This post was originally published on this site.
The rugby stories making headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your rugby headlines on the evening of Monday, January 12.
Tindall makes bold R360 claim
Former England star Mike Tindall has claimed National Rugby League players threw themselves at his breakaway league R360, rather than the rebel tournament poaching Australian rugby league stars.
Tindall’s controversial globetrotting competition had been pencilled in to start this year – having signed up a number of players from both codes. However, the start of the tournament has been delayed to 2028 amid doubts it will ever get off the ground.
The delay has left a number of union stars looking for contracts within the traditional confines of the 15-a-side game, while further afield, the NRL has gone hard against the rebel competition – threatening to ban any code-switchers for 10 years if they signed for R360.
However, Tindall has now hit back at the criticism Down Under.
“We didn’t target anyone,” Tindall told News Corp. “NRL players and their agents approached us. We didn’t go after them.
“We’re a rugby union competition. NRL players are fine athletes, but only those who could play in the back three [winger and fullback] could make the transition.
“Sam Burgess went from South Sydney to the England team [for the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup] and he didn’t find it easy.”
Saints star scarred for life
The Times report that Northampton Saints fly-half Anthony Belleau lost several teeth in training last week yet still played 80 minutes for his club against Bordeaux-Bègles on Sunday.
Belleau stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Fin Smith who had to pull out of the the match with a calf injury.
It has now emerged Belleau played with a special mouthguard for his bottom row of teeth after an incident in training at Franklin’s Gardens last week.
He will have to undergo dental surgery and will be left with a scar for life.
“He had a pretty shocking injury, a really big cut down his chin, losing teeth,” Northampton’s director of rugby Phil Dowson said.
“We found teeth in training on the pitch that we presume are his. He’d been messaging the physio all week saying, ‘I’m fit to play, I’m fit to play’.
“Because we had Fin fit, we wanted to look after him and make sure that was healed. But as soon as Fin went down, Tony was knocking on the door, saying, ‘I want to play’.
“That speaks volumes; one, about him as a person, and two, about how much he cares about the team. He initiated it. He saw a specialist dentist around what the further ramifications of a [anaesthetic] shot in there would be, as unlikely as it is.”
Mitchell names 11 uncapped players in England squad
By Press Association Sport Reporters
England head coach John Mitchell has named 11 uncapped players in a 47-strong squad for his side’s first training camp since winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The Red Roses, who beat Canada 33-13 in the World Cup final on September 27, begin 2026 on Saturday, April 11 when Ireland visit Allianz Stadium Twickenham in the opening round of the Six Nations.
Jasmine Adonri, Steph Else, Keevy Fitzpatrick, Haidee Head, Hayley Jones, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta and Nicole Wythe are the uncapped forwards in the squad, with Millie David, Sophie Hopkins and Sarah Parry the potential international debutants among the backs.
The group, which assembled on Monday at Pennyhill Park in Surrey, contains all of England’s World Cup-winning squad, aside from retired pair Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow.
Captain Zoe Aldcroft has been named under her married name, Zoe Stratford.
Mitchell said: “2025 was a memorable year for everyone involved with the Red Roses, and one that will go down in history for rugby in this country.
“As we enter a new cycle, this camp will focus on aligning our communication and resetting our culture to win.
“It is natural for a rugby cycle to go through regeneration which presents exciting opportunities for young players over the next four years.
“The quicker they can adapt and contribute to the environment will enhance their opportunities.”
England squad:
Forwards (29): L Atkin-Davies (Bristol), M Allen (Exeter), J Adonri (Trailfinders), S Bern (Bristol), H Botterman (Bristol), A Burton (Trailfinders), M Campbell (Saracens), M Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), K Clifford (Saracens), A Cokayne (Sale), S Else (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Feaunati (Exeter), K Fitzpatrick (Loughborough), R Galligan (Saracens), L Hanlon (Harlequins), H Head (Trailfinders), L Ives Campion (Loughborough), H Jones (Trailfinders), S Kabeya (Loughborough), H Lutui (Loughborough), A Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), A Meta (Trailfinders), M Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Packer (Saracens), C Powell (Harlequins), Z Stratford (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Talling (Sale), A Ward (Bristol), N Wythe (Harlequins).
Backs (18): H Aitchison (Sale), J Breach (Saracens), M David (Bristol), Z Harrison (Saracens), T Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), S Hopkins (LOU Rugby), N Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Jones (Trailfinders), E Kildunne (Harlequins), C Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter), L Packer (Harlequins), S Parry (Harlequins), F Robinson (Exeter), H Rowland (Loughborough), J Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury), E Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury), E Wyrwas (Saracens).
