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These are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, July 4.
Wales’ crowd plea
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has urged fans to come to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday to support the team as they begin their inaugural Nations Championship campaign against Fiji.
Around 18,000 tickets have been sold for the game, which is a designated home fixture for Fiji, but it is hoped a strong walk-up crowd on the day will boost the numbers.
The stadium’s upper Ninian Stand is set to remain closed for the match.
Tandy said: “I think our supporters are are amazing. You’ve seen it with Italy, with every home game, the way the crowd responded to the team and the team respond to the crowd, I think that’s part of our identity. That’s part of who we are.
“For me, I hope as many people can get there on Saturday as possible to get behind the team. I know there is that feeling of connection to our supporters and I’d just like to encourage people to go because it does mean so much to the players.”
Wales U20s fly in duo ahead of South Africa clash
Wales have flown in two new players ahead of the final group match at the World Under-20s Championship in Georgia.
Dragons RFC winger Rhys Cole and Bristol Bears loosehead prop George Leyland have been drafted into the squad due to injuries.
Dylan Scott suffered a leg injury in the opening exchanges of Wales’ second Pool A clash against Uruguay yesterday in Tblisi while Issac Godfrey was forced to withdraw before the game after being initially named on the replacements bench – also with a leg injury.
Both Cole and Leyland will be in consideration for Tuesday’s showdown against defending champions South Africa in the third round of competition.
Wales have so far beaten Georgia and Uruguay as they look to go far in the competition.
Young player summoned
A Spanish rugby player has been summoned to a disciplinary hearing after being accused of racism at the Junior World Rugby Championships.
World Rugby have cited Spain replacement Mateo Aragon for an “offence contrary to law 9.12 (verbal abuse)” following their U20s match against France in Georgia. Aragon, who came through Bordeaux-Begles’ academy, allegedly made the comments to Toulon fly-half Luka Keletaona in French during Thursday’s match.
France ended up running out 57-32 winners in the pool stage match.
Aragon will have his case heard by a disciplinary committee on Friday. Keletaona made the claim that he was racially abused after the match, while speaking to reporters.
“I was there to get the lads together under the posts,” said the 20-year-old said in French to the media. “The Spaniards passed us and that’s when the racist remarks were made.
“Racist comments have no place on a field. It must not go unnoticed. I want it to go higher up.”
After the alleged remarks were made about his appearance, Keletaonoa said he went to tell his captain in order to complain to the referee.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said it fully supported the playmaker and would file an official complaint to the tournament organiser and global governing body World Rugby.
“We understand that such remarks could shock and affect him,” the FFR said. “We commend his courage in speaking out against this situation.”
France had come back from 15-5 down to win, with Raphael Audebert, Lilian Baret, Hugo Avogadro and Matheo Frisach each scoring two tries. A shock had looked on the cards, only for France to dig deep.
Welsh youngster signs new deal
Welsh-qualified prop Gabe Hawley has signed his first senior contract with the Scarlets.
The 23-year-old Ipswich-born tighthead, who qualifies through his grandmother, arrived from Eailing Trailfinders’ academy back in 2024.
The prop has made nine senior appearances to date, while he was also a regular for Llandovery on their way to Super Rygbi Cymru success this year.
“I’ve learned a lot in the two years I have been here and am looking forward to continuing that development in the senior squad this season,” said Hawley.
“Getting a taste of senior rugby, playing against top sides in the URC and European competitions, gives you an appetite for more and it’s about getting my head down in pre-season, working hard on my game and taking the opportunities when they come.
“It’s been fantastic being back with the boys in pre-season this week, there is good buzz in training, lots of new faces and there is a real focus and desire to push forward as a group.”
Scarlets director of rugby, Nigel Davies, added: “Gabe is another player who continues to progress within the squad having joined us from playing university rugby in Brunel. He is an intelligent player, with a strong desire to learn and progress his game and possesses the stature to become a formidable front-row forward.
“He has impressed us with his performances for Llandovery in the SRC and when he has appeared for the Scarlets in both the URC and in European competition, he has shown he is more than comfortable at that level.
“It is a big season ahead for Gabe, moving into the senior squad and we are excited to see how he progresses.”
Beck appointed full time
Ashley Beck has been appointed Wales Women attack coach on a full-time basis.
Beck, the former Ospreys and Wales international centre, had joined Sean Lynn’s coaching ticket for this year’s Six Nations on a temporary contract.
That has now been converted to a permanent role, which will see Beck step away from his role as Brython Thunder head coach in the Celtic Challenge.
Beck said: “This was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down after being with the national side in the recent W6N campaign.
“We took real steps forward during the championship and the players really bought into the new team identity and playing philosophy we want to build.
“It was a real privilege and challenge to coach Wales at this level, but the pleasing aspect is that the coaches and the players share the same ambition of making the nation proud.
“Sean, Tyrone, Steve and myself all share the same rugby values, and we laid down a real foundation during the W6N campaign and we saw the fruits of that against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
“We have talented players in Wales, and the desire is there to be successful, and they have to believe they can compete against the best sides in the world because they can.”
Lynn said: “Ash’s relatability to the players and the knowledge of his squad at Brython Thunder has proved invaluable.
“He wants players to express themselves, be brave and have the confidence to attack what they see in front of them but within a clear attacking structure.
“Ash is full of a new ideas of how to attack teams and we look forward to seeing the players build on what we saw against the Barbarians.”
Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby and elite performance, Dave Reddin, said: “Ashley Beck impressed us all with his knowledge of the game and analysis of players during the W6N campaign.
“His experience in the Celtic Challenge, with a young Brython Thunder side, saw him identify and prepare players for Test match rugby and we are excited to see him play a key role in building the national side’s playing identity.”
Wales begin their WXV campaign with two home fgames against South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, September 18, and USA at the same venue on September 26, before two Test matches against Japan away from home.
Scotland excited for new tournament – Tuipulotu
By Mark Walker, Press Association
Captain Sione Tuipulotu says there is a collective excitement among Scotland’s players about the inaugural Nations Championship.
The new tournament gets under way on Saturday, with Scotland set to take on Argentina in Cordoba before facing world champions South Africa in Pretoria on July 11.
Gregor Townsend’s side will then return home for their third match, against Fiji at Murrayfield on July 18, before the second round of matches in November.
Tuipulotu said: “I don’t think we’re talking about the tournament as a whole yet, we’ll address that as a group about what’s down the line, because of the size of the challenge in each individual team, especially playing away from home.
“But in terms of the excitement, I can sense the players are really excited about this tournament because frankly, we don’t get the opportunity to come away and play these southern hemisphere teams if it isn’t at a World Cup.
“This is the perfect preparation for us, a year out from the (2027) World Cup, to challenge ourselves against the best in their own backyard.
“We’re excited about it being tier-one opposition away from home, and I hope it’s something the group really relishes, because it’s an amazing new opportunity – just the games on the face of it.”
The top sides from the southern and northern hemispheres will play each other once, with Scotland set to face New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Murrayfield in November.
Results will determine the ranking of each team in their own hemisphere, from one to six, and they will play the side with the corresponding ranking later that month on the final weekend when the three-day play-offs unfold at Twickenham.
The top two ranked nations will play in the final match to decide the inaugural Nations Championship winner.
Australian-born Tuipulotu, poised to win his 39th cap in Cordoba, said Scotland could not have been handed a tougher assignment for their opening two matches.
“To be honest, it just doesn’t get any harder, but that’s why we play rugby,” he added.
“I’d much prefer this style of schedule at the back end of the year, because it gets the juices flowing.
“You know you’re playing the best of the best in their own backyard, and that’s why you play rugby – to test yourself against them.
“For me anyway, I’m not coming away from my family at the back end of a season to waste my time, so we’re over here to try and play our best rugby and hopefully get a few results.”
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