The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Sunday, July 20.
Legend proposes radical Lions change
England legend Will Carling has proposed a radical change to the current British & Irish Lions touring system, suggesting that the traditional tours to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should be replaced by a ‘Best Of’ showdown every four years. The 59-year-old, who represented the Lions on their 1993 tour of New Zealand, has also suggested holding the clash in a neutral location, with the United States proposed as a potential host.
As Andy Farrell’s side battle it out with the Wallabies this summer, the future of the Lions brand is the subject of much discussion, with a potential future tour of France expected to be discussed by powerbrokers in Melbourne this week. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
The Lions are contracted to tour New Zealand in 2029 but the tours of South Africa in 2033 and Australia in 2037 have not formally been agreed, meaning major change could be afoot in less than a decade.
Former England skipper Carling has now taken to social media to suggest a new idea, proposing that the Lions face a combined Southern Hemisphere XV every four years to bring “something new” to rugby.
“How about The British & Irish Lions V The Southern Hemisphere ‘something’s’,” he wrote. “The best of the South V the North – every four years.
“Could stage in USA – or move around locations – something new in rugby….”
While some fans hailed Carling’s idea as a “great innovation”, others gave their backing to the France idea that is quickly gaining traction.
It comes after the vice-president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Abdel Benazzi told the Guardian that Lions chiefs consider a tour of France to be a “good idea”.
“If you look at the legacy and the reputation of the Lions, of course they have the tradition with the south, our position as a neighbour is that we can do something together in the future,” he said. “We had contact, not formally, just a friendly chat with the guys from the Lions and they started thinking maybe it would be a good idea.
“We don’t have a formal decision now but maybe we will talk about having two meetings with the [women] and the Lions and the men and the Lions in the future. Maybe in 2027 and 2029. We don’t think of just one shot, we think of a programme for the future.”
Wales star summoned
Wales U20s back row Evan Minto has been summoned by an independent disciplinary committee after being sent off in his side’s U20s World Championship defeat to Italy.
Richard Whiffin’s side were beaten 31-23 by the tournament hosts as they finished eighth at the tournament overall, and they finished the game with 13 men as Minto was shown a second yellow card moments after Harry Thomas was also sent to the sin-bin
Minto was initially dismissed for 10 minutes for offiside shortly before the half-hour mark in Saturday’s play-off clash, before picking up another yellow five minutes from the end of time for a no-arms tackle.
World Rugby have confirmed that the Dragons man’s case will be heard by an Independent Foul Play Review Committee today, with a ruling set to follow soon. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“As part of the expedited off-field sanction process in operation for the July internationals, the citing window is limited to 12 hours following the final whistle,” a statement from the ruling body added.
“The FPRC will ordinarily convene after each match day to review red card incidents and citing. All full disciplinary hearings will typically be conducted by the Tuesday following the relevant match.”
Beale to face Lions again
Kurtley Beale will face the Lions on a second tour after being named captain of the First Nations and Pasifika XV for their showdown with Andy Farrell’s side on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old – who has 95 international caps – will lead the side from full-back, as one of six indigenous players in the matchday squad. The rest of the 23 is made up of players with Pacific Islands heritage.
Beale represented Australia in all three Tests against the Lions on the 2013 tour, but was ruled out of Western Force’s showdown with them last month with a hamstring injury.
Tuesday’s match comes 12 years after the utility back slipped while attempting to score a match-winning penalty for the Wallabies in that summer’s first Test – with his coach describing him as a the “natural selection” for skipper.
“Kurtley is the most experienced player in the squad and was the natural selection for captain,” said First Nations and Pasifika XV head coach Toutai Kefu.
“He is an extremely talented footballer and has been there and done it on the big stage.”
First Nations and Pasifika XV: Muirhead; Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu; Beale, Thomas; Ieli, Paenga-Amos, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Tualima.
Replacements: Asiata, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, McLeod.
Lions star fuelled by ‘chip on shoulder’
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Brisbane
Sione Tuipulotu returns to Melbourne carrying the chip on his shoulder that has driven his rise to becoming a British and Irish Lion.
Tuipulotu has touched down in the city where he was born and raised for what he hopes will become a glorious homecoming given a series triumph over Australia is the prize at stake following Saturday’s 27-19 victory in the first Test.
Six years ago he left for Japan, angry that his time at the Melbourne Rebels had failed to produce international recognition beyond the Junior Wallabies and having taken up an offer to play for Glasgow, he qualified for Scotland through his grandmother.
The 28-year-old has never looked back, going on to captain his adopted homeland while becoming one of the game’s finest centres. No longer bitter at being rejected by Australia, he realises the scars have served him well.
“If you had asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say yeah, it’s personal,” Tuipulotu said. “There’s still a chip on my shoulder. What has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder. But in terms of me being bitter about Australian rugby, not at all.
“I wasn’t good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne. It wasn’t a selector problem, I wasn’t good enough, that’s plain and simple.
“I owe everything to Scottish rugby because they’ve made me the player that I am today. Now I get the chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series. The stars have aligned for me and I feel very grateful.”
Tuipulotu was installed at inside centre ahead of Bundee Aki for the series opener in Brisbane and Andy Farrell’s decision was rewarded with the Scotland captain’s best performance on tour.
Recovery from the damaged pectoral muscle that forced him to miss the Six Nations has proved challenging and it is only now that the hard-running, ball-playing midfielder is finding his stride.
A first-half try decorated his evening’s work at Suncorp Stadium, which was made easier by the presence of his Scotland team-mates Finn Russell and Huw Jones.
“It was such a huge occasion but having Finn inside me and Huw outside me made it pretty special. I’m so familiar with those boys,” he said. “I’ve been rooming with Finn this whole week and being around him made me not overreact to the occasion.
“It felt like we were playing a Scotland game together because we room together back with Scotland. His nature helps everyone and calms everyone. Then you add to that that he’s got one of the best skill sets of any 10 in the world and it’s a joy to play with.
“Everyone knows what I think about Huw Jones. It just feels like he’s bigger and faster than everyone.”
The Lions know Australia will throw everything at them at Melbourne Cricket Ground – and intend hitting back hard.
“We expect them to be desperate but not more desperate than us because we’re trying to close out a series next Saturday,” Tuipulotu said. “We were pretty dominant in the first Test but the good thing for us is that it was nowhere near our best performance.”
