to think about to be worried about watering the pitch. Andy was probably sunning himself in Brisbane on Tuesday."
For all his gripes about the pitch, Farrell was quick to admit the Lions' error-ridden performance against a side that fought hard in the air and on the floor was a bad day at the office.
"There's a bit of frustration there. It's nice to get a win but at this stage we're trying to judge the performance a little bit more," said Farrell, who had seen his tourists compile big wins against Western Force and Queensland Reds.
"We are disappointed enough with the amount of possession and territory that we had and how we dealt with certain situations.
"A different type of game but are we glad that's happened to us? Yes we are because there are some good learnings that we need to learn quickly in regards to that type of game."
The Lions head to Canberra on Monday where they will play the ACT Brumbies - Australia's strongest Super Rugby franchise - two days later.
Farrell revealed that his son Owen Farrell is unlikely to be considered for selection until Saturday's match against an AUNZ Invitational XV because of jet lag having only arrived into camp on Friday.
The 33-year-old can start training right away having passed all return to play protocols for the concussion he sustained on Racing 92 duty on May 4.
Lions slammed as 'loud and ignorant'
Australian coach and pundit Matt Williams has hit out at the British & Irish Lions' "loud and ignorant" complaints over Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt not releasing his best players to their club sides for their pre-Test tour games, claiming the tourists have "badly misjudged" the reaction to their remarks.
After arriving Down Under last month, the Lions demanded that Schmidt release the Wallabies' biggest Test stars back to their club sides for their other tour fixtures, claiming that not doing so would amount to a breach of the agreed tour contract.
However, the 59-year-old has held firm in the face of criticism and has now been backed by Williams, who has warned Andy Farrell and his squad that their "moaning" has stoked "resentment" within the Australia camp.
'The management of the Lions have cast their own dark and stormy clouds across Australia as they have badly misjudged the reaction to their loud and ignorant complaints about the Wallaby players not being included in the Australian provincial games,' the former Scotland coach wrote in his Irish Times column.
'Despite the fact the Wallabies are playing Fiji on Sunday, the Lions management strangely appears to have expected Joe Schmidt to not prepare his team for a Test match and send his players back to their provinces for the benefit of the Lions.'
"There is more than a healthy amount of resentment building up inside those who wear the wattle green and gold of the Wallabies against what is being interpreted as an attitude of entitlement and rugby imperialism from the so-called home nations," Williams added.
'All of which is nicely stoking the fires of Australian pride and competition."
England beat Argentina
By PA Sport Staff
England recovered from two first-half sin-bins to down Argentina by a 35-12 score with Test centurion George Ford kicking 15 points.
Alex Coles and debutant Seb Atkinson were shown yellow cards by referee Angus Gardner to temporary reduce Steve Borthwick's team to 13 men in La Plata, but after a superb regard defensive action, England were much improved after the break.
Tom Roebuck grabbed a first try within two minutes of the restart and added another after Freddie Steward crossed over. Caden Murley concluded the scoring with five minutes left on a night where co-captain Ford showed his class on his 100th appearance for England.
All eyes were on Ford initially, but it was scrum-half Ben Spencer who did most of the kicking early on with a number of box kicks as Argentina dominated territory.
Infringements were a regular occurrence from England and Coles was first to be sent to the sin-bin for a head-on-head contact with Facundo Isa.
It was followed by rock-solid English defence led by co-captain Jamie George and after Santiago Carreras missed a simple penalty for Argentina, Ford landed a drop goal to conjure memories of his virtuoso display in the 2023 World Cup group stage.
Atkinson followed Coles in being shown a yellow following a succession of team offsides, which reduced England to 13 men.
However, George again starred to keep Argentina at bay and while Ford missed another drop goal effort, it remained 3-0 at half-time.
England started the second period with better intent and needed only 65 seconds to score the first try of the match.
A fine carry by Ben Curry was followed by quick ball from Ford and Steward, who found Sale wing Roebuck and he crashed over on the right.
Ford failed to add the extras, but quickly made amends with a superb pass to release his former Leicester team-mate Steward for England's second try.
This time Ford kicked the conversion and the purple patch continued as Roebuck grabbed another in the 49th minute.
After being stopped just short of the try-line after a free-flowing move, Roebuck made no mistake second time around to help England move 22-0 ahead.
Pablo Matera helped Argentina to produce an instant response and when Pedro Rubiolo finished off a superb team attack minutes later, the momentum had suddenly shifted.
Borthwick turned to his bench as Guy Pepper was introduced for his Test debut, but fittingly it was Ford who took charge on his 100th international outing with two inch-perfect penalties - the second from near the halfway line.
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Harlequins wing Murley entered the fray with eight minutes later and wrapped up the scoring with an excellent finish before Ford kicked his third conversion to help England begin their summer tour in style.
