The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond.
Your rugby evening headlines on Friday, May 2.
Welsh rugby legend laid to rest
Newport and Wales legend Brian Jones was laid to rest on Friday morning.
Family and friends gathered at Newport Cathedral to say goodbye to ‘Mr Newport’, who gave 70 years of his life to the Black and Ambers.
Jones’ daughter Lisa wore a Newport scarf and gave a touching tribute to her father, which was entitled ‘A Boy From Cwmcarn’. She spoke about him growing up in a mining community, something which shaped his resilience and hard-working ethic.
She recalled his love for Liverpool Football Club and how he would be delighted by them recently clinching the Premier League title. Quite fittingly, a stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung by Richard Beavis. A poem from Jones’ granddaughter followed, with an applause from all at the cathedral.
Jones’ connection with South Africa was regularly addressed, with the family spending a lot of time there. “Daddy’s love of South Africa was something that truly resonated with him,” she began. “This was cemented with him being made a life member of his beloved Northern Transvaal – the first person outside of South Africa to be awarded with this honour – a blazer he wore with great pride.”
Further tributes were made about Jones, with one detailing a funny quote about Barry John. A reference was made about knowing ‘you’re famous if you’re known by your initials only’. Jones once said: “And you can tell that Barry John, I am the original B.J!”
The Cwmcarn man earned a stunning 330 appearances for Newport, going on to serve as a coach, chairman and president in his post-playing days. He also earned two caps for Wales and played for the Barbarians too. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby
Cardiff announce new deals
Cardiff Rugby have announced new deals for Dan Thomas and Danny Southworth.
Southworth, who is Welsh-qualified, signed for the capital city region from English Premiership club Exeter Chiefs last season, and has made 17 appearances so far this term. He has enjoyed a strong first campaign and cited living in Cardiff as a big plus after switching clubs last year.
“I’m really happy to agree a new deal here. I was welcomed into the group from day one and I’m loving living in Cardiff, it’s a brilliant city,” he said.
“It’s great to be playing consistently and getting so many minutes is really allowing me to develop my game and I’m determined to continue that. I hope I have added something to the group and with the talent and potential we have, I really believe we can achieve something special together.”
Thomas is another player who joined the club ahead of the season, and has earned 11 appearances for the Blue and Blacks, bagging himself two tries in the process. His mastery at the breakdown sees him in seventh place in the United Rugby Championship turnover charts.
Former Bristol Bears star Thomas said: “I’m really pleased to sign a new contract with Cardiff. I’ve enjoyed the challenge at the club, not only in terms of the URC, and the variety of teams, styles and travel, but around squad selection and the quality we have.
“I feel I have been given the freedom to show what I can bring to this team and that is thanks to the players and coaches accepting me from the off.”
Joe Hawkins’ Exeter journey over
Wales international Joe Hawkins is injured and will not play for Exeter Chiefs again.
The centre, who has signed for Scarlets ahead of the new season, will be out for four weeks, meaning that he will miss the rest of the season. Chiefs made the announcement on Friday, revealing injuries to other players such as Greg Fisilau, Ben Hammersley and Max Norey.
The Premiership final is in mid-June, but Chiefs won’t make the play-offs this season.
Not only does this end Hawkins’ journey with Chiefs, but it puts his potential Wales summer squad place in jeopardy ahead of the Japan Test series.
The statement from Chiefs reads as follows: “Centre Hawkins was substituted in the 50th minute against Gloucester due to an ankle injury. After a scan and a conversation with a surgeon this week, it has been determined that the Welshman does not require surgery. However, he will need to wear a boot for approximately four weeks and will be unable to participate in full training during that period. He will continue to rehab with the Chiefs medical team.”
Boston Red Sox inspire starlet ahead of huge European match
By Andy Sims, PA
Henry Pollock has been taking inspiration from the Boston Red Sox ahead of Northampton’s daunting Investec Champions Cup semi-final against mighty Leinster.
Pollock has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season, with the 20-year-old’s performances in the competition – including two tries in the quarter-final against Castres – seeing him nominated for Investec player of the year.
Saints will be huge underdogs when they travel to Dublin on Saturday to take on a Leinster side packed with world-class talent.
But director of rugby Phil Dowson has been using Boston’s unlikely 2004 World Series baseball title win – their first in 86 years – to illustrate what Pollock and his team-mates can achieve.
“We watched a film about the 2004 Red Sox and it said ‘no occasion is too big for him’, and that’s what I feel about Henry Pollock,” said Dowson.
“He’s mad for it. That’s what’s great. You often have young players who might be overawed, but he just feeds off it.”
On their way to winning the World Series, the Red Sox were 3-0 down and trailing in the ninth inning of the fourth game against New York Yankees, but pulled off a famous comeback to win in seven.
“We’ve spoken about them and been watching videos of them,” said Pollock. “It’s the confidence aspect. Like, you’re never really out of it.
“Our season hasn’t gone to plan, we’ve been unlucky in the Premiership, we’ve used Europe as a springboard and done really well. We are feeling confident.
“I don’t want to go into my shell, I guess. I just want to be myself, I’m looking forward to it and it should be class.”
