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Here are your rugby morning headlines for Tuesday, May 12.
James excited after turning down England
New Wales star Kane James has described his first Wales call-up as a huge moment for him and his family after turning down Steve Borthwick’s attempts to get him to play for England.
The 21-year-old Exeter Chiefs back rower, who was born in Haverfordwest but played for England under-20s, has pledged his allegiance to Wales after Steve Tandy met him for talks ahead of the Six Nations.
It’s understood Tandy wasn’t the only one to speak to James, with England boss Borthwick hoping to poach another Welsh-qualified star after already capturing Cardiff-born Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Pontypool-born hooker Kepu Tuipulotu. Despite Borthwick’s intervention, James was always committed to Wales.
Following his call-up for this summer’s Nations Championship squad, James said: “This is a huge moment for my family, and I am extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Tandy added: “He’s Welsh and having spoken to Kane when I arrived, I went down to see him. He’s an awesome human being, very smart and focussed in what he wants to become. We’re very lucky to have him and how motivated he is to play for us.”
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Gough surprised by Moriarty omission
Former Wales second-row Ian Gough has questioned why Ross Moriarty wasn’t chosen in Wales’ 48-man squad for this summer.
Moriarty hasn’t featured for Wales since the 2022 Six Nations.
“I thought Ross Moriarty might’ve been included after coming off the bench for the Ospreys against Scarlets at the weekend,” Gough told the BBC.
“There seemed to be a bit of momentum behind him, a lot of people pushing for him to get back into the squad.
“Good to see Tommy Reffell back, though – a lot of people were gutted that he wasn’t in the Six Nations squad and have been calling for him to be recalled.”
New Wales call-up helps ‘raise the ceiling’
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has praised Harrison Keddie after the Dragons back-row earned his first call-up at the age of 29.
Keddie was a standout player in the Wales U20s side that won a Grand Slam in 2016, putting in a man of the match performance against England at Ashton Gate that year.
While Keddie, who was tipped to replace another Rodney Parade icon in Taulupe Faletau, was brought in to train with Wales in 2016, a senior call-up never came his way.
However, after helping the Dragons to a European semi-final, Keddie finds himself in Tandy’s extended 48-man squad – with the Wales coach admitting it’s the perfect example of never giving up.
“Absolutely, it’s a great story,” said Tandy. “Sometimes in these situations, you can give younger players the opportunity, but the way Harrison has gone around his business.
“He’s been at the Dragons for 10 years and has seen some tough times. But he’s come through it as the Dragons have developed.
“Everyone who has spoken about him says he’s an unbelievable trainer. He delivers on the field as well. He’s physical. You saw that on the field on the weekend.
“It’s a great story, but he’s an outstanding rugby player. It’s always exciting to give these guys an opportunity to come into the environment and show what they can do.
“It also raises the ceiling. It was the same with Harri Deaves. I remember when he came in, it felt like he knew he could do it. Harrison has earned this opportunity. You’re not just giving it out because it’s a nice thing to do, he’s earned this opportunity. It’s well-deserved.
“Like I said, I speak to lots of people around players to get feedback and everyone said he’s an incredible trainer as well. Speaking of when it was probably tougher times with the Dragons, in the gym, he was always pushing himself to be better and growing himself.
“He would always front up, no matter what the situation. I think that battle-hardens someone and I think that’s where for us, as coaches, it’s about looking everywhere.
“There’ll be perceived to be some tough calls around not getting in, but that’s where we want to be. We’ve also got probably more of a core and cohesive unit, but I think as coach we’ve always got to be looking outside the box or looking at what people are doing and rewarding that as well.
“We’ve had an opportunity to do that and they’re awesome stories.”
Returning Wales star praised after Ospreys farewell
Jac Morgan is back in Wales’ squad following injury, with Tandy praising the return of the British and Irish Lions openside.
Tandy’s comments echoed those of Ospreys head coach Mark Jones, who was full of praise for the back-row after he signed off at home for the Ospreys on the weekend with the winning score against the Scarlets.
“He’s just a great human being, first and foremost,” said Jones. “He’s so humble, but then he’s a world class player.
“That’s quite a rarity in modern day sport, to get somebody as humble as that, but be as high profile as he is. He is one of the best in the business.
“He has a massive impact on the group, both off the field and on it. He scored the winning try, coming up from underneath that pile-up. His performance was exceptional, both leading the team and individually. We are so pleased that it has finished off well for him.”
