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The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond ahead of the Six Nations
Here are the latest rugby headlines on the morning of Tuesday, January 27.
Dupont praises Wales star and stadium
World rugby icon Antoine Dupont has heaped praise on Wales star Tomos Williams and named the Principality as his favourite stadium outside of France.
Dupont will lead the French team in their defence of the Six Nations title over the next two months, with Les Bleus due to visit Cardiff in the second round of fixtures on February 14. That game will see Dupont face Williams, who he identifies as one of the best fellow scrum-halves around.
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“I have played against him several times and he is a very good player and a key man for Wales,” said Dupont.
“He is playing very well in the Prem as well, so it will be a good opportunity again.”
Despite slow ticket sales, Wales’ rivals expect a tricky time when they visit the Welsh capital during the Six Nations, with Dupont explaining what it’s like to play at the iconic venue.
“It is probably my favourite stadium outside of France,” said Dupont.
“The home fans make it very loud, the atmosphere is incredible and it always special when you play there.”
Itoje attend mother’s funeral
England skipper Maro Itoje will miss their Six Nations training camp in Spain this week, with the Saracens man travelling to Nigeria for his mother’s funeral.
Itoje did not attend the Six Nations launch in Edinburgh on Monday and will not join the England squad until later in the week.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has given the Lions captain permission to miss the start of the camp in Girona.
“He is in Nigeria for the funeral of his mother and we are all deeply saddened for him,” said Borthwick, whose side begin their tournament against Wales a week on Saturday.
“When I have talked to him I sense emotionally he has found it very tough, very challenging. I also sense from him that his family all going to Nigeria for the funeral is an important aspect for him. I know he will be looking forward to rejoining us and we look forward to having him back.”
Jamie George filled in for Itoje in the Scottish capital, having lost his own mother two years ago.
“We’ve spoken a lot,” he said. “The parallels are scary, really. It’s heartbreaking news. I know how much of a difficult time he’s going through.
“My biggest message to him was to make sure he gives himself enough time to grieve and to process things. He’s had a good opportunity to do that and is only going to come back when he’s fully ready to give everything of himself to the squad.”
Scotland squad still missing Steve Tandy
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend harbours no bad feelings towards former defence coach Steve Tandy after he quit the Scotland coaching set-up to take charge of Wales last year.
Tandy was a hugely popular and important member of Scotland’s backroom staff for six years and his departure was a big blow for Townsend, who revealed players and staff were emotional when he broke the news of Tandy’s departure.
He is, however, delighted to see his friend given the opportunity to lead his nation, saying: “It is great Steve has had that opportunity to coach his own country.
“We miss him and when we told the players it was emotional.
“He has attacked the role with that Welsh pride but also getting to work with a new group of players.
“I remember when he came in with us, he was brilliant at that.”
Farrell facing Ireland injury problems
Ireland boss Andy Farrell is relishing his Guinness Six Nations return as he negotiates a lengthy injury list and an ongoing transitional phase.
Farrell guided Ireland to back-to-back championship titles, including a Grand Slam in 2023, before temporarily stepping aside last year to lead the British and Irish Lions’ triumphant tour of Australia.
Under interim head coach Simon Easterby, Ireland won four of five matches in the 2025 Six Nations but ultimately finished third following an emphatic round-four defeat at home to eventual champions France.
Farrell, who was back to oversee an inconsistent autumn campaign, takes his side to Paris for the opening match of this year’s tournament on Thursday, February 5.
The Englishman has plenty to ponder amid a host of absentees and suggestions Ireland are a team in decline ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“Not being involved last year and being on the other side of the fence, I think the appreciation of the Six Nations just grows really,” Farrell said at Monday’s Six Nations launch event in Edinburgh.
“The older you get, the more privileged you are to be involved in this competition, the more you realise how special it is.
“Things are forever moving and changing and you’ve always different dynamics. There’s always injuries. It’s just the type of sport we have.
“Whether that injury list is a bit bigger than normal…you have to bring players in that might not have got that chance. It is what it is.
“People are always retiring, loss of form, all of that. We’re at where we’re at.
“We’ve got some good experience there making sure we learn from these experiences together as a group and connect together as a group and hopefully gel together for the here and now and the not too distant future as well.”
Farrell has major front-row concerns after Jack Boyle joined fellow props Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy in the treatment room.
Centre Robbie Henshaw will also miss the start of the tournament, while Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Ryan Baird, Shayne Bolton, Mack Hansen, Jordan Larmour and Tom Ahern are all sidelined.
Connacht prop Billy Bohan, Munster second-row Edwin Edogbo and Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak are the three uncapped players in the squad.
Townsend confident in Scotland’s chances
Gregor Townsend is adamant there is plenty for Scotland to be optimistic about as they head into the Guinness Six Nations on the back of a chastening autumn.
The long-serving head coach came under fire in November after his side blew a 21-0 lead in losing 33-24 at home to Argentina.
In addition, the Scots passed up what was widely viewed as a golden opportunity to defeat New Zealand for the first time in their history after seemingly being in the ascendancy at 17-17 before losing 25-17.
Townsend believes the agonising nature of those defeats has helped sharpen minds within his squad, and he is also heartened by the fact all of his key men appear to be fit heading into the championship.
The fact almost half of his group is made up of players from in-form Glasgow is a further source of encouragement.
“I think, just in terms of our squad, we’re in a better place because just now over 90 per cent of the players are available for selection,” said Townsend, speaking at the Six Nations launch event in Edinburgh.
“That hasn’t always been the case. I do believe the way the team played throughout 2025 in some of our biggest games, when I think back to New Zealand, France, England, the players have performed at a really high level.
“Even though we had those painful moments of not winning against New Zealand and Argentina, I see that as positive.
“They were not positive at the time, obviously, but what we learned can help us when we’re going to have those moments of adversity, when the opposition score a try or break our line, so we’re better prepared now to deal with them.
“I think also the fact Glasgow are playing really well and a lot of our players come from the Glasgow team, that is a positive going into the tournament.”
Townsend is waiting for further news on fitness issues surrounding Liam McConnell, Dave Cherry, Jamie Dobie and Ewan Ashman but he was confident they would all be available for the championship opener away to Italy a week on Saturday.
