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These are your latest rugby headlines on Saturday, August 1
World Rugby denies reports
World Rugby has denied reports that it has given Samoa an ultimatum to resolve issues with its governing body or face a four-year ban from Test competition.
On Wednesday, the Samoan Government announced that it was withdrawing support of Lakapi Samoa – the nation’s rugby governing body – because of “unresolved internal issues and division” at the union.
According to a report from the Samoa Observer, World Rugby had resultantly given the Samoan Government until Friday “to accept a proposed review of its decision to withdraw recognition and financial support from Lakapi Samoa”.
The report added that failure to do so “could result in Samoa being suspended from international rugby for four years”.
However, on Friday, rugby’s global governing body stepped in to deny reports that it had issued such an ultimatum.
Instead, it confirmed that that it was involved as a mediator to resolve the issues at Lakapi Samoa, with a World Rugby spokesperson telling RNZ Pacific: “We are in active and constructive dialogue with all parties and remain focused on a positive resolution.”
Back in March, Samoa’s Prime Minister Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt said that his Government would set up a rival union if the entire Lakapi Samoa board did not resign, having claimed that the sport in the country had been “politicised”.
“We’re coming in to clear out all the politicians inside our rugby union,” he said earlier this year. “At this stage, our rugby is very impoverished… we are in the level that Samoa had never been before, because of what? Because of management.”
Wales star faces fight for minutes
Wales’ incumbent centre Joe Hawkins could potentially face a fight for game time at the Scarlets this season, according to Welsh great Liam Williams.
Hawkins played 28 matches for club and country last season, starting in the 12 jersey for Wales in nine games and forming an encouraging centre partnership with Scarlets teammate Eddie James.
However, with the region’s director of rugby Nigel Davies having some quality midfield options at his disposal, Williams – who spent time working with his former club last season – has questioned whether Hawkins could find himself missing out on minutes during the upcoming campaign.
The 23-year-old is also an option, but has spoken of his desire to stay at 12, with the Scarlets also wanting him to settle in the centre.
Nevertheless, Williams says Hawkins faces a “big year” to put himself ahead of the region’s other midfield options, including James, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts and Macs Page.
“I think it’ll be quite a big year for Joe,” said the former British & Irish Lions full-back on the SportIn Wales podcast.
“Is he going to play that much, with some of the centres they have there, the boys who play for Wales. Is he going to get that much game time if they don’t play him at 10?
Williams also welcomed the arrival of his former teammate Gareth Anscombe at Parc y Scarlets, with the veteran fly-half joining the region earlier this week.
“I think it will be good not just for the 10s, I think it will be good for the actual Scarlets as an organization,” he said of the move. “I think when the autumn comes round or the Six Nations, they’ll probably lose Sam Costelow, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, all those guys.
“So I think Chicken is going to be a huge part of what they’ll do this year”.
Anscombe is expected to aid the development of up-and-coming fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, with Williams admitting he is perfectly placed to help the 18-year-old become “the perfect pro”.
“I think Anscombe being there will help Carwyn with how to become a perfect pro and to help him around the place,” he said. “Just to speak to Chicken and get into his head and see what he knows, I think Carwyn will learn a lot from him and Sam [Costelow] as well.
Agreeing with Williams, fellow podcast guest and Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin added: “I think it takes a little bit of pressure off [Leggatt-Jones] and allows him to learn off someone who’s played at the top level for a number of years, pick his brains whilst not necessarily being in the firing line.
“I think it allows the Scarlets to pick and choose what games they give Carwyn game time in. He showed last year he can play URC and don’t get me wrong, he’ll want to play, he’s ready. But it just takes a little bit of pressure off him and someone to learn off.”
England stars to swap sports
Owen Farrell is set to swap a rugby ball for a cricket bat later this month when he takes part in a special charity Twenty20 match featuring a host of England stars.
The former England captain will appear in the Captains Clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Wednesday, August 19, as part of Somerset cricketer Lewis Gregory’s testimonial year.
Farrell will be among several high-profile rugby names taking to the field for the fundraising fixture, which is raising money for the MND Association.
Joining him will be current England internationals Ben Earl, Elliot Daly, Max Malins and Jamie George, with George captaining one of the teams. Former England internationals Jamie Overton and Peter Trego are also set to feature.
The charity cricket match promises to give supporters the chance to see some of rugby’s biggest names in a very different sporting environment, while raising funds for a cause close to the hearts of many across the sporting community.
