Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday June 7.
Former England fly-half says Jones wasn't happy
Former England fly-half Andy Goode has suggested Alun Wyn Jones wasn't happy in Wales camp ahead of his shock retirement from international rugby.
Test rugby's most-capped player recently decided to call time on his Wales career despite the prospect of a fifth World Cup this year.
The likeliest reason appeared to be that his place in the squad for France wasn't certain following the return of Will Rowlands and Cory Hill, but little explanation has been forthcoming - with Jones steadfastly refusing to do any media duties with the Barbarians despite captaining the invitational side against the World XV and Swansea RFC.
However, WalesOnline has heard from multiple sources that the Wales camp isn't an overly happy one right now, with Justin Tipuric having retired on the same day as Jones - albeit with no prior knowledge of his Ospreys team-mate's impending announcement - and Rhys Webb calling time on his international career last week.
Goode, speaking on his RugbyPass Rugby Pod, said he had heard that all was not well behind the scenes.
“Rhys Webb came out and said, ‘The issues in Welsh rugby, I need to look after my family’. He is going to have an opportunity to go and play abroad and sign a contract.
“The same thing that Jack Nowell did for England, he has gone over to La Rochelle, taken himself out of the World Cup picture.
“But with these guys (Jones, Tipuric and Webb), I’m hearing they ain’t happy and they are like, ‘Do you know what, I don’t want it any more in that environment’. And it’s going to be a harsh environment because Gatland has come in and ultimately they were poor in the Six Nations, and he is now trying to change the narrative of what is going on and it’s hell for leather for them to try and catch up with other teams.
“I have heard the environment isn’t a happy place to be so the easy decision was for them to take themselves out of the equation. I might be wrong – it’s just what my sources are telling me.
“And when your heart is not in it for one reason or another – I’m not talking about pulling on a Wales jersey, I’m talking about the whole thing of getting to a World Cup in that environment – some players think, ‘I actually don’t want to do that’ and everyone just has to suck it up and get on.
“I’m desperately sad about Tipuric, who has been an absolute stalwart for Wales over the years; Alun Wyn Jones, the most capped rugby player, that he is not going to be there when his performances are still good enough to go to the World Cup for Wales.
“I’m not saying he is the player that he was but for Wales, he is definitely in the top three second rows that could make an impact on that team.”
Thompson reveals Popham help over dementia diagnosis
England World Cup winner Steve Thompson has revealed how a phone call from Wales back-rower Alix Popham changed everything for him.
The 2003 Red Rose hooker told the Good Morning Britain TV show it was Popham who convinced him to get tested for dementia.
Thompson says he cannot even remember England's historic win over Australia in Sydney that he played in when they conquered the world under Sir Clive Woodward.
Popham and Thompson are among the plethora of rugby players taking legal action against the sport's governing bodies as they seek compensation for damage caused whilst playing the game.
Thompson said: "Alix Popham phoned me and I went back to Steph (his wife) and said Alix has told me this. She said what he's explained to you is what you are going through.
"He was the first one and he sort of started it really. He said, 'Look I think you should get tested'. First it was the two of us and now there are over 300 that have been diagnosed and hundreds waiting to be tested.
"I made a decision when I came out public with my diagnosis that I wanted to help people. We knew there was a lot but suddenly there is hundreds so now we are setting up this foundation and it's not about how I got the brain injury but how do we help."
ITV regular Dr Hilary joined Thompson on the Good Morning Britain couch and said: "It's called CTE Chronic traumatic encephalopathy which is a brain condition thought to be linked to head injuries caused by contact sports, whether it's rugby, boxing, ice hockey or American football, but at least they are wearing helmets.
"If you look at the statistics of players like Steve who have been playing the sport for this long the likelihood of this diagnoses is a lot greater. Much more needs to be done to protect players, to reduce the amount of impact between games and diagnostic procedures afterwards."
London Irish suspended
London Irish have been suspended from rugby union's entire league structure after becoming the third Gallagher Premiership club to collapse this season.
The Rugby Football Union has confirmed that neither Irish's owner Mick Crossan nor the American consortium planning to buy the club were able to prove they had the finances to compete in the top flight for the 2023-24 campaign.
Furthermore, the outstanding 50 per cent of May's payroll owed to staff and players had not been paid before the final time frame set by the RFU of 4pm on Tuesday.
It means that Irish join Wasps and Worcester in becoming a casualty of the financial crisis gripping the Premiership, which will become a 10-team competition.
Given the failure of the takeover and Crossan's intent to stop bankrolling the club, the Exiles' prospects for survival as a professional outfit appear extremely bleak with over 100 staff in limbo.
"We will be working closely with London Irish to confirm what the future of rugby at the club looks like. With regret, this will not be in any league next season," RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said.
The RFU has acted to prevent the club going out of business during next season.
"This is desperately sad news for everyone who is part of the London Irish community as well as the players, fans, staff and volunteers for whom this club means so much," Sweeney said.
"In the absence of transparent proof of reliable long-term funding and for the duty of care for all involved at the club, the sad decision has now been taken to suspend the club from RFU leagues."
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