Here's your round-up of the latest rugby headlines for Thursday, August 25.
Evans lands plum role in Fiji
The man who applied to be both Wales coach and WRU chief executive is ready to take on his latest challenge, and it's not for the faint-hearted.
Cardiff-raised Mark Evans, the former Harlequins, Saracens, Western Force and Melbourne Storm boss, has taken up the post of chief executive of the Fijian Drua Super Rugby franchise. He will move to Fiji in October on a three-year contract with the aim of making the franchise financially viable.
“The Drua have had their first year mainly played off the islands because of Covid, except for the last two matches, and it is an opportunity for them to be viable and successful,” said the 63-year-old.
“Why not give it a crack? With the right structures, Fiji has enough talent on and off the islands for a lot of growth. The Drua can make a significant difference and that is why I agreed to do it. They have a good set of sponsors and I’m reasonably confident. They also have fantastic fans and I’m really looking forward to experiencing that kind of enthusiasm.”
Evans was in an apparent two-horse race with Gareth Jenkins to succeed Steve Hansen as Wales coach in 2004, only for the job to go to Mike Ruddock, while he has twice applied to be WRU chief executive, including the most recent time there was a vacancy, following Martyn Phillips’ exit in 2020. You can read his full back story here.
French club coach arrested
Top 14 newcomers Bayonne have issued a statement following the arrest of assistant coach Antoine Battut and their former physical trainer Cyril Gomes.
RugbyPass report that the police action followed a late-night incident at a medical clinic emergency room in which a nurse was allegedly attacked.
Promoted as Pro D2 champions, the club is due to launch its top-flight campaign with a September 3 trip to Toulon, but preparations have now been complicated.
The Bayonne statement read: "Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro has learned that a member of the sports staff is involved in an incident that occurred overnight from Monday to Tuesday. The club would like to point out that this event took place during a period of leave. The management of the club, which will meet the employee concerned as soon as possible, strongly condemns these facts which took place in a private context. Anxious to let justice do its job, the club will not make any additional comments and will take all necessary measures."
Bayonne didn’t name the people caught up in the incident but local newspaper Sud-Ouest named the duo involved as current assistant coach Battut and former employee Gomes.
Reed expects brutal battle with Wales
England centre Amber Reed is expecting a physical battle when the Red Roses host Wales in a Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up next month, and believes familiarity among so many clubmates will add to the occasion.
Reed, 31, plies her club trade at Bristol Bears Women in England's Allianz Premier 15s alongside a plethora of Welsh international talent including Keira Bevan, Elinor Snowsill and Natalia John, while Gloucester-Hartpury Women's squad is jam-packed with Wales talent like Hannah Jones, Kerin Lake and new signing Siwan Lillicrap.
Ioan Cunningham's Wales side are currently in Canada ahead of their first warm-up game this Saturday, while the Red Roses first play US Eagles at the start of September before hosting Wales at Bristol's Ashton Gate on Wednesday, September 14 in the final World Cup warm-up for both sides.
"It’s always interesting playing against the Welsh," said Reed, who is targeting her third World Cup. "There’s a lot of crossover between the Bristol and Gloucester squads, so a lot of the West Country girls in the Red Roses side know a lot about the players in the Welsh team. It’s always a nice competitive battle.
“We know a lot about them, and they know a lot about you. Ultimately, it’s who comes out on top. It's going to be a physical battle. England v Wales obviously has that rivalry as well, and to be playing in Bristol, which is so close to the border is going to be intense.”
Wales open their World Cup campaign in New Zealand against Scotland on October 9, before facing the Black Ferns and Australia in Pool A. England, who head to the tournament as favourites, open their campaign against Fiji a day earlier in Pool C, also facing South Africa and France before the knockouts.
Pugh backs Davies after cancer diagnosis
Richie Pugh admits Ethan Davies' cancer diagnosis has had an immense impact on Wales' Sevens squad. The 28-year-old needs a stem cell transplant and has appealed for a donor having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Sevens boss Pugh described Davies as a "special" player when announcing his latest squad for the final leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Los Angeles.
“When news broke amongst the squad about Ethan the boys took time to reflect,” said Pugh. “They understand he has been a big part of the performance programme. He was a special player when he was on the world series with Wales. He did a lot in the Welsh jersey, so our thoughts are with him, and we want to support him and give him strength through this time.
“I know messages have been going out there about registering to be a donor and that is the first thing we can all do – put that link out there to show people that we can all play a part in supporting Ethan in that. We wish him all the best in his battle. I know he is a fighter, and he is a strong kid and we’re all here for him.”
Scarlets back-row Iestyn Rees and Royal Navy winger Kane Teear-Bourge have both been called up to earn their first action on the world series. Wales face Fiji, Ireland and France in LA.
Wales squad in full: Luke Treharne (Wales 7s), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), Morgan Sieniawski (Wales 7s), Chris Smith (Bishop’s Stortford), Tom Brown (Wales 7s), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Callum Carson (Aberavon), Iwan Pyrs Jones (Hartpury), Morgan Williams (Wales 7s), Cole Swannack (Newport), Lloyd Lewis (Wales 7s), Ewan Rosser Dragons) & Kane Teear-Bourge (Royal Navy).
Read more: Wales rugby player urgently needs a donor after being diagnosed with rare form of cancer
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