The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, July 3.
Owen Farrell set for Lions call
Owen Farrell is set to jet out to Australia and join the British and Irish Lions squad, according to reports overnight.
The Telegraph report the son of head coach Andy Farrell is expected to be called up following a likely tour-ending injury to England star Elliot Daly, who is thought to have broken his arm against Queensland Reds on Wednesday. While Daly has been playing as a full-back so far and can cover centre or wing, Farrell will join the tour as a 10 or 12 option.
The Lions do have Blair Kinghorn, Hugo Keenan and Marcus Smith as frontline full-back options.
A call-up for Owen Farrell has been tipped by many for some weeks despite an injury-hit season in the Top 14 and the fact he hasn’t played international rugby since the 2023 World Cup.
Asked before the tour about a potential Lions call-up, he said: “I can’t say. It is all very hypothetical, isn’t it? A lot would need to happen, and I need to make sure I am ready to go if that does come around. That is the only point that matters.”
Farrell worked as a pundit for Sky Sports during the opening warm-up match against Argentina last month. The Lions are set to hold a press conference later today.
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Wales name team as Macleod returns
Wales boss Matt Sherratt has hailed the return of Josh Macleod as “massive” after selecting the Scarlets flanker for their Test opener in Japan.
Macleod has been plagued by Achilles and shoulder injuries in recent years and makes his first appearance since the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. You can read the full team news and follow today’s Wales press conference here.
But the Scarlets skipper joins Taulupe Faletau and Alex Mann in the back row for Saturday’s First Test in Kitakyushu, as Sherratt makes 11 changes from the side humbled 68-14 by England in the Six Nations Championship in March. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
Faletau, prop Nicky Smith, centre Ben Thomas and full-back Blair Murray are the survivors from that record Cardiff defeat.
“There’s a number of players who’ve worked their way back into the squad,” said Sherratt, who remains in interim charge after replacing Warren Gatland during the Six Nations and is seeking to end a run of 17 consecutive Test defeats for Wales.
“(It’s) Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting.
“Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive.
“I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected (on the bench) how much he deserves it.
“He’s been in the regional game for 10 years. He’s changed clubs.
“He’s gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he’s managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam.”
The uncapped Belcher takes his place among the replacements with Sherratt having plumped for a relatively new-look pack.
Captain Dewi Lake returns at hooker and is joined in the front row by Smith and Keiron Assiratti.
With second-row forwards Dafydd Jenkins and Will Rowlands unavailable for various reasons, Ben Carter and Teddy Williams step into the engine room.
The changes in the back division see recalls for wingers Josh Adams and Tom Rogers, as well as centre Johnny Williams, who last featured for Wales at the 2023 World Cup.
Kieran Hardy and Sam Costelow form a new half-back partnership, with Tomos Williams – who along with skipper Jac Morgan was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia – and Gareth Anscombe having started against England.
Costelow and Carter missed the Six Nations campaign through injury.
Wales international’s move confirmed
Adam Beard’s move from Ospreys to Montpellier has been officially confirmed by the Top 14 side, with the Wales international signing a three-year deal in the south of France.
The 29-year-old’s exit from the Welsh region was confirmed in April, as he bowed out having made 139 appearances for Mark Jones’ side after coming through the pathway.
At the time, he admitted it was a “really tough decision to make” but added that it was “the right time to adventure into a new challenge” for him and his family.
Montpellier have now officially confirmed the move, with a statement on the club website reading: “Adam Beard, the Welsh international, has signed a contract with Montpellier Hérault Rugby until 2028.
“With his impressive physique – 2.03 m and around 120 kg – and a flamboyant international record, he is an experienced second row who has arrived in the South of France.
“Beard has 60 caps for Wales and has been selected for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour. He is a two-time Six Nations winner (2019, 2021) and has competed in two World Cups. Welcome to Montpellier, Adam!”
Glasgow sign Stuart Lancaster’s son
By Anthony Brown, PA
Glasgow have bolstered their backline by signing Scottish-qualified Dan Lancaster on a two-year contract following his release by Racing 92.
The 24-year-old has spent the past season in France after landing a move from English second-tier side Ealing Trailfinders to the Top 14 club, who were under the charge of his father and former England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
After making 27 appearances for the Paris-based side – operating at both fly-half and centre – Lancaster has opted to continue his career with Franco Smith’s 2024 URC champions.
“I found out I wasn’t being kept on by Racing, and one evening shortly after that I got a call from Franco about potentially coming to Glasgow,” Lancaster told the Warriors’ official website.
“After that call, I phoned my agent and told them that Scotstoun was where I wanted to go.
“I played against Glasgow for Racing last year, so I saw first-hand the intensity that the club brings with and without the ball – they’re a proper team.
“I’ve heard so may great things about the club and about Franco and the coaching team. Lucio Sordoni (a former Glasgow player who was at Racing last season) told me how special a place it is, so it feels like the best possible place for me to develop as a rugby player.”
Although born in Leeds, Lancaster is qualified to play for Scotland through his Dumfries-born grandmother and represented the country at Under-18 level.
“I just want to take it as it comes – every player obviously wants to push for international honours in the long-term, but first and foremost I want to settle in well at Scotstoun and get to know everyone,” he said of his prospects of a full Scotland call.
“I want to get my head down, work hard, buy in to what this club is all about and challenge for game time in a Glasgow shirt, I’m not looking any further ahead than that.”
