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The latest rugby news from Wales and
These are your headlines on the evening of Tuesday, January 13
Lions to face France
Reports in the French media state the British & Irish Lions will face off against France for only the second time in their history in 2029.
The tourists traditionally play a warm-up match on home soil before heading to the southern hemisphere – they will tour New Zealand in three years’ time.
But before they go, Midi Olympique report that the French Rugby Federation has given the green light to hold a match against the Lions in Europe.
The only and only time the two sides have faced other in 1989 ended in a Lions win 29-29 at the Parc des Princes.
A clash against Les Bleus has long been rumoured and will surely generate a great deal of interest.
Other warm-up games for the 2029 tour could also take place in America, ahead of the World Cup there in 2031.
Carre agrees new deal
Saracens have agreed a new deal with Wales star Rhys Carre, it has been reported..
Reports emerged over the weekend that Carre was “locked in talks” with the London club, with his contract up at the end of the season.
WalesOnline reported last month that Carre had turned down interest from French Top 14 clubs in favour of staying with Sarries, and that has now come to pass, according to MailOnline.
Carre, who was recalled to Steve Tandy’s Wales squad last autumn after being in the international wilderness under Warren Gatland, had been a target for Mike Tindall’s rebel league R360, which was due to launch later this year.
That has now been delayed until 2028, prompting many players to rethink their future plans.
The former Cardiff prop looks likely to be named in Tandy’s upcoming Six Nations squad when it is announced next week.
Skivington set to get help
Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake’s new club Gloucester looks set for a shake-up at management level.
Director of rugby George Skivington has been under pressure at Kingsholm after a poor first half of the domestic season. The Cherry & White sit ninth after nine games, four points above bottom club Newcastle.
MailOnline report the club are looking at “management restructure” to ease the burden on Skivington, with Richard Cockerill and Bath’s head of recruitment Rob Burgess named as potential candidates to help out in the West Country.
Morgan and Lake will head over the border for next season, with Skivington holding “very honest” conversations with them both before they penned deals.
“These aren’t stupid people who are signing for the club, like they’re proper people who want to do something,” said Skivington, who will also welcome former England scrum-half Dan Robson as a replacement for Saracens-bound Tomos Williams ahead of next season. “I’ll be very honest about what’s going on this season, where we are, but also map out the plan.
“So when you sit with these guys [signings] and go, look, here’s the reality, we’re not going to fluff it up for you, but this is the squad that we have next year, this is the talent within in it – a lot of that is not on the field right now.
“You just be honest about it and explain where we want to take the club and where we see the shortfalls of the club.”
