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Tonight's rugby news as Lions star ruled out and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso hit with ban
Tonight's rugby news as Lions star ruled out and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso hit with ban
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso tackles France's Antoine Hastoy
(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. )
These are your evening rugby headlines on Sunday, June 22
Lions star ruled out of first match
Scotland international Blair Kinghorn will miss the British and Irish Lions' first match in Australia next week after helping Toulouse through to the final of the Top 14. The full-back returned to action for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in April to play 60 minutes in the semi-final against Bayonne this weekend, helping his side to a 32-25 victory and booking their place in the final, where they will face Bordeaux-Begles.
The clash will see two of the best club sides in the northern hemisphere go head-to-head at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, June 28, with Kinghorn expected to start.
That same day, the Lions will kick off their campaign in Australia as they take on Western Force at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
As a result, Kinghorn - who already missed out on featuring against Argentina in the Lions' warm-up match in Dublin on Friday - will also be absent for the opener Down Under.
If he can avoid injury against Bordeaux, he will fly out to join up the rest of the squad after the final, although he is also unlikely to feature in the Lions' clash with Queensland Reds on July 2.
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Andy Farrell's side opened their 2025 account with a disappointing 24-28 loss to the Pumas at the Aviva Stadium, with England international Marcus Smith playing at 15.
By the time the first Test against the Wallabies comes around on July 19, however, it is expected that Kinghorn will start at full-back, having excelled at club and international level in the last 12 months.
Feyi-Waboso banned
England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been banned for two matches after being shown a red card during his side's 24-26 defeat to a France XV on Saturday.
The 22-year-old was making his first appearance since dislocating his shoulder in December, but his afternoon ended after 34 minutes as he was sent off for a high tackle on fly-half Antoine Hastoy, catching the Les Bleus star with a swinging right arm.
Referee Hollie Davidson initially showed a yellow card before the sanction was swiftly upgraded to a red on review, with the challenge deemed to involve a high degree of danger with no mitigation.
Feyi-Waboso's ban has left his participation on England's three-match summer tour of Argentina and the United States in major doubt, as it has ruled him out of the double header against the Pumas.
However, he will be free to play against the United States side on July 19 if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention programme, informally known as 'tackle school'.
The Cardiff-born wing had also not been ruled out of being called into Andy Farrell's British & Irish Lions squad as a late arrival, but his suspension means that slim chance has now been left hanging by the thinnest of threads.
A World Rugby statement read: "The independent FPRC has confirmed a two match suspension (subject to successful completion of the Coaching Intervention Programme) to England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after determining an action contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) during the England XV v France XV match on 21 June 2025. The sanction has been accepted by the Player.
"In determining the sanction, the FPRC reviewed the matter, including all submissions and footage, the FPRC determined that Feyi-Waboso's actions were contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle), and that they carried a high degree of danger.
"Therefore, a three match suspension was proposed to the player, reduced to two matches subject to successful completion of the Coaching Intervention Programme. The Player has accepted the sanction.
"Feyi-Waboso is therefore suspended for the following matches: 5 July - England v Argentina, 12 July – England v Argentina, 19 July - England v USA (*he will be free to play in this match after his successful completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention programme)."
Following the non-capped match at the Allianz Stadium, England head coach Steve Borthwick said Feyi-Waboso was "gutted" to have picked up a red card.
'You know Manny Feyi-Waboso well enough, this is a good guy who just tries his heart out and has left the field today and it didn't go the way he wanted it to, so he's gutted in the changing room,' he said.
'Everyone will get around him and we'll find out about what the situation is in the next 24 hours. As you know, that's now going to go to a disciplinary procedure so I'm not going to comment upon it.
"The officials made their decision on the day and we'll see what the disciplinary comes back with. Once I have the facts, I'll deal with that."
Borthwick excited by Argentina challenge
By Ed Elliot, PA
England boss Steve Borthwick is relishing the 'great challenge' of taking on Argentina following their statement victory over the British and Irish Lions.
Los Pumas celebrated a famous 28-24 win on Friday evening in Dublin as Andy Farrell's Lions encountered a setback ahead of their series in Australia.
England, who suffered a last-gasp 26-24 loss to a France XV in a non-capped fixture on Saturday afternoon, face Test matches against the South Americans on July 5 in La Plata and a week later in San Juan.
Borthwick's men will finish their summer tour against the United States on July 19 in Washington DC.
'Argentina are a passionate, committed team who score fast in transitions, and they did that,' said the head coach, referring to the Lions match.
'Argentina changed their strategy in a couple of areas and ultimately they got some opportunities and they took them really, really well, took them quickly.
'It's a great challenge, one we're looking forward to and it's exciting. This group of players are really enthused by the chance to go to Argentina and play against a very good team.'
Borthwick is due to name his final squad on Monday before England fly the following day.
He gave opportunities to five uncapped players in the experimental fixture against France, with try-scorer Joe Carpenter, Seb Atkinson and Guy Pepper starting the match and Jack Kenningham and Oscar Beard coming on from the bench.
England led 24-12 going into the final 10 minutes at Allianz Stadium before conceding two converted tries to lose.
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'I had a meeting earlier on this week and I was talking about the importance of disappointment and in Test rugby how one penalty conceded can cost you a Test match,' said Borthwick.
'Ultimately now a couple of people have gone into that arena and that's happened: gone into the final 10 minutes in a winning position and made some mistakes that have cost us the game.
'While I wanted to win this game – every England supporter wants us to win this game – that's the real learning development for us and our players and those young players.'
