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These are your latest rugby headlines on Friday, January 16.
Wales recall hopeful struck down by bug
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has revealed that Wales international Ross Moriarty has been “really unwell” with a sickness bug in recent weeks but has now returned to training and is “dead keen” to return to action.
Moriarty, who returned to Welsh rugby from France ahead of the season, has been tipped for a Wales recall ahead of the Six Nations, having last pulled on the red jersey at the 2022 tournament.
One of the most experienced and physical back rowers in Wales, the 31-year-old has played nine times for the Ospreys so far this season, but has not featured since Boxing Day after being struck down with illness.
Providing an update on Moriarty, Jones explained: “We’ve had quite a bit of illness in the camp and some injuries, with Ross and Morgan Morris in particular. Ross has been really unwell with a gastro-type bug.
“He’s had a really tough time the last couple of weeks. His body weight has been down. We’ve had to be careful with Ross. He’s been dead keen to get back.
“He took a couple of backwards steps last week,” the Ospreys boss added. “We were hoping he was going to be involved but it just didn’t make sense to do so. We’ve tried to get him recovered. But he’s been back into training this week.
“He’s looking a lot better and feeling a lot better so hopefully we’ll get some rugby out of Ross in the next few weeks. He’s fit at the moment. We’ve got to make sure he gets through the week and ticks the boxes. But he’s taken part in what he needs to so far.”
Elsewhere, Jones had more positive news to share about prop Gareth Thomas with the Wales international now “not a million miles off” returning, having been ruled out for the last five weeks with a calf issue.
“We’ve got a few injuries there,” he said as he discussed his side’s loosehead situation. “Gareth Thomas, with his calf, is towards the end of his rehab stage. He’s not a million miles off. He’s joining back into some stuff hopefully next week.
“Garyn [Phillips] took a bit of a bump to the ribs. We’ve got a few bumps but we’re pretty lucky. We’ve got Steff Thomas and Cam Jones, who have been playing recently. We haven’t got a crisis there, but there’s a couple we’d like back.”
Francis ‘has to be in mix’
Former Wales international Alex Cuthbert says prop Tomas Francis “has to be in the mix” for an international recall after it was confirmed he would be returning to the UK from France next season.
The 77-cap international tighthead, who was a key man during Warren Gatland’s reign, has signed for Sale Sharks ahead of the 2026/27 season, having spent the last two years with French Pro D2 side Provence, who he joined after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
He last played for Wales in the quarter-finals of that tournament as, while he was eligible to still be selected for Test duty, he imposed his own exile as he chose to focus on spending time with his family in France.
However, the former Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs man’s return to the Gallagher PREM has seen him make his feelings clear on playing for Wales again clear, telling his new club’s website that he has “still got aspirations to pull on that red shirt again”.
With Wales lacking experience in Francis’ position, Cuthbert has suggested that the 33-year-old has to be in contention for a call-up, telling the Scrum V podcast: “We’re lacking tightheads, aren’t we, and fit tightheads at the moment.
“I’m not sure he can be parachuted into this campaign but Sale are all about forward playing so he’s obviously still showing enough for them to sign him.
Fellow pundit James Hook added: “It’s a position that we’re struggling in at the moment, probably six as well, and 13.
“If we got these players available… I’m sure if Steve Tandy and his coaching staff wanted him, they would have spoken to him by now
Cuthbert then replied: “He’s got to be in the mix hasn’t he?,” with former Wales and British & Irish Lions star Jonathan Davies agreeing and adding: “There’s no harm having experienced players who have had 40, 50, 60, 70 caps for Wales.”
Jones ‘loving it’ at Newcastle
Former Wales captain Stephen Jones says he is “loving it” at Newcastle Red Bulls after being appointed as the Gallagher PREM side’s new senior attack and backs coach in November.
The former British & Irish Lions fly-half had been working under All Blacks legend Tana Umaga at Super Rugby Pacific side Moana Pasifika after leaving the Welsh international coaching set-up at the end of 2022, and was in the middle of pre-season preparations when he was offered the job with Newcastle.
With Umaga’s backing, he returned to the UK to join the PREM’s bottom side and has made a big impact in a matter of weeks, delivering an attacking game plan that has helped them to win four out of their last six games.
Reflecting on his time at Kingston Park so far, Jones told RugbyPass: “I am loving it, as simple as that. I had a wonderful welcome in the club and have found all the players and staff to be really accommodating.
“The playing group have been open-minded and I can’t sing people’s praises high enough. The club’s ambition is to be successful domestically; that’s exciting for everybody concerned with Newcastle Red Bulls.
“I was made aware of Red Bull’s ambition and what they want for the club. The playing group we have here has been fantastic.
“Yes, we’re aware that there are some players joining for next season, but the ability to retain the great talent that is produced by this club is key. The here and now is a very exciting challenge for us as a coaching group and as a playing group.”
On how the move back to the UK came about, the 48-year-old added: “I loved my time with Moana. I had an amazing time with Moana and my family were out there, initially with me and then they came back (to Wales) for schooling.
“I had a good chat with Tana, who was incredible. He was willing to let me have my ambition of coming back to the UK and I’m very, very grateful to him.
“[He] drove a wonderful environment and it was a lot of big learnings for me as a coach. How to upskill, how to develop a two-way relationship and how to play the game in a different way.”
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