The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, May 8.
Itoje in private meeting with Wales greats
Lions captain-elect Maro Itoje last night held an intimate meeting with former skippers ahead of today’s huge announcements.
Andy Farrell will today name his Lions squad from 1.30pm in front of a live audience. The event, a first when it comes to announcing the touring squad, will see around 2,000 fans packed into the O2.
All of the players are to find out as and when the names are announced by former Wales and Lions wing Ieuan Evans, however news emerged last night that Farrell has already told one player he is on the plane to Australia – captain Maro Itoje, as was reported by the Press Association.
According to The Times, last night Itoje attended a private dinner in London with a number of former Lions captains.
Among them were Wales greats Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones, while Martin Johnson, Brian O’Driscoll and Gavin Hastings were understood to be in attendance, too.
The report adds that Itoje, who will be the only player in attendance at the O2, will be interviewed alongside Alun Wyn Jones at the live event, which will represent a ceremonial passing of the torch.
Last survivor of famous Wales match dies
The last surviving player from Wales’ famous win over the All Blacks in 1953 has died.
Bill McCaw was on the New Zealand team on that famous day in Cardiff and was the oldest living All Black before his death at the age of 97 on Tuesday. It has been reported that he passed away in hospital in Christchurch.
A back rower, McCaw played in 27 games for the All Blacks, with most of those coming on their tour of the Northern Hemisphere in 1953/54. He captained the side once during the tour, while the New Zealand side beat the Barbarians but lost to both Wales and France.
The defeat in Cardiff remains the last time Wales beat the All Blacks, having not won again in the 72 years that have followed. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Welsh prop Courtenay Meredith was the last surviving Wales player from the match, but following his death in June last year, McCaw became the sole survivor from the game.
He also became the oldest living All Black following the death of Roy Roper in 2023.
McCaw was also a distant relative of New Zealand legend Richie McCaw, who reportedly took him and his family for a helicopter ride and picnic in the mountains to celebrate his 90th birthday in 2017.
Listen to the latest Welsh rugby podcast
Only two Welsh players likely to make squad
By Graham Thomas
Only two Wales players are odds-on to make the Lions squad on Thursday, in the view of Welsh bookmakers, DragonBet.
They make Wales captain Jac Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams more than likely to make the trip to Australia.
But every other Welsh player is ranked as an outsider, including three-times Lions tourist, Taulupe Faletau.
Morgan is the hottest favourite with the bookmaker, who make the Ospreys back rower 1/8 to be included in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad when it is named on Thursday afternoon in London.
Then, comes Williams as the other short-odds selection at 5/6.
Faletau is rated no better than an 11/8 shot, followed by Exeter second row Dafydd Jenkins (2/1), Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake (5/2) and Leicester prop Nicky Smith (5/2).
DragonBet also reckon the most likely representation in the widely assumed 37-man squad is between just two and four Welsh players.
A three-man Welsh group is considered the most anticipated at odds of 11/8.
Parties of two or four Welsh players are priced at 10/3.
If you’re feeling really pessimistic about Welsh chances, then you could back an outcome of no Welsh players at all in the squad, at 33/1.
DragonBet director James Lovell said: “Welsh fans have always held a massive interest in the Lions and this year won’t be any different.
“But we are expecting a very small number of Welsh players making the squad, which just reflects results and performances over the past year or so.
“Everyone thinks Jac Morgan will make it and so do we, but it will be a huge change from the last few tours when Wales had big numbers.
“One thing won’t change, though – and that’s interest in the Lions among Welsh fans. They’re always invested in the Lions doing well, whoever gets picked.”
Odds on Welsh players making the Lions squad:
1/8 – Jac Morgan
5/6 – Tomos Williams
11/8 – Taulupe Faletau
2/1 – Dafydd Jenkins
5/2 – Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith
12/1 – Blair Murray
25/1 – Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, WillGriff John
40/1 – Max Llewellyn, Nick Tompkins
(Odds courtesy of DragonBet)
Leicester tipped to sign Scarlets fly-half
Leicester Tigers have reportedly lined up Scarlets fly-half Charlie Titcombe.
The Gallagher Premiership outfit are in the market for two No.10s, with the departures of both Handre Pollard and Jamie Shillcock leaving big holes to fill at Welford Road.
The Tigers were reportedly keen on landing Gareth Anscombe, however it was announced last night that the Wales international has signed a one-year deal with French outfit Bayonne.
And the Daily Mail report that the Tigers are keen to sign 23-year-old Titcombe, who came through the academy ranks in Leicester before he joined the Scarlets in 2023.
