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The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, January 19.
Fuming fans to fight WRU Y11 decision
Furious Ospreys and Cardiff fans have vowed to fight and protest against the WRU’s decision to make Y11 Sports & Media the preferred bidder for the capital city club in a move that seems likely to see the number of regions cut from four to three.
News broke on Monday night the WRU will enter a period of exclusivity to nail a deal deal with Y11 for Cardiff, which it aims to finalise by next week. The decision has sparked an outcry, with the clubs and union yet to confirm the situation and what it will mean.
WRU bosses have previously stated their preferred option was to get to three teams by consensus, with the option of one of the current regional owners buying Cardiff seen as one way to get there.
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Ospreys fans are now demanding clarity and communication from their owners. Ospreys Supporters Club said in a statement: “Tonight’s breaking news is hugely concerning for Ospreys supporters. At this time, we call on Y11 to address the concerns directly and without delay. After a prolonged period of uncertainty culminating in this news this evening, the least our supporters deserve is a full explanation.”
It added in further comments: “From the off, this shambles of the WRU board has screwed us all right over and taken Welsh rugby for fools.
“From that ‘extensive consultation’ in which the presentation pack was littered with errors and self serving misinformation, the survey which wasn’t even GCSE standard and was skewed, leading and biased to provide the response they wanted, the car crash interviews, the leaks to the media and now apparently making the choice of buyer for Cardiff as one which only they wanted and which serves their agenda.”
CF10 Rugby Trust, the official Cardiff Rugby supporters’ group said: “If they weren’t already aware, the fan responses to this news on social media should tell the WRU just how badly this news is going down.
“This is a disgraceful, despicable decision which will appall fans across Wales. CF10 will hold a full member meeting very shortly to ask for views on the way forward.
“Fans of both clubs will be feeling numb tonight. Nobody wants this. Apart from apparently a few people sat on the WRU board.”
Tandy to name Six Nations squad
Amid the aftermath of Monday night’s huge development, Wales head coach Steve Tandy will name his first Six Nations squad later today, as he looks to put an end to his side’s dismal losing run in the tournament. You can follow the announcement live here.
It’s been nearly three years since the last Welsh win in the competition, with a 17-29 victory away to Italy in Rome the only triumph of their last three campaigns. Last year, Wales picked up the wooden spoon for the second year running, having suffered back-to-back whitewashes, with Warren Gatland stepping down as head coach halfway through the tournament, which ended with a record defeat at home to England.
A daunting autumn campaign – Tandy’s first in charge – ended in a similarly brutal fashion with a 79-0 home defeat to South Africa, but there were some green shoots and there is hope that Wales can end the upcoming Six Nations with at least a win to their name.
The squad setting out to do just that will be confirmed by Tandy today and while much of it picks itself, there are still some big calls for the Wales boss to make.
The likes of Bristol Bears star James Williams, Harlequins powerhouse Bryn Bradley and Dragons scrum-half Che Hope are all potential bolters to be included in the squad, alongside Exeter Chiefs back-rower Kane James.
England U20s star James, who also qualifies for New Zealand, has long been tipped for a Welsh call-up that would see him switch back to playing for the country of his birth. However, whether he will be fit to feature at the Six Nations remains to be seen after he was helped off the field just 12 minutes into his side’s win over Cardiff on Sunday, having seemingly suffered an ankle injury.
Elsewhere, Welsh veterans Jake Ball and Ross Moriarty could also be in line for a recall to bring some much needed grunt to Tandy’s forwards pack, while the head coach could opt to bring the likes of Tommy Reffell, Ryan Elias and Sam Costelow back into the fold.
England’s injury problems worsen
England head coach Steve Borthwick has been hit with a new setback as his injury issues at prop deepen ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales.
Borthwick’s men will kick off their tournament by welcoming Steve Tandy’s men to the Allianz Stadium on February 7, but the England boss looks set to be forced into a rethink with his front row options taking a hit.
With Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour already ruled out of the tournament with achilles and shoulder injuries respectively, Leciester Tigers star Joe Heyes is the only established tighthead left available for England.
But now a new issue has emerged on the other side of the scrum, with Harlequins loosehead Fin Baxter now a doubt for the visit of Wales as he is yet to recover from a foot injury.
Baxter, who has 18 international caps, picked up the injury shortly before Christmas and is still wearing a protective boot, making him touch-and-go to feature against Tandy’s side on the opening weekend. However, he should be available to face Scotland a week later.
Issuing an update on the 23-year-old prop, Harlequins coach Jason Gilmore said: “He’s OK, but it’s a bit frustrating for him as he’s in a boot at the moment.
“He picked up an injury right at the end of training in the Bristol week, so has a niggle in his foot. He should be back during the Six Nations period — it won’t be long term — but it’s a frustrating one for him and us.
“I don’t know in terms of return dates, but he’ll feature during the Six Nations. It’ll just be when.”
Borthwick will name his squad on Friday and is now faced with some big decisions when it comes to his front-row forwards. Ellis Genge would be expected to start against Wales if Baxter is ruled out, with Heyes at tighthead.
However, the likes of Bevan Rodd, Beno Obano and uncapped Emmanuel Iyogun will be among those vying for a place at loosehead, with 33-year-old Trevor Davison among those expected to be called up to play on the right of the scrum.
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