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These are your latest rugby headlines on Friday, July 17.
Rees-Zammit makes frank Wales admission
Louis Rees-Zammit has admitted he expected a bit more from himself during his first year back in rugby, with the Wales international not “settling in as quickly as he wanted to” following his return from the NFL.
A stint in the United States saw Rees-Zammit sign for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but the former Gloucester wing failed to make the grade and returned to his rugby roots last summer by signing for Bristol Bears.
After coming back to rugby, it didn’t take long for him to return to Wales duty, with the 25-year-old featuring in all but one of Wales’ 11 Test matches played during the 2025/26 season.
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However, while he has also started eight of those games, Rees-Zammit has just two international tries to his name since his return, going the whole of the Six Nations without scoring despite playing every minute of Wales’ campaign.
He is also yet to score in the Nations Championship and, having been recalled to the starting side to face the Springboks this weekend after being dropped to the bench for last week’s clash with Argentina, he has opened up on the challenges he has faced during his first year back in rugby.
“I haven’t settled in as quickly as I wanted to back into rugby,” Rees-Zammit admitted as he reflected honestly on the past 12 months. “The more games I am playing, the more confidence I’m getting.”
“This season was a very long one and I played multiple positions. I never quite got my feet on the ground and back running like I used to, but I’ve learned so much.
“Hopefully I can give it my all for this final game, then next year is the year that I try and make the biggest impact I can.”
Insisting he has no regrets about his rugby return, the Wales star added: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s taken a bit of time to to find my feet again, but this is the sport I’ve played since I was seven.
“I’ve loved being back in this environment, in the Welsh squad playing Test games against tough opposition. I was out of the game for a bit so it was going to take time, but I’m feeling confident and ready to finish the season strongly.”
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England forced to take action in Argentina
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Correspondent, Buenos Aires
England rugby have been forced to change hotel in Buenos Aires on Sunday night to avoid being caught up in any celebrations should Argentina win the World Cup.
Hundreds of thousands of fans gathered around the famous Obelisk on the Plaza de la Republica on Wednesday night to celebrate the 2-1 semi-final victory over Thomas Tuchel’s side – right outside where England have been based in the Argentinian capital.
Fireworks were let off throughout the night and earplugs were issued to players and staff to help with sleep amid the noise, while steel fencing was erected around the hotel as a precautionary measure.
England travel to Santiago del Estero for Saturday’s clash with the Pumas but head back to Buenos Aires 24 hours later, running the risk of being caught up in the type of scenes witnessed in 2022 when millions descended on the Obelisk after Argentina won the World Cup.
To avoid any logistical issues arising in the event Argentina defeat Spain in the final, they have chosen a new hotel near the airport ahead of their return home on Monday.
“I wouldn’t suggest that everybody got a great night’s sleep last night – there were still fireworks going off at 4am this morning,” Borthwick said. “Most of us were on the other side of the hotel and earplugs were issued to everybody, so we were prepared for that.
“I went up to the hotel terrace that overlooks the street fairly late and there were still a load of players just watching it and just taking it in. People jumping up and down for hours in the streets. Fireworks going off. It was something to see.
“We’d obviously all wanted England to win but one of the experiences of touring is seeing a spectacle like that in a different part of the world.”
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Scotland make raft of changes
Gregor Townsend is mindful of “creating depth” for the future after making 14 changes for Scotland’s Nations Championship clash with Fiji.
Only Gregor Brown retains his starting place following last weekend’s defeat by South Africa and Stafford McDowall will captain the team with a host of experienced players on the bench.
Townsend, whose side won in Argentina in their opening game, said: “We’re excited to see this team play. A lot of them have been training throughout against the teams that have played against Argentina and South Africa.
“There’s one player that misses out, Nathan Macbeth, who’s had a leg infection in the last few days, but everyone that came on tour is going to get a chance to play. And a lot of them are getting a chance to start.
“We’ve got to have an eye on the future, so the depth that we’ve created and are still creating, that only comes if you give people opportunities.”
Hooker Gregor Hiddleston and flanker Freddy Douglas will make their first international starts when Fiji visit Murrayfield on Saturday in what is officially their home game.
“Freddy came off the bench against France in the Six Nations, so we think very highly of him to put him in the squad for such an important game,” the head coach said.
“The breakdown is going to be a crucial area. Fiji love to jackal, we now have one of the best jackals in the world on our team, so if it becomes that sort of game I think Freddy can come into his own.
“But he’s developed his game much more than that. He’s a carrier, really detailed in his maul work, and he knows now the balance between having to tackle and waiting for the jackal.
“Gregor has been excellent. I can’t speak enough of him on how he integrated into the group during the Six Nations when he was not in the 23 and then just how he’s taken on board the subtleties in our game compared to Glasgow, but also playing a Test match.
“He has shown over the last two weeks that he is not only ready for a Test match but he actually plays better or thrives even more playing Test rugby.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Scotland’s two leading try scorers of all time, wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, have been brought in for their first appearances of the summer after missing out to Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie.
“Both of them can consider themselves unlucky not to play in the first two games,” Townsend said.
“They’ve both reacted really well in training. Duhan had some injury issues during the Six Nations, came back and played really well for Edinburgh at the end of the season. We had a training game with Spain where he went very well.
“We see him now in his best physical shape and really confident with how his body is working.
“Darcy hasn’t changed really at all throughout the year. Whatever role he played in the Six Nations, whether it was off the bench or starting, he was outstanding.
“They’re really motivated.”
:: Scotland: Jordan (Bristol), Graham (Edinburgh), Smith (Glasgow), McDowall (Glasgow, capt), Van der Merwe (Edinburgh, Burke (Saracens), Horne (Glasgow); Sutherland, Hiddleston (both Glasgow), Rae (Edinburgh), Gray (Perpignan), Williamson (Glasgow), Bayliss (Bath), Douglas (Edinburgh), Brown (Glasgow).
Replacements: Stephen, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Dobie, Tuipulotu (all Glasgow), Schoeman, Bradbury, McConnell (all Edinburgh).
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