Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 8.
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 8.
Wallabies suffer injury blow ahead of first Lions Test
Australia have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of the first Test against the British & Irish Lions in 11 days’ time after influential outside-half Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the series.
The 25-year-old was stretchered off the field during Australia’s 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday with what appeared to be whiplash. But he has since undergone surgery on his neck after initially being discharged from hospital.
Rugby Australia said Lolesio “will spend a period of time away from the game during his rehabilitation” which will include the entire series against the Lions.
This is a hammer blow to Australia’s chances of claiming what would be a significant series victory over the Lions because the Brumbies playmaker had been in red-hot form.
In Lolesio’s absence utility back Ben Donaldson is the leading contender to wear the number 10 shirt for the first Test in Brisbane with Tom Lynagh – son of Wallabies great Michael – also an option.
Veterans James O’Connor and Bernard Foley could also be called into the squad if Joe Schmidt feels he needs more experience.
‘Farrell has a big role to play’, says Lions skipper
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Canberra
Maro Itoje believes a fit Owen Farrell could still have a role to play for England after welcoming his former captain’s arrival on the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia.
Farrell has been called up to his fourth expedition with the Lions as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daily and there is a possibility he will be involved in the series against the Wallabies as fly-half and inside centre cover.
Any appearance would be his first Test since the 2023 World Cup, after which he stepped back from international rugby to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing before then joining Racing 92, making him ineligible for England selection.
But by agreeing a return to Saracens for next season he is available once more – and Itoje would endorse his comeback for the national side.
“Yeah, why not? I want to see him be happy,” said Itoje, who has played under Farrell with both Saracens and England. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
“If he wants to play for England, why not? That would be amazing if that’s in his plans and in his dreams.
“Owen is one of the best England players that we’ve ever seen. A fit Owen Farrell makes any team better. If that’s in his ambitions, why not?”
Farrell’s presence in Australia has ignited speculation that Itoje’s authority as Lions captain may now be undermined, but the 30-year-old insists his former schoolmate at St George’s in Harpenden will be only a positive voice.
“I’ve known him for donkey’s years now. I have a very good relationship with him. And he just wants the squad to do well,” he said.
“Sport, for me particularly, is never about ego. I want people to speak, have their voices heard and contribute in a positive way.
“It’s never about me, if I’m captain, having the final say or sticking my chest out or anything like that. It’s not about that.
“It’s about how can we as a collective get the best result? How can we as a collective win? How can the team be successful? Because when the team is successful, first of all, you can’t do it by yourself.
“And two, when the team is successful, everyone wins. Everyone has a brighter light shone on them.
“And everyone can dine on that glory for years to come. So that’s all I care about. And I know Owen’s the exact same. That’s not an issue at all.”
Johnny Sexton, the former Ireland fly-half who is the Lions’ kicking coach in Australia, insists Farrell is a valuable addition to the squad.
“Experience is experience. He’s a world-class player. Look at what he’s won,” Sexton said.“He’s not just a guy who has hung on to the coat-tails of other people, he’s the one who has been driving those teams.
“He’s been fantastic to have in camp and I’m sure he’s going to add loads for the rest of the tour.”
Star prop returns to boost Wales Women squad
Sisilia Tuipulotu has been included in the Wales Women squad for a two-Test series in Australia this summer after returning from a hamstring injury.
There are also three uncapped players in the squad in the shape of Seren Lockwood, Katherine Baverstock and lock Tilly Vucaj. The squad is 30 players strong which will face the Wallaroos in Brisbane on Saturday, July 26, and in Sydney on Friday, August 1.
“Having Sisilia back and raring to go is a real boost for all the squad, coaches and staff,” said head coach Sean Lynn. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“Seren, Katherine and Tilly really deserve their selection in the squad and have impressed us all with their rugby potential and attitude during pre-season.
“These are the 30 players who have impressed throughout our summer training camp, and they fully deserve selection for what we know will be an exciting but tough challenge against Australia.”
Alex Callender and Kate Williams will captain the squad and former skipper Hannah Jones is also included.
Lock Natalia John along with centres Kerin Lake and Hannah Bluck have been ruled out through injury.
Wales will be hoping to improve on a dismal Six Nations campaign which resulted in a bottom-place finish ahead of the World Cup opener against Scotland in Salford on August 23.
“All those selected have worked hard in pre-season and understand that we need to change and have an opportunity to show what they can do ahead of RWC 2025,” said Lynn.
“There are still World Cup places to play for and having coached against Jo Yapp, the Wallaroos coach, before at club level, we know her team will be well prepared and provide us with two tough and physical Test matches.”
Forwards: Katherine Baverstock, Maisie Davies, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips, Molly Reardon, Alex Callender (co-capt), Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Abbie Fleming, Bryonie King, Bethan Lewis , Alaw Pyrs, Tilly Vucaj, Kate Williams (co-capt).
Backs: Keira Bevan, Meg Davies, Seren Lockwood, Lleucu George, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox, Hannah Jones, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce, Nel Metcalfe, Lisa Neumann, Catherine Richards.
Wilde hoping to drive Wales U20s to victory
Harri Wilde will pick up his 20th Wales U20 cap in Italy on Wednesday and is hoping to mastermind a big enough win against Spain to avoid relegation to the second tier World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Back-to-back defeats to Argentina and France have forced Wilde and his team-mates to lower their expectations at what is his third global U20 tournament. But with three games to go the target is to end on a high with three wins to keep Wales U20s in the top tier.
That would certainly be an improvement on last year’s low of eighth and would be the highest-placed finish since 2013.
“We came to Italy to try to win the tournament. We are disappointed in the first two results, especially given we were so far ahead in both in the first half,” said Wilde.
“But we’ve still got a chance to do better than I did in my first two tournaments by winning the last three games and trying to finish fifth. We just have to look ahead to the next task.
“We are pretty disappointed because we didn’t come here to be second best. Now we’ve got to draw a line in the sand and put the two games behind us and get ready for Spain.
“They came close against Argentina (33-30) and it is going to be their World Cup final. They will be passionate and we need to match that. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“They are in the same boat as us with two losses and they will be looking to come away with a win. They’ve got some talented players, some who play for Toulouse, and we aren’t going to take them lightly.”
The two teams met for the first time last year when a 31-10 triumph provided Wales U20 with their only win in South Africa. The challenge for Wales this time round is to pick up the full five points to ensure they play in the second tier of the knock-out phase.
Never before have they been placed in the 9th-12th place play-off section, when the bottom four sides have had to battle to avoid relegation. The Spaniards are currently one point ahead of Wales after picking up two bonus points in their defeat to Los Pumitas.
“The heat has been a huge factor, although it is the same for both teams. It has made it pretty difficult and in the final 20 minutes you can see from the boys facial expressions they are struggling,” added Wilde.
“With the heat, you can make errors you wouldn’t normally make at key moments. We just need to get used to it.
“We are pretty tight as a group and we know we’ve got a job to do on Wednesday. We need to secure five points.
“When we were on it against France we were very good and we know it’s about staying composed in the final 20. If we can do that then I think we can beat any team.
“We’ve got a lightning back three and we’ve pretty good connections and chemistry in the backs. When it clicks, it clicks and hopefully we can have more of that against Spain.”
